Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to one another, but it's important to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop the same routine of sleeping.
bedside cot mattress that has an divider is a great choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their babies near for middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their baby bassinets when they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot so long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should lie on their backs with the tops of their heads overlapping each other, and their feet on opposite ends of the cot). When they're big enough, they can also share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet. It features a mesh partition to allow babies to remain separated but still close to one the other. It also has a convenient storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes close by and also snacks. Plus, it folds flat, making it easy to move around the house or on trips.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring your twins' fluttery little ones closer to you for feeding and comfort. The sides can be raised and lowered to allow access, and they are secured to ensure safety. It's a little heavier and longer than other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparent houses, and it comes with its own travel bag. It's also a lot less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins may be tempted to sleep the babies together in a single bassinet or crib but this is not generally recommended. Instead the Rednose group Rednose suggests that twins are given their own secure sleeping space (crib or bassinet or portable crib) in the parents' or caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old in order to 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 sleep environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great way to achieve this. It comes with two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby gets their own personal space. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to another as required, and provides a convenient way to check on babies without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their rhythms.
Other options include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow the infants to be side-by-side, and are perfect for mid-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height that allows each baby to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper also lower and raise to allow for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel allowing babies to see each one another. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give an easy access for infants.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with moses baskets or a smaller bassinette, could be a good option in situations of a short duration, such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. This should only be done with the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will make sure that the babies are properly placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding is tucked in.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that they has their own space to sleep. This ensures that each baby isn't smothered or trapped by the other. It also helps to prevent cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered multis have their own space to sleep in. The best way to do this is to have an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be brought up close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families with twins and multiples find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was found that the majority of twin families that cobedded their children in the beginning of their life at home were engaged in dangerous sleep habits.
Parents of twins may not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire to extend their own sleep time and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Furthermore, socioeconomic status may affect family decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they may easily get caught in their bedding and could choke on one another. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot it is essential to place them in the feet-to-head position and have their bedding secured in the cots to reduce the chance of them smothering each one.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and more convenient alternatives for twins who wish to sleep separately. The double bassinet features mesh walls to separate twins and provide them with their own flat, safe sleep surface. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, meaning you can bring your child closer to you without having to leave your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with each movement. It is also easy to clean, and fits in the standard twin-sized bed frame. Take a look at 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. They also require a lot of planning and thinking regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable at an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a single cot when they are very small. This is referred to as co-bedding, and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it reminds them of the mother's womb. It is essential to make sure that the beds are big enough to allow the babies to feel comfortable without having to touch each others or roll around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate night feeds in order to wake up one baby before the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins can be very different and they might develop their own sleep patterns. You might find that one baby is waking more than the other, or prefers to be nearer to you. In this situation it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Choose a cot with twin beds with breathable mesh dividers for separate sleeping areas. This is especially important for babies prone to overheating, or families with mothers who have had c-sections. Other useful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers with c-sections is a fantastic choice due to its large sleeping space and is easy to move. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel but they have less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed with an adult, even if they are very close. It is an increased risk of SIDS and could lead to suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping areas, such as bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first six months.