Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together However, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid your twins in developing an established routine for sleep.
A double bassinet that has a divider can be a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their infants close for diaper changes and feedings at night. These beds are also great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot, so long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should lie on their backs with the tops of their heads touching each other and feet at opposite ends of the cot). They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're big enough.
This Delta double bassinet features a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also has a convenient storage compartment that can keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity, too. Additionally, it folds flat, making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel to allow you to bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides can be raised or lowered for easy access and are locked in place for safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than some other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparents houses, and it comes with a travel bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins might be enticed to place their babies in a single bassinet or crib however, this is not recommended. 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 referred to as co-bedding and it has been proven that twins who have been accustomed to this sleeping environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep on their own.
One of the most convenient ways to make this work is with twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, which comes with two separate bedding sets to ensure that each baby has a personal and comfortable space. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to room as needed, and it allows you to monitor the baby without having to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their routines.
Double bassinets are a different option. They allow babies to sleep side-byside, and they're perfect for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with a breathable mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that every baby can be seen and reached throughout the night, and the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to give easy access. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see one another and the entire mattress is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving easy access to each infant.
Many parents have found that bedding twins in moses baskets or a small bassinette is a great option for situations that are temporary, such as a hospital stay or a family visit. This should only be done under the supervision of by a medical professional. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed on their feet placed at the foot of the crib and all bedding put into.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that both babies has their own space to sleep. This will prevent every baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise choking by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more prevalent in infants with one parent than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping area. The best way to accomplish this is with an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be brought up close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families with twins and multiples have found it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS risk reduction recommendations because of a desire to increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. In addition, socioeconomic status could affect family decisions about sleep arrangements.
If travel bedside crib are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily entangle them and they could choke on eachother. If you choose to sleep your twins in the same cot, it is important to put them in a head-to-foot position and their bedding securely tucked into the cots to reduce their chances of smothering each one.
One of the safer and more practical alternatives for twins to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet comes with a mesh wall to separate twins and give them their own flat, secure sleeping surface. It rotates 360 degrees so you can bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or to soothe without leaving the comfortable bed. Its side walls lower and auto-return with each movement. It's easy to clean and can be tucked away in the standard twin bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It is a major life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require lots of planning and consideration especially when it comes to the place they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's rest. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to help their children feel comfortable in the early years of their lives.
It is possible for twins to share a cot when they are very small. This is known as co-bedding and it can be a excellent comfort for babies as it reminds them of the womb. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow the infants to feel comfortable without touching or rolling around. Also, remember that the baby 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.
It is important to be aware that twins have different sleeping routines. You might find that one baby sleeps more than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case it is possible to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
When looking for a twin bedside cot look for models that feature breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping spaces. This is particularly important for babies that are more prone to overheating or for families with c-section moms. Other beneficial features include a reversible base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, designed for c-section mothers, is a great choice due to its large sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel but they have a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult, even if they are close. This could increase the risk of SIDS and lead to suffocation or strangulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents' room for the first six months.