Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to each other It's vital to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins develop the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that comes with an divider is a great choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their children close during diaper changes and mid-night feedings. They are also great for infants that may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside cot, provided you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should be lying on their backs with the tops of their heads facing each other and feet at opposite sides of the cot). They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a regular crib when they're old enough.
This Delta double bassinet has a mesh divider that allows babies to be separated but still close. It has a handy storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity, too. It's also foldable, making it easier to move around the house or take on trips.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feedings and calming. The sides can be raised or lowered to make it easier to access them and they are locked in place for security. It's a little heavier and longer than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparents houses and comes with its own travel bag. baby bedside co sleeper 's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins may be tempted to put the twins together in one crib or bassinet, this is generally not recommended. Instead the group Rednose recommends that twins be provided with their own private sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a portable crib) in the parents' or caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old in order to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding, and it has been observed that twins who are accustomed to this sleeping environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than those who sleep on their own.
A twin bedside cot, such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great method to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to another depending on the need. It offers an easy and convenient way to monitor your baby without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Other options include double bassinets, specially designed to allow infants to stay side-by-side and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with a breathable mesh divider and a height that can be adjusted so that every baby can be seen and reached throughout the night, and the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to give easy access. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two sleeping zones separated by mesh panels that allow babies to view each other, and the entire sleeper is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have discovered that bedding twins in moses baskets, or a small bassinette is a great option for situations that are temporary, such as hospitalization or a family visit. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that the babies are properly positioned, with their feet to the floor of the cot and all bedding securely tucked in, to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety feature for twins is that both babies have their own bed. This ensures that every infant isn't smothered, or trapped by the other. This also helps avoid the death of a cot, which is more common in single babies than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping area. The best method to achieve this is to have an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be placed close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of your babies throughout the night.
Although 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 have found it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was discovered that the majority of twin families that cobedded their children in the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleep practices.
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations because of a desire to extend their own sleep time and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs at home. In addition, socioeconomic status could affect family decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they could easily become entangled by their bedding and potentially choke on one another. 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 put into each cot securely. This will reduce the chance of them choking on each other.
One of the safer and more practical alternatives for twins to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet comes with mesh walls that separate twins to give them each their own safe, flat sleep surface. It can be turned 360 degrees, meaning you can bring your baby closer to you without having to leave your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with every 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 similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It is a major life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not least, they require a great deal of planning and thinking regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good night's sleep. Parents often wonder what they can do to help their children feel at ease at an early age.
When twins are still young, they are able to share one crib. Co-bedding is a method for soothing newborns by bringing them back to their womb. The key is to make sure the beds are large enough for babies to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who wakes first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you wake one of them up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleeping patterns. You may find that one baby is more sleepy than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case, it may be best to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has breathable mesh dividers to create distinct sleeping areas. This is particularly important for babies that are more prone to overheating or for families with c-section mothers. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to maneuver are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for these needs because it has a spacious sleeping area and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other options, but offer smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed with an adult even if they're close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and cause suffocation or strangulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' rooms for the first six months.