Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to one another It's vital to follow safe sleeping recommendations. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid in the development of a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet with the option of dividing can be a great choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to let parents keep their infants close for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They are also ideal for infants that may outgrow their bassinets before 2.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot, as long as you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say they should be lying on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and their feet placed at opposite ends of the cot). They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're large enough.
This Delta double bassinet comes with a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated, but still close. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. It is also foldable making it easy to move around the house and take on trips.
Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring fussy twins closer to you for feeding and calming. The sides lower and raise to allow access, and they secure themselves to ensure your child's security. It's a bit longer and heavier than other options, but great for second-floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also a lot less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins put 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 caregivers/parents 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 accustomed to this sleep environment will typically have a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep separately.
A twin bedside cot, such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is an excellent method to accomplish this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding, so that each baby has their own personal space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to room as required, and makes it easy to check on babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their routines.
Double bassinets are an alternative. They allow infants to sleep side-by-side and are ideal for feedings and diaper changes during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has a breathable mesh divider and adjustable height so that every baby can be observed and reached at all times, and the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to make it easy to access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, has two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel, allowing babies to see each other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees, allowing easy access to infants.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins 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 the babies are placed properly, with their feet to the floor of the cot and all bedding properly tucked in to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most crucial security factor is that each infant has his or her own space to sleep in. This ensures that every infant isn't smothered, or infected by the other. This also helps to avoid deaths in cots, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
bedside travel crib of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping space. This can be done by using a separate bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can put on your bed to feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding, the reality is that many families with twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a large majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleeping 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 the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Additionally, the socioeconomic status of a family may affect their the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily entangle them and they could choke on eachother. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot it is important to put them in the feet-to-head position and with their bedding tucked securely into each cot to limit the chance of them smothering each one.
One of the safer and more practical alternatives for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet features mesh walls to separate twins and provide them with their own flat, safe sleep surface. It swivels a full 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or soothing without leaving the comfortable bed. The side walls lower and automatically return when you move. It's easy to clean and fits into the standard twin bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require lots of planning and thought not to mention when it comes to where they will sleep and how they will get a good night's rest. While decisions regarding their room can be made later in life parents often ask what they can do to help them to feel comfortable in the beginning stages.
When twins are young, they are able to share a cot. Co-bedding is a method for comforting newborns by reminding them of their womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow the infants to feel comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is important to keep in mind that the baby who is the first to wake up must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can wake up one baby before the other.
It is important to keep in mind that twins can have very different sleep routines. It is possible that one baby is more sleepy than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case, it may be best to give each twin their own crib or bassinet.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot look for models with ventilated mesh dividers that can create distinct sleeping areas. This is essential for babies who are at risk of heat stroke or for families in which moms have had a c-section. Other beneficial features include an adjustable base, built-in storage for toys and blankets, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, which is designed for c-section mothers, is a great choice because it offers a huge sleeping area and is easy to move. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but offer a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult even if they're very close. This increases the risk of SIDS and could lead to suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping areas, like bassinets or cribs, in their parents' rooms for the first six months.