Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your twins in the infant stage close together however, you must follow safety sleeping guidelines. The right crib arrangement will aid in the development of a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet with an divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. These beds are also ideal for babies who might outgrow their baby bassinets when they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet on the opposite ends. They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or a crib once they're large enough.
This Delta double bassinet comes with mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated but still close. It comes with a handy storage compartment that can keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity as well. Plus, it folds flat and makes it easy to move around the house or go on trips.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and soothing. The sides can be raised or lowered for easy access and are locked to ensure security. It's a bit longer and heavier than the other options but is great for the second floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also a lot cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Rednose recommends that twins have their own safe sleeping space (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach 12 months to lower the chance of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who grew up in this environment develop a more coordinated sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest methods to accomplish this is to use a twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two distinct bedding sets, so that each baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. This bedside cot can also easily be moved from room to room as required, and provides a convenient way to monitor the baby without having to wake them by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other options include double bassinets, which have been designed specifically to allow infants to stay side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feeds or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height to allow each infant to be seen and reachable 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 more affordable alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel permitting babies to view each other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to allow an easy access for infants.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with a moses basket, or a smaller bassinette, could be a good option for temporary situations such as a hospital stay 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 appropriately placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding put into.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most crucial security feature is that each baby has their own space to sleep in. This prevents each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choking by the other. It also helps to prevent the death of a cot, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered multiples have their own space to sleep in. The best method to achieve this is with an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be placed close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the babies throughout the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and discourage cobedding but the reality is that many families of twins and other higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). In a prior study, it was found that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children in the first three months of life at home were engaged in dangerous sleeping habits.
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to sleep longer and the lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, 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 could easily become entangled by their bedding and could choke on one another. If you're planning to put your twins in the same cot, it is important to put them in the feet-to-head position and their bedding secured in each cot to limit the chance of them smothering each other.
One of the safer and more convenient options for twins to be able to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet comes with a mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own secure and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It can be turned 360 degrees, meaning you can bring your baby closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and return with every 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 has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. cot for bedside require lots of planning and thought not to mention when it comes to where they will sleep and how they'll get a restful night's sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to help their children feel comfortable from an early age.
It is possible for twins to share a cot if they are small. Co-bedding is a method for soothing newborns by bringing them back to their womb. The key is to make sure the beds are big enough for the babies to be comfortable, without touching each other or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who waks first must be fed. It can be beneficial to co-ordinate night feeds so that you can wake one of them up earlier than the other.
It is important to keep in mind that twins have different sleep routines. You might find that one baby is waking more frequently than the other or prefers to be closer to you. In this situation it is possible to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.
Choose a cot with twin beds with mesh dividers that are breathable to create separate sleeping areas. This is important for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a C-section. Other beneficial features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section, is a great choice because it has a large sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, but they offer a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're extremely close, it is not recommended for twins to share a bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS and may result in suffocation strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' room for the first six months.