Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Newborn twins sleep best when close to one another It's vital to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. The proper crib arrangement will aid your twins in establishing the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that has a divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their infants close for diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. These beds are also great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets for baby by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet at opposite ends. They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or regular crib when they're old enough.
This Delta double bassinet has a mesh divider that allows children to be separated but still close. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. Plus, it folds flat making it easy to move around the house or take on trips.
Another option is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and soothing. The sides are lowered and raised to allow access and are secured to ensure security. It's a little heavier and longer than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparent' houses, and it comes with its own travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding. It has been observed that twins who are accustomed to this type of sleeping environment often form a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic method to achieve this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding, so that each baby has their own personal space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to another when needed. It provides an easy and convenient method to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Double bassinets are another option. They allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for diaper changes or feedings during 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 seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise to allow for easy access. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two separate sleeping zones, separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see each other, and the entire sleeper can rotate 360 degrees to give ease of access for each infant.
Many parents have found that bedding twins together with a moses basket, or a small bassinette can be a good solution for situations that are temporary, such as a hospital stay or a visit to the family. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure that babies are placed properly, with their feet to the foot of the cot, and all bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most crucial safety feature is that each baby has their individual space to sleep. This ensures that every infant is not smothered or otherwise choked by the other. This also helps avoid cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping area. 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 your 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 however, the reality is that a lot of families of twins and higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was found that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children during the first three months of their lives at home were engaged in dangerous sleep practices.
Parents of twins may not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines because of a desire to increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Additionally, the socioeconomic status of a family can influence their decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily get caught in their midst and they could choke eachother. If you decide to place your twins in the same cot ensure that they are in the position where their feet are next to their heads and their bedding is tucked into the cots securely. This will decrease the possibility of them colliding on each other.
A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and more convenient alternatives for twins who wish to sleep separately. This double bassinet has a mesh wall to separate twins and give them their own safe, flat mattress to sleep on. It swivels a full 360 degrees so you can bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or soothing while still in the comfort of your bed. The side walls lower and auto-return when 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 has similar 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 preparation and thought in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they can have a restful night. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable at an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a single cot when they are very small. bedside cots for newborns -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 big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching each other or rolling around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who waks first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night in order to wake up one baby before the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins can be distinct and may develop their own sleep routines. It is possible that one baby sleeps more than the other or is more comfortable being close to you. In this case it is possible to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.
When looking for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has breathable mesh dividers to create distinct sleeping zones. This is important for babies that are prone to heat stroke or for families where moms have had a c-section. Other beneficial features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers with c-sections is a fantastic choice because it has a large sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. 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 to sleep with twins in the same bed with an adult, even if they are close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. 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.