Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best close to each other, but it's important to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Selecting the best crib arrangement will help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet with the option of dividing it is a great option for twins. These beds can be used to keep their infants close for diaper changes and feedings at night. They are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before 2.
Space-Saving
If you adhere to safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet at the opposite ends. Once they are big enough, they may also share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We are in love with this Delta double bassinet. It includes a mesh divider, so that babies can stay separate but close to each other. It also has a convenient storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes close by as well. It folds flat making it easy to move around the house or on trips.
Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring fussy twins closer to you for feeding and comfort. The sides can be raised or lowered to make it easier to access them and they are locked to ensure safety. It's a little heavier and longer than some other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparents' houses, and it comes with its own travel bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins may be tempted to sleep the babies together in a single crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is known as co-bedding. Highly recommended Internet site has been demonstrated that twins who have grown in this type of environment develop a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is an excellent option to accomplish this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding so that each baby gets their own personal space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to the next when needed. It offers an easy and convenient way to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.
Double bassinets are an alternative. They permit infants to sleep side-by-side and are perfect for feedings or diaper changes during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features an air-tight mesh partition and a height that can be adjusted so that every baby can be seen and reached throughout the night, and the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to allow easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive alternative, has two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel permitting babies to view each one another. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to allow easy access to infants.
For short-term situations, such as a family visit or hospital stay Many parents have had success in co-bedding twins in large moses baskets or a small bassinette that has dividers. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that babies are properly positioned in a cot, with their feet at the bottom of the cot, and all bedding securely tucked in, to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most crucial security feature is that each baby has his or her own space to sleep in. This helps prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choked by the other. This also helps to avoid the death of a cot, which is more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiples get their own sleeping space. This can be done by using a separate bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can place on your bed to feed or sooth 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, the reality is that many families of twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). In a previous study it was discovered that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children during the beginning of their life at home engaged in unsafe sleeping habits.
Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations due to a desire to increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about sleeping arrangements.
If twins are placed together in a crib or Moses basket, they could easily get caught in their bedding and could choke on each other. If you're planning to put your twins in the same cot, it is important to put them in the position of feet-to-head and with their bedding tucked securely into the cots to reduce the chance of them smothering each one.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and most convenient options for twins that want to sleep in a separate bed. The double bassinet has an insulated mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own safe, flat sleep surface. It can rotate 360 degrees to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or soothing without having to leave the comfortable bed. The side walls lower and automatically return with each movement. It's also easy to clean and fits in a standard twin bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a major life altering. Not only that, they require a lot of planning and consideration regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good night's sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable in the early years of their lives.
When twins are very young, it is possible to share a crib. This is called co-bedding and can provide great comfort to newborns as it reminds them of the mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow newborns to feel at ease without having to touch one other or roll around. It is important to be aware that the baby who is the first to wake up must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night in order to awake one baby prior to the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins are quite different and could have their own sleep patterns. You might find that one child wakes more than the other, or that they prefer to be close to you. In this instance it might be best to give each twin a separate crib or bassinet.
Choose a cot with twin beds with mesh dividers that are breathable for sleeping areas that are separate. This is crucial for babies susceptible to overheating, or for families with c-section moms. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to move are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot is a great option for these needs, as it offers a large sleeping area and is designed with c-section moms in mind. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, but they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended to let twins share the bed with an adult. This can increase the risk of SIDS and cause suffocation or strangulation. Instead the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping spaces, such as cribs or bassinets, in their parent's room for the first six months.