Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to one another However, it's crucial to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid your twins in developing a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet with an divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies near for middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. They are also great for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before baby 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot, as long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should lie on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other, and their feet on opposite sides of the cot). When they're old enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet features mesh dividers that allow children to be separated but still close. It also has a convenient storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes close by and also snacks. It folds flat, making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access and are secured for security. It's a bit larger and heavier than other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparent' houses and comes with a travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to lower the chance of SIDS. This is known as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who grew in this type of environment develop a more coordinated sleeping pattern.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great way to achieve this. It includes two sets of bedding so that each baby gets their own space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to the next as needed. It provides a convenient and easy way to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.
Other options include double bassinets which have been designed specifically to allow the infants to stay side-by-side and are ideal for middle-of-the-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features an air-tight mesh partition and adjustable height so that each child is visible and reachable at all times, while the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to make it easy to access. If you're looking for an affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, featuring two separate sleeping zones, separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see each other, and the entire sleeper swivels 360 degrees for an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a smaller bassinette, can be a good solution in situations of a short duration, such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. This should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare provider. They will ensure that the infants are correctly placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding tucked in.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most important security factor is that each baby has their own sleep space. This prevents every baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choked by the other. It also helps to prevent cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples have their own sleeping space. The best way to accomplish this is with an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot s that could be placed close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies throughout the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families with twins and multiples find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that the majority of families of twins who were cobedded in the first three months at home used unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS recommendations due to a desire to sleep longer and a lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition the socioeconomic standing of a family could influence their choices regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding may easily get caught in their midst and they could choke on each other. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot, it's important to place them in the feet-to-head position and their bedding securely tucked into each cot to limit the chance of them smothering each one.
One of the safest and more comfortable alternatives for twins to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet features mesh walls to divide twins and give them their own flat, safe mattress to sleep on. It swivels a full 360 degrees, allowing you to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or calming while still in the peace of your bed. Its side walls lower and auto-return every time you move. It is also easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. available at Walmart and comes with similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They also require a great deal of preparation and thought in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good night's sleep. While decisions about their future bedroom space are made when they are older parents are often unsure of what they can do to help them to feel comfortable in the beginning stages.
When twins are very young, they are able to share a cot. Co-bedding is a method of soothing newborns by bringing them back to their womb. It is essential to make sure that the beds are large enough for infants to be comfortable without having to touch each the other or move around. You should also keep in mind that the baby who wakes up first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night to ensure that you awake one baby prior to the other.
It is important to be aware that twins can have very different sleeping patterns. You may find that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this situation it could be beneficial for the twins to share their own crib or bassinet in their room.
When looking for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has air-tight mesh dividers that create separate sleeping zones. This is particularly important for babies susceptible to overheating, or for families with c-section moms. Other beneficial features include the reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose since it provides a large sleeping area and is designed with c-section moms in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other options, but offer a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult even if they're very close. It is an increased risk of SIDS and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' bedrooms for the first six months.