Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the newborn twins close together however, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. The right crib arrangement can aid in the development of a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet that comes with an divider is the ideal choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. They are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before 2.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside crib, as long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should be laid on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other, and their feet on opposite ends of the cot). Once they are big enough, they can sleep together in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet comes with a mesh divider that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for wipes and snacks. It folds flat making it easy to manoeuvre around the house or go on trips.
Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring your twins' fluttery little ones closer to you for feedings and calming. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access and are secured for security. It is a little longer and heavier than other models, but great for second-floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins may be tempted to sleep the babies together in a single bassinet or crib, this is generally not recommended. Instead, the group Rednose suggests that twins are given their own secure sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they are 12 months old to help reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding and it has been proven that twins who are accustomed to this sleep environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins 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, so that each baby has their own personal space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to room as needed, and it provides a convenient way to check on babies without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their rhythms.
Double bassinets are another option. They permit infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a breathable mesh panel and adjustable height to allow each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper lower and raise to allow for easy access. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to view each other and the entire bed swivels 360 degrees for an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with a moses basket, or a small bassinette, could be a good option for temporary situations like hospital stays or a family visit. This should only be done with the supervision of a healthcare provider. They will ensure that the infants are correctly placed on their feet at the foot of the crib, and all bedding tucked in.
Safety
The most important safety feature for twins is that each baby have their own sleeping space. This will prevent the baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choking by the other. This also helps to avoid cot deaths, which are more common in single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered multis have their own space to sleep in. This can be done by using an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can place on your bed to feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding but the reality is that a lot of families of twins and other higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with 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 might not follow the current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to rest longer and 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 may easily get caught in their bedding and could choke on each other. If you decide to sleep your twins together in the same cot, it's important to place them in a head-to-foot position and their bedding secured in each cot to limit the chance of them smothering each one.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and easier options for twins that want to sleep separately. This double bassinet comes with a mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own secure flat bed. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, which means you can bring your baby closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and return with each movement. It's also easy to clean and fits in the standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and offers similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a major life-changing. They also require a great deal of preparation and thought when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good night's sleep. While Recommended Reading regarding their future bedroom space are made as they age, parents often wonder how they can help their children to settle in the early stages.
It is possible for twins to share a single crib when they are small. Co-bedding is a method for helping newborns feel at ease by bringing them back to their womb. It is essential to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow newborns to feel at ease without having to touch each other or roll around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who waks first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can wake one up before the other.
It is important to remember that twins have different sleep routines. It could be that one child wakes more than the other, or they prefer to be nearer to you. In this situation, it might be best for twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot look for models that feature ventilated mesh dividers that can create separate sleeping zones. This is crucial for infants who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families where mothers have had a c-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to maneuver are also useful features. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for this purpose because it has a spacious sleeping area and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. Recommended Reading or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other alternatives, but they have a smaller 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 are very close. It is an increased risk of SIDS, and may result in suffocation strangulation or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be kept in their cribs or bassinets in their parents' room for the first 6 months.