Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep twins in the infant stage close together However, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. The right crib arrangement can aid your twins in developing an established routine for sleep.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing it is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies near for feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. bedside cot for twins are also ideal for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets for baby by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines, twins can sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet on the opposite ends. They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're large enough.
This Delta double bassinet has mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for snacks and wipes. Plus, it folds flat, making it easy to move around the house or take on trips.
Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feeding and comfort. The sides lower and raise to allow access and lock into place for safety. It's a bit longer and heavier than other models, but great for second floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach the age of 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who have grown up in this environment develop a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is with twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two separate bedding sets so each baby can have a personal and comfortable space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to another when needed. It is a convenient and easy way to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.
Double bassinets are another option. They allow infants to be side-by-side, and are perfect for feedings or diaper changes during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has an air-tight mesh partition and an adjustable height to ensure that each child is visible and reachable at all times, while the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to make it easy to access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh, permitting babies to view each the other. The sleeper can also rotate around 360 degrees, allowing easy access to infants.
For situations that are temporary, such as an emergency family visit or hospital stay Many parents have had the benefits of co-bedding twins using a large moses basket or small bassinette with a divider. This should only be done under the supervision by a medical professional. They will make sure that the babies are properly placed in a crib with their feet at the foot of the crib, and all bedding is tucked into.
Safety
The most important safety aspect when it comes to twins is that they have their own sleeping space. This prevents the baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choking by the other. It also helps 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 multiplications have their own sleeping space. The best way to do this is with a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be positioned close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding however, the reality is that a lot of families of twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a large majority of families of twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS risk reduction recommendations due to a desire to extend their own sleep time and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic standing of a family may influence their decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily be pulled together and they may choke on eachother. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot it is important to put them in the position of feet-to-head and have their bedding secured in each cot to minimize the chance of them smothering each one.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and more convenient options for twins who want to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet features mesh walls to separate twins and provide them with their own flat, safe mattress to sleep on. It can be turned 360 degrees, so you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with every movement. It is easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a major life change. Not least, they require a lot of preparation and thought regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they'll have a restful night. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable at an early age.
When twins are still young, it is possible to share one crib. This is referred to as co-bedding, and can provide great comfort to newborns as it brings them back to the birthing process. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are large enough for babies to be comfortable without touching or bouncing around. small bedside cot is also important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate night feeds to ensure that you get one baby up before the other.
It is crucial to remember that twins are very different and they might have their own sleep patterns. It could be that one baby is waking more frequently than the other or that they prefer to be close to you. In this situation, it may be best to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
Find twin bedside cots that have breathable mesh dividers for separate sleeping areas. This is particularly important for babies that are susceptible to overheating, or for families with mothers who have had c-sections. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to move are also useful features. The Arm's Reach cot is a great option for this purpose, as it offers a large sleeping area and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel but they offer smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed with an adult even if they're close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and lead to strangulation or suffocation. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs in their parents' room for the first six months.