Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together however, you must adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. Selecting best bedside cots can aid your twins in developing a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet with a divider can be the ideal choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their babies near for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They are also great for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before 2.
Space-Saving
If you follow safe sleeping guidelines, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet at the opposite ends. When they're big enough, they may also share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We love this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider so that babies can stay separated but still close to one the other. It also has a convenient storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity and also snacks. Plus, it folds flat making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or take on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel to allow you to bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides can be raised or lowered for easy access, and are secured for safety. It's a little heavier and longer than other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparent homes and comes with its own travel bag. It's also a lot cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins might be enticed to put the twins together in one crib or bassinet however, this is not recommended. Instead, the group Rednose recommends that twins be given their own secure sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parents' or caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who are used to this type of sleeping environment typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than those who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is an excellent option to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own space. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to the next as needed. It provides a convenient and easy way to check on your children without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Other options include double bassinets, specially designed for infants that allow them to stay side-by-side and are ideal for nighttime feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has an air-tight mesh divider and a height that can be adjusted so that each child can be seen and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to give easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, has two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel which allows babies to see each other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to allow easy access to the infants.
For short-term situations like an emergency family visit or hospitalization Many parents have had the benefits of co-bedding twins using large moses baskets or a small bassinette with a divider. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure that the babies are placed properly in a cot, with their feet at the floor of the cot and their bedding securely tucked in, to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most crucial security feature is that each baby has their own space to sleep in. This will prevent each baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choking by the other. This also helps to avoid cot deaths, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping space. The best way to accomplish this is with a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that could be brought up close to your bed when you 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 parents and discourage cobedding but the reality is that many families with twins and higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). In a prior study, it was found that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children during the first three months of life at home were engaged in dangerous sleeping habits.
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to rest longer and the absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition, the socioeconomic status of a family could influence their decisions about sleeping arrangements.
If twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they may easily get caught in their bedding and potentially choke on one another. If you decide to sleep your twins together in the same cot it's important to place them in the feet-to-head position and with their bedding secured in each cot to minimize their chances of smothering each one.
best bedside cots of the safer and more practical options for twins to be able to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet has mesh walls that separate twins to give them each their own safe, flat sleep 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 side walls lower and automatically return every time you move. It is also easy to clean and can be tucked away into the 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's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not least, they require a great deal of preparation and thought when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good sleep. While decisions regarding their room can be made later in life, parents often wonder what they can do to help them get comfortable in the early stages.
It is possible for twins to share a single crib when they are small. This is called co-bedding and can provide excellent comfort for babies as it brings them back to the birthing process. It is crucial to make sure that the beds are large enough to allow babies to feel comfortable without touching each other or roll around. You should also be aware that the baby who is the first to wake up should be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds in order to wake up one baby before the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins can be distinct and may develop their own sleeping routines. You might find that one baby sleeps more than the other or prefers to be near you. In this situation it is possible to give each twin a separate bassinet or crib.
When shopping for a twin bedside cot look for models that feature ventilated mesh dividers that can create distinct sleeping zones. This is particularly important for babies that are susceptible to overheating, or for families with mothers who have had c-sections. Other beneficial features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section, is a great choice because it has a large sleeping space and is easy to maneuver. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel however, they have a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended for twins to share a bed with an adult. It is an increased risk of SIDS, and may result in suffocation strangulation or entrapment. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping spaces, such as cribs or bassinets, in their parents' rooms for the first six months.