Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the newborn twins close together however, you must adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins develop the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that has a divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their children close during feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. They are also ideal for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before baby 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside cot provided you adhere to the safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say they should be laid on their backs with the tops of their heads touching each other and their feet placed at opposite ends of the cot). They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're big enough.
We love this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider to allow babies to remain separated but still close to one and each other. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. It folds flat, making it easy to move around the house or take on trips.
Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and comfort. The sides can be raised and lowered for access, and they are secured to ensure security. It's a bit bigger and heavier than the other options however it is ideal for the second-floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins might be enticed to sleep the babies together in one crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Instead, bedside travel cot recommends that twins be given their own secure sleeping space (crib or bassinet or portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they reach 12 months old in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding and it has been observed that twins who are used to this type of sleeping environment often form a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep on their own.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is an excellent method to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding, so that each baby gets their own personal space. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to room when needed, and it makes it easy to check on the babies without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their rhythms.
Other options include double bassinets that have been specifically designed for infants that allow them to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has a breathable mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that every baby is visible and reachable at all times, and the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to make it easy to access. If you're looking for a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two sleep zones separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see one another and the entire mattress swivels 360 degrees for an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have realized that bedding twins in moses baskets or a smaller bassinette, can be a good solution for situations that are temporary, like hospital stays or a family visit. However this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that babies are properly positioned in a cot, with their feet at the floor of the cot and all bedding properly tucked in to prevent them from being suffocated.
Safety
The most important security feature when it comes to twins is that both babies have their own bed. This will prevent every baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choking by the other. It also helps to prevent deaths in cots, which are more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples have their own space to sleep in. This can be achieved with an individual bassinet or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or sooth one of the babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding, the reality is that many families of twins and other higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was discovered that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children in the first three months of life at home engaged in unsafe sleeping habits.
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines because of a desire to extend their own sleep time and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily entangle them and they may choke on each other. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot together ensure that they are in a position in which their feet are close to their heads, and that their bedding is put into each cot securely. This will decrease the possibility of them colliding on each other.
One of the safest and more practical options for twins to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet has a mesh wall to separate twins and provide them with their own safe, flat sleeping surface. It rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or soothing while still in the comfort of your bed, and its sides lower and auto-return every time you move. It's easy to clean and can be tucked away in a standard twin bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is an enormous life-changing. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good night's sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to help their children feel comfortable at an early age.
When twins are still young, it is possible to share a crib. This is known as co-bedding and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it helps them remember the womb. The most important thing is to make sure the beds are large enough for babies to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is important to remember that the baby that is the first to wake up should be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can get one up before the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins can be quite different and could develop their own sleep patterns. You may find that one baby is waking more than the other, or prefers to be nearer to you. In this situation it might be best to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.
Find twin bedside cots that have breathable mesh dividers for sleeping areas that are separate. This is crucial for infants that are prone to heat stroke or families whose moms have had a c-section. A reversible base as well as wheels that are easy to move are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for this purpose because it has an ample sleeping space and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are also options, but have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult, even if they are close. It is an increased risk of SIDS, and may result in suffocation strangulation or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' bedrooms for the first 6 months.