Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the 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 an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet with the option of dividing can be an ideal option for twins. These beds can be used to keep their babies close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. They are also great for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside crib, as long as you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say that they should be lying on their backs with the tops of their heads touching each other, and their feet on opposite ends of the cot). They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're big enough.
We love this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider to keep babies separated but still close to one the other. It also has a pocket for storage for wipes and snacks. It's also foldable, making it easier to move around the home and take on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart is swivelling so that you can bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides lower and raise to make it easier for you to get in, and they lock into place for security. It's a bit heavier and longer than some other options, but it's great for second floors or grandparents homes and comes with its own travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Instead, the group Rednose suggests that twins are given their own safe sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they reach 12 months old to help reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who are accustomed to this type of sleeping environment typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
One of the easiest ways to make this work is by using a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two separate bedding sets, so that each baby has an individual and comfortable space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to another as needed, and it makes it easy to check on babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow the infants to remain side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a breathable mesh panel and adjustable height that allows each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper also adjust to lower and raise for quick access. If you're looking for a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see one another, and the entire sleeper is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a small bassinette could be a good option for temporary situations such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. This should only be done under the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will make sure that the babies are properly placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib and all bedding put into.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most important security feature is that each baby has their individual space to sleep. This prevents each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choked by the other. bedside crib that turns into cot helps to prevent deaths in the cot, which are more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples have their own sleeping space. The best way to accomplish this is to have an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that could be positioned close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families with twins and multiples have found it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). A previous study found that a large 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 because of a desire to prolong their own sleep and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs at home. In addition the socioeconomic status of a family can influence their choices regarding sleeping arrangements.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they can easily get caught in their bedding, and possibly choke on each other. If you decide to sleep your twins in the same cot it's important to place them in the position of feet-to-head and have their bedding securely tucked into each cot to limit their chances of smothering each one.
bedside sleeper cot of the safer and more convenient options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet comes with mesh walls to separate twins and provide them with their own flat, secure mattress to sleep on. It swivels a full 360 degrees to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or soothing without leaving the peace of your bed. Its side walls lower and automatically return every time you move. It's easy to clean and can be tucked away in the standard twin 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 in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they will have a restful night. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel at ease from an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a single cot when they are very small. This is referred to as co-bedding, and can provide wonderful comfort for newborns since it reminds them of the womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. You should also remember that the baby that awakes first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can wake up one baby before the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins can be distinct and may have their own sleep routines. You might find that one child wakes more frequently than the other or that they prefer to be close to you. In this case, it may be best to give each twin their own bassinet or crib.
When shopping for a twin bedside cot, look for models with air-tight mesh dividers that create separate sleeping spaces. This is essential for babies that are prone to heat stroke or for families in which mothers have had a c-section. Other beneficial features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for this purpose since it provides an ample sleeping space and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel however, they have less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult even if they're close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and cause suffocation or strangulation. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs in their parent's room for the first six months.