Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to one another, but it's important to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet with a 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 great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets for baby by the time they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at opposite ends. They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're big enough.
We love this Delta double bassinet. It has a mesh divider to allow babies to remain separate but close to each the other. It also has a convenient storage pocket to keep snacks and wipes close by as well. It folds flat and makes it easy to move around the house or on trips.
Another option is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feeding and comfort. The sides can be raised and lowered to allow access and lock into place for security. It's a little heavier and longer than other options, but it's great for second floors or grandparents houses and comes with its own travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins might be enticed to place their babies in one crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach 12 months to lower the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding. It has been observed that twins who are used to this type of sleeping environment often form a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep on their own.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is an excellent way to achieve this. It comes with two sets of bedding so that each baby gets their own personal space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It is a convenient and easy way to check on your children without disturbing their sleep patterns or wake them up.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has an air-tight mesh divider and adjustable height so that each baby can be seen and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to allow easy access. If you're looking for an affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two separate sleeping zones, separated by mesh panels that allow babies to view each other and the entire mattress can rotate 360 degrees to give easy access to each infant.
Many parents have realized that bedding twins in a moses basket, or a small bassinette, is a great option in situations of a short duration, like hospital stays or a visit to the family. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that babies are properly placed, with their feet to the foot of the cot and all bedding securely tucked in, to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that both babies have their own sleeping space. This helps prevent each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise choking 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 by using a separate bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can put on your bed to feed or sooth one of the babies during the night.
While recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and discourage cobedding, the reality is that many families of twins and higher-order multiples have difficulty complying with these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a majority of families of twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to the desire to rest longer and lack of space in their home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, socioeconomic status can affect family decisions about the arrangement of their sleep.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they could easily get caught in their bedding and could choke on one another. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot it's important to place them in the feet-to-head position and with their bedding tucked securely into each cot to minimize the possibility of them colliding with each one.
A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and more convenient options for twins that want to sleep in a separate bed. This double bassinet has a mesh wall to divide twins and give them their own safe, flat mattress to sleep on. It can rotate 360 degrees so you can bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or calming without having to leave the comfort of your bed. Its side walls lower and auto-return when you move. 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 as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a major life altering. They also require a lot of preparation and thought when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good sleep. While decisions about their future room can be made 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 cot when they are very small. Co-bedding is a method for comforting newborns by reminding them of their mother's womb. The key is to make sure the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes first needs to be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you wake one up earlier than the other.
It is crucial to keep in mind that twins can be quite different and could develop their own sleeping patterns. You may find that one baby sleeps more than the other or prefers to be near you. In this instance it could be beneficial for twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots with mesh dividers that are breathable to create separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are at risk of heat stroke or for families in which moms have had a c-section. Other helpful features include the reversible base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. 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. 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 with an adult even if they're very close. This could increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. bedside cot newborn of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be in their own bassinets or cribs in the parents' bedrooms for the first 6 months.