Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best close to one another However, it's crucial to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins develop the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that has a divider can be the ideal choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their children close during feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets for baby by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at opposite ends. When they're old enough, they may also sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider to allow babies to remain separated but still close to one the other. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. It folds flat, making it easy to move around the house or take on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart is swivelling so that you can bring your twins closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides lower and raise to make it easier for you to get in and secure themselves to ensure your child's safety. It's a bit bigger and heavier than the other options but is great for the second floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Parents of twins may be tempted to place their babies in a single bassinet or crib but this is not generally recommended. Instead, the group Rednose recommends that twins be given their own safe sleeping space (crib or bassinet or portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they turn 12 months old in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who have grown up in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest ways to make this work is by using a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two distinct bedding sets, so that every baby can have a personal and comfortable space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to another depending on the need. It offers an easy and convenient method to monitor your baby without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Double bassinets are a different option. They permit infants to sleep side-by-side and are ideal for feedings and diaper changes in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has a breathable mesh divider and a height that can be adjusted so that each baby is visible and reachable at all times, and the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to allow easy access. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see one another and the entire mattress can rotate 360 degrees to give easy access to each infant.
For situations that are temporary like a family visit or hospitalization, many parents have found success with co-bedding twins in the large moses basket or small bassinette with a divider. This should only be done with the supervision of a healthcare provider. They will make sure that the babies are properly placed in a crib with their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding put into.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most crucial security factor is that each baby has his or her individual space to sleep. This will prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choked by the other. This also helps to avoid cot deaths, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping area. The best way to do this is by having an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be brought up close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies throughout the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding but the reality is that a lot of families with twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that a large majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to sleep longer and absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about sleeping arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily get caught in their midst and they could choke eachother. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot it's important to place them in a head-to-foot position and their bedding securely tucked into each cot to minimize their chances of smothering each other.
A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and more convenient options for twins who want to sleep separately. This double bassinet features an insulated mesh wall that separates twins so that they each have their own secure flat bed. It swivels a full 360 degrees, allowing you to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or calming without leaving the peace of your bed, and its side walls lower and auto-return every time you move. It's easy to clean and fits in the standard twin bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and comes with similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is an enormous life altering. Not least, they require a great deal of preparation and thought when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good night's sleep. While decisions regarding their bedroom space are made later in life parents are often unsure of how they can help them to settle in the early stages.
When twins are young, it is possible to share a cot. Co-bedding is a method of helping newborns feel at ease by reminding them of their womb. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or bouncing around. Also, remember that bedside crib vs cot that is the first to wake up must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate night feeds so that you can wake up one baby before the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleeping routines. You may find that one of them wakes more than the other or they prefer to be closer to you. In this instance it may be beneficial for the twins to share their own bassinet or crib in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots that have breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants that are prone to heat stroke or for families where moms have had a c-section. Other helpful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, which is designed for c-section mothers, is a great choice due to its large sleeping space and is easy to move. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both alternatives, but they have a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult, even if they are close. This increases the risk of SIDS and may result in suffocation strangulation, or entrapment. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping areas, like bassinets or cribs, in their parents' rooms for the first six months.
