Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to each other, but it's important to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Selecting the best crib arrangement can aid in the development of a consistent routine of sleep.

A double bassinet that has an divider is a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies close for diaper changes and feedings at night. They are also great for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before baby 2.

Space-Saving

If you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a bedside cot crib crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet on the opposite ends. They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or a regular crib when they're old enough.

We really love this Delta double bassinet, which has a mesh divider to keep babies separate but close to each and each other. It comes with a handy storage compartment that can keep wipes and snacks nearby, too. It folds flat and makes it easy to manoeuvre around the house or on trips.

This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring fussy twins nearer to you to feed them and soothe them. The sides can be lowered and raised for easy access and are secured for security. It's a bit larger and heavier than other options, but it's great for grandparents' or second-floor houses and comes with its own travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

Parents of twins may be tempted to place their babies in one crib or bassinet however, this is not recommended. Rednose suggests that twins have their own safe sleeping space (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach the age of 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who have grown in this environment develop a more synchronized sleeping patterns.

One of the easiest ways to make this work is with a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two separate bedding sets so each baby has an individual and comfortable space. This bedside crib and cot cot is also easily moved from one room to the next when needed. It is an easy and convenient way to monitor your baby without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.

Other options include double bassinets which have been designed specifically for infants that allow them to remain side-by-side and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a breathable mesh panel and adjustable height to allow each infant to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise to allow for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive option, has two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel, which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to give easy access to the infants.

Many parents have discovered that bedding twins together with moses baskets, or a smaller bassinette, could be a good option for situations that are temporary, like hospital stays or a visit to the family. This should only be done under the supervision by a medical professional. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding tucked into.

Safety

When twins are sleeping together, the most important security feature is that each infant has their individual space to sleep. This ensures that every infant is not smothered or otherwise trapped by the other. This also helps avoid deaths in the cot, which are more prevalent in infants with one parent than in multiples.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins, triplets and higher-order multiples have their own sleep space. The best way to accomplish this is by having an additional bassinet or twin bedside crib co sleeper cots that can be placed close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of the babies throughout the night.

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, a lot of families with multiples and twins find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that the majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).

Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire to increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. In addition the socioeconomic status of a family may influence their choices regarding sleeping arrangements.

If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily be pulled together and they could choke on each other. If you decide to sleep your twins in the same cot it is important to put them in a head-to-foot position and their bedding securely tucked into each cot to minimize the chance of them smothering each other.

A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and more convenient options for twins who want to sleep separately. This double bassinet comes with mesh walls that separate twins to give them each their own safe, flat sleep surface. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, so you can bring your baby closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and then return with each movement. It's easy to clean and fits in the standard twin bed frame. Check out 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 change. They require a lot of planning and thought, not least when it comes to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's sleep. While the decisions regarding their future bedroom space can be taken later in life parents are often unsure of what they can do to help them to feel comfortable in the beginning stages.

When twins are still young, it is possible to share a cot. Co-bedding is a method of helping newborns feel at ease by bringing them back to their mother's womb. The most important thing is to make sure the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or bouncing around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first needs to be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate nighttime feeds in order to get one baby up before the other.

It is important to keep in mind that twins may have different sleeping patterns. It is possible that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case it may be beneficial for twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.

When shopping for a twin bedside cot look for models that feature ventilated mesh dividers that can create distinct sleeping zones. This is crucial for infants who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families where mothers have had a c-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to move are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot for bedside is a great option for this purpose since it provides a large sleeping area and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel however, they have a smaller sleeping area than the Arm's Reach cot.

It is not recommended to sleep with twins in the same bed as an adult, even if they are close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and result in suffocation or strangulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should sleep in their own bassinets or cribs in their parents' room for the first six months.