Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best close to one another It's vital to follow safe sleeping recommendations. Selecting the best crib arrangement will help your twins develop a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet with a divider is a great option 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. They are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at opposite ends. Once they are big enough, they may also sleep together in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet features a mesh partition that allows children 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 home and take on excursions.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feedings and calming. The sides can be raised and lowered to allow access and lock into place for safety. It's a bit larger and heavier than other options, but it's perfect 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
While many parents of twins may be tempted to put the twins together in a single crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Instead the group Rednose recommends that twins be given their own safe sleeping space (crib or bassinet or portable crib) in the parents' or caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old to help reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who grew in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest methods to accomplish this is by using a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets to ensure that each baby has an individual and comfortable space. bedside cosleeper can also be easily moved from one room to the next when needed. It offers an easy and convenient way to check on your babies without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Other options include double bassinets, which have been designed specifically to allow infants to stay side-by-side and are ideal for middle-of-the-night feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has an air-tight mesh partition and adjustable height so that each baby is visible and reachable throughout the night, and the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to allow easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, has two sleeping zones that are separated by a mesh panel, which allows babies to see each other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give an easy access for infants.
For bedside crib or cot like a family visit or hospital stay, many parents have found success with co-bedding twins in a large moses basket or small bassinette with a divider. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that babies are properly positioned in a cot, with their feet at the floor of the cot and all bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most important security factor is that each infant has his or her individual space to sleep. This ensures that each baby is not smothered or otherwise infected 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 recommends that twins, triplets and higher-order multiplications have their own sleep space. The best method to achieve this is by having a separate bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be brought up close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families with twins and multiples have found it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that a majority of families with twins who were cobedded during the first 3 months at home used unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not follow current SIDS recommendations due to a desire to sleep longer and a lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition the socioeconomic standing of a family could influence their decisions about the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are positioned together in a crib or Moses basket, they can easily get caught in their bedding and could choke on each other. If you choose to sleep your twins together in the same cot it is essential to place them in the position of feet-to-head and their bedding securely tucked into the cots to reduce the chance of them smothering each other.
A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and most convenient options for twins who want to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet comes with a mesh wall to divide twins and give them their own flat, secure sleeping surface. It can be rotated 360 degrees, which means you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with each movement. It's easy to clean and fits into the standard twin bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. 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 a lot of thought and preparation not to mention when it comes to the place they will sleep and how they'll get a good night's sleep. While the decisions regarding their future room can be made when they are older parents are often unsure of how they can help their children to feel comfortable in the beginning stages.
It is possible for twins to share a crib when they are small. This is referred to as co-bedding, and can provide great comfort to newborns as it helps them remember the womb. The key is to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow the infants to be comfortable, without touching each other or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night to ensure that you wake up one baby before the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleeping patterns. You might find that one baby is waking more than the other, or they prefer to be nearer to you. In this situation it is possible to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.
Choose a cot with twin beds with breathable mesh dividers for sleeping areas that are separate. This is particularly important for babies susceptible to overheating, or for families with c-section moms. Other helpful features include the reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose because it has an ample sleeping space and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel but they have a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're extremely close, it is not recommended that twins share the bed with an adult. This increases the risk of SIDS and could lead to suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping areas, such as cribs or bassinets, in their parent's room for the first six months.