Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Newborn twins sleep best when close to each other It's vital to follow safe sleeping recommendations. The right crib arrangement can aid your twins in establishing the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet with a divider is a great option for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their babies near for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They are also great for infants that may outgrow their bassinets before baby 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside crib, as long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should be lying on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and feet at opposite sides of the cot). When they're old enough, they may also sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We are in love with this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider to keep babies separate but close to each and each other. It has a handy storage compartment to keep wipes and snacks nearby, too. Additionally, it folds flat, making it easy to move around the house or go on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel so that you can bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be lowered and raised for easy access and are locked to ensure safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than some other alternatives, but it's a great choice for grandparents' or second-floor houses, and it comes with a travel bag. It's also a lot cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins may be tempted to place their babies in one crib or bassinet, this is generally not recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own safe sleeping space (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to lower the risk for SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding and it has been found that twins who have been accustomed to this sleep environment will typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great way to accomplish this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding to ensure that each baby gets their own space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to the next when needed. It offers an easy and convenient way to check on your children without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.
Other alternatives include double bassinets which have been designed specifically to allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features an air-tight mesh divider and a height that can be adjusted so that every baby is visible and reachable at all times, while the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to allow easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, has two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees, allowing easy access to infants.
For temporary situations like an emergency family visit or hospitalization Parents have reported success in co-bedding twins in the large moses basket or small bassinette with divider. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that the babies are properly placed in a cot, with their feet at the bottom of the cot, and all bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that each baby have their own sleeping space. This ensures that every infant is not smothered or otherwise choked by the other. It also helps to prevent cot deaths, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered multiples have their own space to sleep in. This can be accomplished with an individual bassinet or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or comfort one of your babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and avoid cobedding, the reality is that a lot of families of twins and other higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was found that the majority of twin families who cobedded their children in the first three months of life at home engaged in unsafe sleep habits.
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire to extend their own sleep time and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. In addition the socioeconomic standing of a family can affect their sleeping arrangements.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they can easily get caught in their bedding and potentially choke on one another. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot together ensure they are in a position where their feet are next to their heads, and that their bedding is tucked into the cots securely. This will lessen the chance of them choking on each other.
One of the safer and more convenient options for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet has an enclosed mesh wall that can separate twins and give them their own flat, secure mattress to sleep on. It can rotate 360 degrees to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or soothing without leaving the comfort of your bed, and its side walls lower and automatically return when you move. It's also easy to clean and fits in a standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and offers similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a huge life altering. Not least, they require a lot of planning and consideration regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good night's sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable at an early age.
When twins are very young, they are able to share one crib. Co-bedding is a method for soothing newborns by bringing them back to their mother's womb. It is important to make sure the beds are big enough to allow the infants to feel comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who wakes first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can get one up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins are very different and they might develop their own sleeping routines. You may find that one of them wakes more than the other, or prefers to be close to you. In this case it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots with mesh dividers that are breathable for sleeping areas that are separate. This is crucial for infants who are at risk of heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a c-section. Other useful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage space for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section, is a great choice because it offers a huge sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel but they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended for twins to share a bed with an adult. This increases the risk of SIDS and may result in suffocation strangulation or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins sleep in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents' room for the first 6 months.