Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the newborn twins close together However, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can aid your twins in establishing an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet that comes with a divider can be the ideal choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their infants close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. They are also great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside cot, so long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should be laid on their backs, with the tops of their heads facing each other and their feet placed at opposite sides of the cot). They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're large enough.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which features a mesh partition so that babies can stay separate but close to each the other. It also comes with a storage compartment for wipes and snacks. It's also foldable, making it easier to move around the home and travel with on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart is swivelling to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides can be raised and lowered to make it easier for you to get in and are secured to ensure security. It's a bit heavier and longer than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparents houses, and it comes with its own travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose suggests that twins have their own safe sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to lower the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding, and it has been observed that twins who are used to this sleeping environment will generally have a more coordinated sleeping pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is an excellent way to achieve this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to room as required, and allows you to monitor the baby without having to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their rhythms.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features a breathable mesh divider and a height that can be adjusted so that every baby can be observed and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to allow easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel, which allows babies to see each other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give an easy access for infants.
Many parents have found that bedding twins in moses baskets or a small bassinette is a great option in situations of a short duration, such as hospitalization or a family visit. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that babies are properly positioned and with their feet towards the foot of the cot, and all bedding is securely tucked in to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
When twins sleep together, the most crucial security factor is that each baby has their own space to sleep in. This ensures that every infant is not smothered or otherwise trapped by the other. It also helps prevent deaths in cots, which are more common in single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered multis have their own sleeping area. This can be done by using an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or soothe one of your babies during the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families of multiples and twins find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first three months at home, used unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire prolong their own sleep and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family can affect their sleep arrangements.
If twins are put 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're planning to put your twins in the same cot it is important to put them in a head-to-foot position and have their bedding secured in the cots to reduce their chances of smothering each one.
One of the safest and more convenient options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet has mesh walls that separate twins to give them each their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It can be turned 360 degrees, meaning you can bring your baby closer to you without having to leave your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and then return with each movement. It's easy to clean and fits in the standard twin bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It is a major life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. baby bedside sleeper that, they require a lot of planning and consideration regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel at ease from an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a crib when they are small. This is called co-bedding and it can be a excellent comfort for babies as it helps them remember the mother's womb. The key is to make sure the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is important to keep in mind that the baby who awakes first should be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can wake one of them up earlier than the other.
It is important to keep in mind that twins can have very different sleep routines. You might find that one child wakes more than the other, or that they prefer to be nearer to you. In this instance it is possible to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
When shopping for a twin bedside cot, look for models that feature breathable mesh dividers to create distinct sleeping zones. This is particularly important for babies that are more prone to overheating or families with c-section mothers. A reversible base as well as wheels that are easy to maneuver are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot, which is designed for c-section mothers is a fantastic choice because it has a large sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are also alternatives, but they have a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it's not recommended for twins to share the bed with an adult. This increases the risk of SIDS and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' room for the first six months.