Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep twins in the infant stage close together However, you must follow safety sleeping guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins establish an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet that comes with an divider is a great choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their infants close for diaper changes and feedings at night. They are also great for infants who might outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
As long as you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a bedside crib 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.
bedside cot crib love this Delta double bassinet. It features a mesh partition to keep babies separate, yet close to each and each other. It also has a convenient storage compartment that can keep snacks and wipes close by and also snacks. It's also foldable which makes it easy to move around the house and take on trips.
Another option is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring your twins' fluttery little ones closer to you for feeding and calming. The sides are lowered and raised for access, and they are secured 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 comes with its own travel bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins might be enticed to put the twins together in a single bassinet or crib however, this is not recommended. Instead, the group Rednose recommends that twins be given their own safe sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they turn 12 months old to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding and it has been observed that twins who are used to this sleeping environment will typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
One of the most efficient methods to accomplish this is to use twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two distinct bedding sets to ensure that each baby can have an individual and comfortable space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It is a convenient and easy way to check on your children without disturbing their sleep patterns or awakening them.
Other options include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow the infants to be side-by-side, and are perfect for mid-night feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with an air-tight mesh divider and adjustable height so that every baby is visible and reachable at all times, and the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to give easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to give an easy access for infants.
For situations that are temporary like a family visit or hospitalization Parents have reported the benefits of co-bedding twins using the large moses basket or small bassinette that has dividers. However this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that the babies are placed properly in a cot, with their feet at the floor of the cot, and all bedding securely tucked in, to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that they has their own space to sleep. This will prevent the baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise choking by the other. This also helps avoid the death of a cot, which is more common in single babies than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples get their own sleeping space. This can be done with an individual bassinet or twin bedside crib that you can place on your bed to feed or comfort one of the babies during the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and disallow cobedding, the reality is that a lot of families with twins and higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a large majority of families with twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS recommendations due to a desire to sleep longer and absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can influence family decisions regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily get caught in their midst and they may choke on each other. If you decide to place your twins in the same cot ensure they are in the position in which their feet are close to their heads, and that their bedding is put into each cot with a secure. This will decrease the chance of them choking on each other.
One of the safest and more convenient options for twins to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet comes with an insulated mesh wall that separates twins so that they each have their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It can be turned 360 degrees, so 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 is also easy to clean, and fits into the standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper 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 an enormous life-changing. They also require a great deal of planning and thinking regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they can have a restful night. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to help their children feel at ease at an early age.
When twins are young, it is possible to share a cot. This is referred to as co-bedding, and it can be a great comfort to newborns as it brings them back to the womb. It is crucial to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the newborns to feel at ease without touching each other or roll around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes first must be fed. It can be beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can wake one up before the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins are quite different and could have their own sleep routines. You might find that one child wakes more than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this instance it could be beneficial for twins to have 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 areas. This is particularly important for babies susceptible to overheating, or for families with mothers who have had c-sections. Other helpful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section, is a great choice due to its large sleeping area and is easy to move. 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 that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult even if they're close. This increases the risk of SIDS and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in their parents' bedrooms for the first 6 months.