Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep twins who are just born close to each other However, you must adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid in the development of an established routine for sleep.
A double bassinet with the option of dividing it is a great choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their babies near for feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. These beds are also great for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets by the time they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside crib, provided you adhere to the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should lie on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and feet at opposite ends of the cot). When they're old enough, they may also sleep together in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet. It has a mesh divider to keep babies separated but still close to one the other. It comes with a handy storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes close by and also snacks. It is also foldable, making it easier to move around the house and take on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart is swivelling to allow you to bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and soothe them. The sides can be raised and lowered to make it easier to access them and they are secured for security. It's a bit larger and heavier than other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparent homes, 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 put their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Instead the group Rednose suggests that twins are provided with their own private sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they are 12 months old to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding and it has been found that twins who have been accustomed to this type of sleeping environment generally have a more coordinated sleep pattern than those who sleep separately.
One of the easiest ways to make this work is by using a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets to ensure that each baby can have an individual and comfortable space. foldable bedside crib is able to easily be moved from room to room when needed, and it provides a convenient way to monitor the baby without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their routines.
Double bassinets are a different option. They permit infants to sleep side-by-side and they're perfect for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features an air-tight mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that each baby can be seen and reached at all times, and the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to give easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable option, has two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel, which allows babies to see each one another. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees, allowing an easy access for infants.
For short-term situations, such as an unexpected family visit or hospital stay, many parents have found success in co-bedding twins in the large moses basket or small bassinette that has dividers. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that the babies are properly placed, with their feet to the foot of the cot, and all bedding securely tucked in, to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety aspect when it comes to twins is that they have their own bed. This ensures that every infant isn't smothered or choked by the other. It also helps to prevent cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered multis 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 feed or soothe one of your babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families of twins and multiples have found it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a large majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS recommendations due to the desire to sleep longer and absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can influence family decisions regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they can easily become entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on each other. If you're planning to put your twins in the same cot it is essential to place them in a head-to-foot position and have their bedding tucked securely into each cot to minimize the chance of them smothering each other.
One of the safest and more convenient alternatives for twins to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet comes with mesh walls to divide twins and give them their own safe, flat sleeping surface. It can be rotated 360 degrees, so you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with every movement. It is also easy to clean and fits in the standard twin-sized bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a huge life change. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and consideration regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good night's sleep. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable from an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a crib when they are small. Co-bedding is a method of soothing newborns by bringing them back to their mother's womb. It is important to make sure that the beds are large enough to allow the babies to feel comfortable without having to touch one other or roll around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who waks first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate night feeds to ensure that you get one baby up before the other.
It is important to keep in mind that twins may have different sleeping routines. You might find that one of them wakes more than the other or prefers to be nearer to you. In this instance it is possible to provide each twin with their own crib or bassinet.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot look for models with ventilated mesh dividers that can create separate sleeping spaces. This is important for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families where mothers have had a C-section. A reversible base as well as wheels that are easy to move are also useful features. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose, as it offers a large sleeping area and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other options, but offer smaller sleeping spaces than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult, even if they are very close. It is an increased risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' bedrooms for the first 6 months.