Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together however, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins develop the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing it is a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their infants close for feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. They are also ideal for infants who might outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside cot so long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should be laid on their backs with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and their feet placed at opposite sides of the cot). They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a crib once they're large enough.
We are in love with this Delta double bassinet. It features a mesh partition so that babies can stay separate but close to each other. It also has a pocket for storage for wipes and snacks. Additionally, it folds flat and makes 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 fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides can be raised and lowered to make it easier for you to get in and are secured to ensure safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparent homes and comes with its own travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Instead the group Rednose suggests that twins are given their own secure sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they turn 12 months old to help reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding and it has been found that twins who have been accustomed to this sleeping environment will generally have a more coordinated sleep pattern than twins who sleep separately.
One of the easiest methods to accomplish this is by using a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two separate bedding sets, so that each baby has an individual and comfortable space. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to room as required, and makes it easy to monitor the baby without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their routines.
Double bassinets are an alternative. They permit infants to sleep side-by-side and they're perfect for feedings or diaper changes in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has an air-tight mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that each baby can be observed and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to make it easy to access. If you're looking for an affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, featuring two separate sleeping zones, separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see each other and the entire bed is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving an easy access to every infant.
For temporary situations, such as an emergency family visit or hospitalization, many parents have found success with co-bedding twins in a large moses basket or small bassinette with a divider. This should only be done under the supervision a healthcare provider. They will ensure that the infants are correctly placed in a crib with their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding is tucked in.
Safety
The most important safety aspect when it comes to twins is that each baby have their own sleeping space. This helps prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choking by the other. It also helps prevent cot death, which is more common in single babies than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins, triplets and higher-order multiples get their own sleep space. The best way to accomplish this is to have an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be positioned close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of your babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families of multiples and twins find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was found that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children in the first three months of life at home were engaged in dangerous sleep practices.
Parents of twins might not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to sleep longer and a lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition the socioeconomic status of a family can affect their the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily be pulled together and they could choke each other. If you're planning to sleep your twins in the same cot, it's important to place them in the feet-to-head position and with their bedding tucked securely into each cot to limit the possibility of them colliding with each one.
One of the safer and more practical options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet features mesh walls that separate twins, giving them their own safe flat bed. It can be turned 360 degrees, which means you can bring your baby closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with each movement. It is also easy to clean and fits in a standard twin-sized bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It 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 great deal of preparation and thought regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good night's sleep. Parents often wonder what they can do to help their children feel more comfortable in the early years of their lives.
When twins are very young, they can be able to share one cot. This is referred to as co-bedding, and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it brings them back to the mother's womb. The key is to ensure that the beds are large enough for babies to feel comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night to ensure that you wake one up before the other.
amazon bedside cot is crucial to keep in mind that twins can be very different and they might develop their own sleeping routines. You might find that one child wakes more frequently than the other or that they prefer to be nearer to you. In this situation it may be beneficial for the twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models with breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping zones. This is crucial for babies who are more prone to overheating or for families with c-section moms. Other beneficial features include a reversible base, built-in storage for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for these needs since it provides an ample sleeping space and is designed with c-section moms in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel but they offer a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended for twins to share a bed with an adult. It is an increased risk of SIDS, and could lead to suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents' rooms for the first six months.