Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep newborn twins close together however, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins establish an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet with the option of dividing can be the ideal choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their children close during diaper changes and mid-night feedings. They are also ideal for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before 2 years old.
Space-Saving
If you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. best bedside cot for newborn should be placed on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet at opposite ends. When they're old enough, they can also sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider to allow babies to remain separate, yet close to each and each other. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. It's also foldable which makes it easy to move around the house and travel with on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel so that you can bring your twins closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be lowered and raised for easy access, and are secured for security. It's a little heavier and longer than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparent homes, and it comes with its own travel bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins may be tempted to place their babies in one crib or bassinet 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 12 months to lower the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding, and it has been observed that twins who have been accustomed to this sleep environment will typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great method to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding so that each baby has their own personal space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to another as needed. It provides an easy and convenient method to check on your children without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.
Double bassinets are another option. They allow babies to sleep side-byside, and are ideal for feedings and diaper changes in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height to allow each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise to allow for easy access. If you prefer a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two separate sleeping zones, separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see one another, and the entire sleeper swivels 360 degrees for ease of access for each infant.
For short-term situations, such as an unexpected family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported success with co-bedding twins in large moses baskets or a small bassinette with divider. This should only be done under the supervision by a healthcare professional. They will ensure that the babies are properly placed, with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding put in.
Safety
When twins sleep together, the most important security feature is that each infant has his or her own sleep space. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered or trapped by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more common in single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping space. This can be achieved by using an individual bassinet or a twin bedside crib you can place on your bed to feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and avoid cobedding, the reality is that many families of twins and other higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was discovered that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children during the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleep practices.
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to sleep longer and a absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family may influence their decisions about sleeping arrangements.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they could easily get caught in their bedding and could choke on one another. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot it is important to put them in a head-to-foot position and have their bedding tucked securely into each cot to minimize their chances of smothering each one.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and most convenient alternatives for twins who wish to sleep in a separate bed. This double bassinet comes with an insulated mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or calming while still in the comfortable bed, and its side walls lower and auto-return when you move. It is also easy to clean and can be tucked away into a standard twin-sized bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It is a major life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They also require a lot of preparation and thought when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good sleep. While decisions regarding their room can be made later in life parents are often unsure of how they can help their children get comfortable in the early stages.
It is possible for twins to share a single crib when they are small. This is known as co-bedding and it can be a great comfort to newborns as it brings them back to the mother's womb. It is essential to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow infants to be comfortable without having to touch one the other or move around. You should also be aware that the baby who wakes up first should be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can wake one up earlier than the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins are quite different and could develop their own sleep routines. It is possible that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be near you. In this case it is possible to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
When shopping for a twin bedside cot look for models with ventilated mesh dividers that can create distinct sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families in which mothers have had a C-section. Other beneficial features include an adjustable base, built-in storage space for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, which is designed for c-section mothers, is a great choice because it has a large sleeping space and is easy to move. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel however, they have a smaller sleeping area 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. This can increase the risk of SIDS and result in suffocation or strangulation. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs, in their parent's room for the first six months.