Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the twins in the infant stage close together however, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can help your twins establish an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet with the option of dividing it is a great option for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their babies near for feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their baby bassinets before they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at opposite ends. When they're big enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet. bedside cot co sleeper has a mesh divider so that babies can stay separated but still close to one the other. It comes with a handy storage pocket to keep wipes and snacks nearby as well. It folds flat making it easy to move around the house or take on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel so that you can bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access and are secured for security. It is a little longer and heavier than other options, but great for 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
Many parents of twins may be tempted to put the twins together in a single bassinet or crib, this is generally not recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own safe sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS. This is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who have grown in this type of environment develop a more coordinated sleeping patterns.
One of the most convenient methods to accomplish this is to use twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two separate bedding sets, so that each baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to another as required, and allows you to check on the babies without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their rhythms.
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 partition and adjustable height so that every baby is visible and reachable throughout the night, 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 alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two separate sleeping zones, separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see one another and the entire mattress swivels 360 degrees for ease of access for each infant.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with moses baskets or a smaller bassinette, is a great option for temporary situations like hospital stays or a visit to the family. This should only be done under the supervision by a medical professional. They will make sure that the infants are correctly placed on their feet at the bottom of the crib and all bedding is tucked into.
Safety
The most important safety aspect for twins is that they has their own space to sleep. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered, or infected by the other. It also helps to prevent the death of a cot, which is more common in single babies than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples get their own sleep space. This can be accomplished with an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can put on your bed to feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families of twins and multiples find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that the majority of families of twins that were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to a desire to sleep longer and a absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally the socioeconomic standing of a family may influence their choices regarding the arrangement of their sleep.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they may easily become entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on one another. If you're planning to sleep your twins together in the same cot it is important to put them in the position of feet-to-head and their bedding securely tucked into the cots to reduce their chances of smothering each one.
One of the safer and more practical alternatives for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet features an insulated mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own safe, flat sleep surface. It swivels a full 360 degrees to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or soothing while still in the peace of your bed. bedside crib travel and auto-return every time you move. It's also easy to clean and fits into the standard twin bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and offers similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not least, they require a great deal of planning and thinking in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good night's sleep. While the decisions regarding their future bedroom space can be taken when they are older parents often ask what they can do to help them to settle in the early stages.
When twins are very young, they are able to share a crib. Co-bedding is a method for soothing newborns by reminding them of their mother's womb. It is crucial to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without having to touch one the other or move around. You should also remember that the baby that awakes first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night to ensure that you wake one of them up earlier than the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins can be very different and they might develop their own sleep patterns. It is possible that one child sleeps better than the other or is more comfortable being close to you. In this situation it might be best to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.
Find twin bedside cots 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 mothers have had a C-section. Other beneficial features include the reversible base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver 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. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other options, but offer a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it is not recommended for twins to share a bed with an adult. This could increase the risk of SIDS and result in suffocation or strangulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be kept in their bassinets or cribs in their parents' room for the first 6 months.