Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins who are just born sleep best close to one another It's vital to follow safe sleeping recommendations. The right crib arrangement can help your twins develop a consistent sleeping routine.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing it is a great choice for twins. These beds can be used to keep their infants close for diaper changes and mid-night feedings. They also work well for infants that may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot provided you adhere to the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should be lying on their backs with the tops of their heads touching each other and their feet placed at opposite ends of the cot). They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or a regular crib once they're large enough.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which features a mesh partition to allow babies to remain separate but close to each the other. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. It is also foldable, making it easier to move around the house and travel with on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel so that you can bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be raised and lowered for access, and they secure themselves to ensure your child's safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than some other options, but it's great for second floors or grandparent' houses and comes with its own travel bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Parents of twins might be enticed to put the twins together in a single crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach 12 months old to lower the chance of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who grew in this type of environment develop a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
A twin bedside cot, such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great way to achieve this. It includes two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own personal space. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It provides a convenient and easy way to monitor your baby without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow the infants to remain side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and 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 less expensive alternative, has two sleeping zones that are separated by a mesh panel, permitting babies to view each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees, allowing easy access to infants.
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, such as a hospital stay or a family visit. However this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that babies are placed properly and with their feet towards the bottom 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 they has their own space to sleep. This prevents every 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 sleeping area. This can be accomplished with an individual bassinet or a twin bedside crib you can place on your bed to feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families with twins and multiples find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a prior study, it was found that the majority of twin families who cobedded their children in the first three months of life at home engaged in unsafe sleeping habits.
Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations due to a desire extend their own sleep time and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. In addition the socioeconomic status of a family can influence their decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they can easily get caught in their bedding and potentially choke on each other. If you're planning to sleep your twins in the same cot it's important to place them in the feet-to-head position and their bedding tucked securely into each cot to limit the possibility of them colliding with each one.
A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and most convenient options for twins that want to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet features mesh walls to separate twins and provide them with their own flat, secure mattress to sleep on. It can be turned 360 degrees, so you can bring your baby closer to you without having to leave your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and then return with each movement. It is easy to clean, and fits into the standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. available at Walmart and has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is an enormous life-changing. Not least, they require a lot of preparation and thought in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll have a restful night. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel more comfortable in the early years of their lives.
When twins are young, they can be able to share a cot. bedside cot 6 months plus is known as co-bedding and it can be a excellent comfort for babies as it brings them back to the mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are large enough to allow the infants to be comfortable, without touching each other or rolling around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who awakes first must be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate feeding times at night to ensure that you wake up one baby before the other.
It is important to remember that twins can have very different sleep patterns. You may find that one of them wakes more than the other or prefers to be nearer to you. In this case it may 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 for separate sleeping areas. This is important for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families in which mothers have had a C-section. Other helpful features include an adjustable base, built-in storage for toys and blankets, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section is a fantastic choice because it has a large sleeping area and is easy to move. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other options, but 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 are close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and result in strangulation or suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be kept in their bassinets or cribs in the parents' room for the first six months.