Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best close to one another However, it's crucial to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can help your twins establish a consistent sleeping routine.
A double bassinet that comes with a divider can be an ideal option for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their babies close for diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. They are also ideal for infants who might outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at opposite ends. When they're big enough, they can also share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We are in love with this Delta double bassinet. It has a mesh divider so that babies can stay separate but close to each other. It also comes with a storage compartment for wipes and snacks. It is also foldable making it easy to move around the home and take on excursions.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feeding and soothing. The sides are lowered and raised to make it easier for you to get in, and they secure themselves to ensure your child's security. It's a little heavier and longer than other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparent houses, and it comes with its own travel bag. It's also a lot less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Many parents of twins might be enticed to place their babies in a single bassinet or crib but this is not generally recommended. Rednose suggests that twins have their own safe sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach 12 months old to lower 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 sleeping environment will typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep separately.
One of the most convenient ways to make this work is by using twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two separate bedding sets to ensure that every baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to another as needed, and it provides a convenient way to check on the babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other options include double bassinets, that have been specifically designed to allow the infants to stay side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, comes with a breathable mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that each child is visible and reachable throughout the night, and the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to make it easy to access. If you prefer a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, featuring two sleep zones separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see one another and the entire mattress is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a small bassinette could be a good option in situations of a short duration, like hospital stays or a visit to the family. bedside crib and travel cot should only be done with the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will ensure that the infants are correctly placed in a crib with their feet placed at the foot of the crib, and all bedding put in.
Safety
The most important safety aspect for twins is that they have their own bed. This ensures that every infant isn't smothered or choked by the other. It also helps prevent cot deaths, which are more common with single babies than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping area. This can be done with an individual bassinet or twin bedside crib that you can bring up to your bed to feed or sooth one of your babies during the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding however, the reality is that a lot of families of twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was discovered that the majority of twin families that cobedded their children in the beginning of their life at home were engaged in dangerous sleeping habits.
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to a desire to sleep longer and a lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally, the socioeconomic status of a family may affect their the arrangement of their sleep.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they can easily become entangled by their bedding and could choke on one another. If you decide to place your twins in the same cot, make sure they are placed in an area that their feet are right next to their heads and that their bedding is placed in the cots securely. This will reduce the possibility of them colliding on each other.
One of the safer and more comfortable options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet has a mesh wall to divide twins and give them their own flat, safe sleeping surface. It rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or soothing without having to leave the comfort of your bed. Its side walls lower and automatically return every time you move. It is also easy to clean, and can be tucked away into the standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It is a major life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not only that, they require a great deal of preparation and thought in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they can have a restful night. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to make their children feel comfortable from an early age.
When twins are still young, they can be able to share a cot. Co-bedding is a method of soothing newborns by reminding them of their womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough for the babies to be comfortable, without touching or bouncing around. You should also remember that the baby that awakes first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate night feeds in order to awake one baby prior to the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are distinct and may have their own sleep routines. It could be that one child wakes more than the other or prefers to be closer to you. In this instance it could be beneficial for the twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has ventilated mesh dividers that can create separate sleeping spaces. This is crucial for babies that are more prone to overheating or for families with c-section mothers. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to move are also helpful features. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for this purpose since it provides an ample sleeping space 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, but they have less sleeping space 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 strangulation or suffocation. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping areas, like bassinets or cribs in their parent's room for the first six months.