Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together, but you should also follow safety sleeping guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can help your twins develop an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet with a divider is a great choice for twins. These beds can be used to keep their babies close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. These beds are also ideal for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets before they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet at the opposite ends. They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're big enough.
This Delta double bassinet features a mesh partition that allows children to be separated but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for snacks and wipes. It's also foldable making it easy to move around the house and travel with 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 soothe them. The sides can be lowered and raised to make it easier to access them and they are locked in place for safety. It's a bit longer and heavier than the other options, but great for second-floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins may be tempted to place their babies in a single bassinet or crib however, this is not recommended. Instead, the group Rednose recommends that twins be given their own secure sleeping space (crib or bassinet or portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they turn 12 months old to help reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who are accustomed to this type of sleeping environment typically have a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep separately.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to use a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets, so that each baby has an individual and comfortable space. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to the next as needed. It is a convenient and easy way to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Double bassinets are another option. They allow infants to sleep side-by-side and are ideal for feedings or diaper changes in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height to allow each infant to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper also lower and raise for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive 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 the infants.
For situations that are temporary like an unexpected family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported success in co-bedding twins in a large moses basket or small bassinette with divider. This should only be done with the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will make sure that the babies are appropriately placed, with their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding put in.
Safety
When twins sleep together, the most crucial security factor is that each baby has their individual space to sleep. This prevents each baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise choking by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping area. The best way to accomplish this is with a separate bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be placed close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies throughout the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and disallow cobedding however, the reality is that a lot of families of twins and other higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). A previous study found that the majority of families of twins that were cobedded during the first 3 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 increase their own sleep duration and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally, socioeconomic status can influence family decisions regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding may easily entangle them and they could choke on each other. If you decide to place your twins in the same cot, make sure they are in a position in which their feet are close to their heads and their bedding is tucked into the cots securely. This will reduce the chances of them choking on each one.
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 features a mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own safe flat bed. It can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or soothing without leaving the peace of your bed, and its sides lower and auto-return when you move. It's also easy to clean and fits in the standard twin bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It is a major life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not least, they require a lot of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good night's sleep. Parents often wonder what they can do to help their children feel comfortable at an early age.
When twins are very young, it is possible to share a crib. This is called co-bedding and it can be a excellent comfort for babies as it helps them remember the birthing process. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to feel comfortable without touching each other or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who waks first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate night feeds in order to get one baby up before the other.
It is important to remember that twins can have very different sleep patterns. travel cot bedside could be that one child wakes more than the other, or that they prefer to be nearer to you. In this situation it might be best to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
Choose a cot with twin beds 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 for families where moms have had a c-section. Other helpful features include a reversible base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose, as it offers an ample sleeping space and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are also options, but offer smaller sleeping spaces than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're extremely close, it's not recommended to let twins share a bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and could lead to suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first six months.