Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep newborn twins close together However, you must follow safety sleeping guidelines. The proper crib arrangement will aid your twins in establishing the same routine of sleeping.
A double bassinet that has a divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their infants close for diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. They also work well for infants who might outgrow their bassinets prior to 2.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet at opposite ends. When they're old enough, they may also sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet comes with mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated, but still close. It also has a storage pocket for wipes and snacks. It folds flat, making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart is swivelling to allow you to bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and soothe them. The sides lower and raise to make it easier for you to get in, and they secure themselves to ensure your child's safety. It's a bit larger and heavier than other options, but it's perfect for grandparents' or second-floor houses, and it comes with a 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 parent/caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old to help reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who have grown in this environment develop a more coordinated sleeping pattern.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great option to achieve this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding to ensure that each baby gets their own space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to room when necessary, and also allows you to monitor the baby without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other options include double bassinets specially designed to allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height that allows each baby to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper adjust to lower and raise for quick access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable option, has two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh, permitting babies to view each the other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to allow easy access to infants.
For short-term situations, such as an emergency family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported success with co-bedding twins in the large moses basket or small bassinette with a divider. This should only be done with the supervision of a healthcare provider. They will make sure that the infants are correctly placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding put in.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most crucial security factor is that each baby has his or her own space to sleep in. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered or infected 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 twins, tritons and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping space. This can be done with an additional bassinet, or a twin bedside crib you can bring up to your bed to feed or comfort one of your babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and avoid cobedding however, the reality is that many families with twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). A previous study found that the majority of families with twins who were cobedded in the first three months at home used unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to a desire to sleep longer and the lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. Furthermore, socioeconomic status may influence family decisions regarding sleep arrangements.
If twins are positioned together in a crib or Moses basket, they could easily get caught in their bedding, and possibly choke on one another. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot ensure they are placed in the position in which their feet are close to their heads and that their bedding is tucked into the cots securely. This will lessen the chance of them choking on each other.
One of the safer and more comfortable options for twins to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet has an insulated mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It can be turned 360 degrees, so you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and then return with each movement. It's easy to clean and fits into the standard twin bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a huge life change. Not least, they require a lot of preparation and thought when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they can have a restful night. While decisions regarding their bedroom space can be taken later in life, parents often wonder how they can help their children to feel comfortable in the beginning stages.
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 helps them remember the womb. The key is to ensure that the beds are big enough for babies to be 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 beneficial to co-ordinate night feeds so that you can get one of them up earlier than the other.
It is crucial to remember that twins are quite different and could develop their own sleep patterns. You might find that one baby is waking more than the other or they prefer to be closer to you. In newborn bedside cot , it might be best for the twins to share their own bassinet or crib in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots with breathable mesh dividers for sleeping areas that are separate. This is essential for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families in which mothers have had a C-section. Other useful features include the reversible base, built-in storage for toys and blankets, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose, as it offers a large sleeping area and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, however, they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed as an adult, even if they are very close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. Instead the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping areas, such as bassinets or cribs in their parents' room for the first six months.