Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep twins in the infant stage close together, but you should also follow safety sleeping guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can aid your twins in establishing the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that comes with the option of dividing can be the ideal choice for twins. These beds can be used to keep their infants close for diaper changes and feedings at night. These beds are also ideal for babies who might outgrow their baby bassinets by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a bedside cot so long as you follow safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say they should be lying on their backs, with the tops of their heads facing each other, and their feet on opposite ends of the cot). When they're old enough, they can also sleep together in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet. It features a mesh partition so that babies can stay separate, yet close to each and each other. It has a handy storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity as well. It folds flat, making it easy to move around the house or on trips.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feeding and comfort. The sides are lowered and raised to allow access, and they are secured to ensure safety. It's a little heavier and longer than some other alternatives, but it's a great choice for grandparents' or second-floor' houses, and it comes with its own travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Parents of twins might be enticed to place their babies in a single bassinet or crib however, this is not recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own safe sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months old to lower the risk for SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who have been accustomed to this sleeping environment will typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than those who sleep separately.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic way to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own personal space. This bedside cot can also easily be moved from room to room as required, and allows you to check on babies without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other options include double bassinets which have been designed specifically for infants that allow them to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a breathable mesh panel and adjustable height to allow each infant 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 less expensive alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh, which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give easy access to the infants.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a smaller bassinette, is a great option in situations of a short duration, such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. This should only be done under the supervision of by a medical professional. They will make sure that the babies are properly placed in a crib with their feet at the foot of the crib and all bedding put in.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most important security feature is that each baby has his or her own space to sleep in. travel cot bedside Cots For Tots ensures that each baby is not smothered or otherwise trapped by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more prevalent in infants with one parent than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping space. This can be accomplished with an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or soothe one of your babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding, the reality is that many families with twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that the majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first 3 months at home, used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS recommendations due to the desire to sleep longer and the lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about sleeping arrangements.
If twins are placed together in a crib or Moses basket, they can easily be entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on one another. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot it is essential to place them in a head-to-foot position and have their bedding secured in each cot to minimize the chance of them smothering each other.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and more convenient options for twins who want to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet features an enclosed mesh wall that can separate twins and give them their own safe, flat mattress to sleep on. It can be rotated 360 degrees, so you can bring your baby closer to you without having to leave your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and then return with each movement. It is also easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is a major life altering. Not only that, they require a lot of preparation and thought regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good night's sleep. While decisions about their future bedroom space are made later in life parents are often unsure of what they can do to help them get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are very young, it is possible to share one crib. Co-bedding is a method for soothing newborns by reminding them of their womb. The key is to ensure that the beds are large enough for babies to feel comfortable without touching each other or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can get one of them up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are very different and they might develop their own sleeping routines. It is possible that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be near you. In this situation it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
Choose a cot with twin beds with breathable mesh dividers for sleeping areas that are separate. This is crucial for infants who are at risk of heat stroke or for families in which moms have had a c-section. Other useful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage space for toys and blankets, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers with c-sections, is a great choice because it offers a huge sleeping area and is easy to move. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but offer a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult even if they're close. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and can cause 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 bassinets or cribs, in their parents' rooms for the first six months.