Choosing a
Bedside Cot for TwinsIt's best to keep newborn twins close together However, you must adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. The proper crib arrangement will 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 as well as mid-night meals. These beds are also ideal for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets by the time they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside cot, provided you adhere to the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should lie on their backs, with the tops of their heads facing each other and feet at opposite sides of the cot). They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're big enough.
This Delta double bassinet has a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also has a convenient storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity as well. It's also
foldable bedside crib, making it easier to move around the home and travel with on trips.
Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feedings and comfort. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access, and are secured for security. It's a bit larger and heavier than other options, but it's great for second floors or grandparents houses and comes with a travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Parents of twins may be tempted to sleep the babies together in one crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Rednose suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who have grown in this type of environment develop a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to use a twin
bedside travel crib cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two separate bedding sets so each baby has an area that is comfortable and private. The
bedside cot reviews cot can easily be moved from room to another as required, and provides a convenient way to check on babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other options include double bassinets, specially designed to allow the infants to remain side-by-side and are ideal for middle-of-the-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features a breathable mesh divider and adjustable height so that each baby is visible and reachable at all times, while the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to make it easy to access. If you prefer a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two sleeping zones separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see one another and the entire bed is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving easy access to each infant.
Many parents have discovered that bedding twins together with a moses basket, or a small bassinette could be a good option for temporary situations like hospital stays or a family visit. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that babies are placed properly and with their feet towards the foot of the cot and all bedding properly tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
The most important security feature when it comes to twins is that both babies have their own sleeping space. This will prevent each
baby bedside co sleeper from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choking by the other. It also helps to prevent cot death, which is more prevalent in infants with one parent than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping space. The best way to accomplish this is with an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be placed close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
While 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 of twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a majority of families with twins who were cobedded in the first 3 months at home, used unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire prolong their own sleep and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Additionally the socioeconomic standing of a family may influence their choices regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they can easily be entangled by their bedding and potentially choke on one another. If you decide to sleep your twins together in the same cot, it's important to place them in the position of feet-to-head and with their bedding tucked securely into each cot to minimize the possibility of them colliding with each one.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and most convenient alternatives for twins who wish to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet comes with an enclosed mesh wall that can separate twins and give them their own safe, flat mattress to sleep on. It swivels a full 360 degrees to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or calming while still in the peace of your bed. Its side walls lower and auto-return with each movement. It's easy to clean and fits into a standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out 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 change. Not least, they require a lot of planning and consideration regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good sleep. While decisions regarding their bedroom space can be taken as they age, parents often wonder how they can help their children to feel comfortable in the beginning stages.
It is possible for twins to share a single crib when they are small. Co-bedding is a method for comforting newborns by bringing them back to their mother's womb. The key is to make sure the beds are large enough for babies to be comfortable without touching each other or rolling around. Also, be aware that the baby who wakes up first should be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you wake one up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins can be very different and they might have their own sleep patterns. You may find that one baby is more sleepy than the other or is more comfortable being close to you. In this instance, it may be best to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has breathable mesh dividers to create distinct sleeping spaces. This is important for babies who are at risk of heat stroke or for families where mothers have had a c-section. Other useful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for these needs, as it offers an ample sleeping space and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel but they have a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended that twins share the bed with an adult. This could increase the risk of SIDS and result in strangulation or suffocation. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs in their parent's room for the first six months.