Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your twins who are just born close to each other however, you must adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins establish an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet with a divider is a great choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their babies near for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They also work well for infants that may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside crib, so long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should be laid on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and their feet placed at opposite sides of the cot). Once they are big enough, they can also share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet comes with a mesh divider that allows babies to be separated, but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for wipes and snacks. Plus, what is it worth folds flat, making it easy to move around the house or go 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 bit heavier and longer than some other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparents homes and comes with a travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins might be enticed to place their babies in one crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding and it has been found that twins who are used to this sleep environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than those who sleep separately.
One of the easiest ways to make this work is to use a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two separate bedding sets to ensure that each baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to the next as needed. It offers an easy and convenient way to check on your children without disturbing their sleep patterns or waking them up.
Other options include double bassinets, which have been designed specifically for infants that allow them to stay side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with a breathable mesh divider and adjustable height so that every baby is visible and reachable at all times, while the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to allow easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is a cheaper alternative, has two sleeping zones that are separated by a mesh panel, permitting babies to view each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees, allowing easy access to infants.
For situations that are temporary like an unexpected family visit or hospital stay, many parents have found success with co-bedding twins in a large moses basket or small bassinette with divider. This should only be done under the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will make sure that the babies are appropriately placed, with their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding tucked in.
Safety
The most important safety aspect when it comes to twins is that both babies has their own space to sleep. This prevents each baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choked by the other. It also helps to prevent the death of a cot, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiples get their own sleep space. This can be done with an additional bassinet, or a twin bedside crib you can place on your bed to feed or sooth one of the babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and discourage cobedding however, the reality is that a lot of families with twins and higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that the majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home, used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations due to a desire increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. In addition the socioeconomic standing of a family may influence their decisions about sleeping arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily be pulled together and they may choke on each other. If you decide to place your twins in the same cot together ensure that they are placed in an area in which their feet are close to their heads and their bedding is placed in the cots securely. This will lessen the chances of them choking on each other.
A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and easier alternatives for twins who wish to sleep in a separate bed. This double bassinet features an insulated mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own safe flat bed. It can be rotated 360 degrees, which means you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and return with each movement. It is easy to clean, and can be tucked away into the standard twin-sized bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and consideration regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good sleep. While decisions regarding their bedroom space can be taken when they are older, parents often wonder what they can do to help them get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are very young, they can be able to share a cot. Co-bedding is a method of helping newborns feel at ease by bringing them back to their mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow babies to feel comfortable without having to touch one the other or move around. It is also important to remember that the baby who waks first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can wake up one baby before the other.
It is important to be aware that twins have different sleeping patterns. It is possible that one baby is more sleepy than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this situation, it might be best for the twins to share their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Choose a cot with twin beds with breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is important for babies who are at risk of heat stroke or for families where moms have had a c-section. Other useful features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for these needs because it has a large sleeping area and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel however, they have less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it is not recommended to let twins share a bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in their parents' bedrooms for the first six months.