Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to each other, but it's important to adhere to safe sleeping guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid in the development of an established routine for sleep.

A double bassinet that has a divider can be a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies near for feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. They are also ideal for infants that may outgrow their bassinets before 2.

Space-Saving

Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot newborn cot provided you adhere to safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say that they should be lying on their backs with the tops of their heads touching each other, and their feet on opposite sides of the cot). They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're big enough.

This Delta double bassinet features a mesh divider that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for snacks and wipes. It can also fold which makes it easy to move around the house or take on trips.

Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring your twins' fluttery little ones closer to you for feeding and soothing. The sides are lowered and raised for access, and they lock into place for safety. It's a bit bigger and heavier than the other options however it is ideal for the second-floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a carry-on bag. It's also a lot cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

It is not recommended that parents of twins put their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose suggests that twins have their own safe sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew up in this environment develop a more synchronized sleeping pattern.

One of the most convenient ways to achieve this is with a twin bedside crib vs cot cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets, so that each baby has an area that is comfortable and private. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to room when required, and provides a convenient way to check on the babies without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their sleep patterns.

Double bassinets are an alternative. They permit babies to sleep side-byside, and they're perfect for feedings or diaper changes during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has an air-tight mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that every baby is visible and reachable at all times, and the sides of the sleeper can be raised and lowered to make it easy to access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, comes with two sleep zones separated by a mesh, permitting babies to view each one another. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to allow easy access to infants.

Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a small bassinette, can be a good solution 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 the babies are placed properly in a cot, with their feet at the floor of the cot and their bedding securely tucked in, to avoid them from becoming suffocating.

Safety

When twins are sleeping together, the most important security factor is that each baby has his or her own space to sleep in. This will prevent each baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise choking by the other. It also helps to prevent cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiplications have their own space to sleep in. This can be done with an individual bassinet or twin bedside crib that you can place on 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 disallow cobedding, the reality is that many families of twins and higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that the majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home, used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).

Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations because of a desire to increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic standing of a family may affect their the arrangement of their sleep.

If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily entangle them and they could choke eachother. If you decide to place your twins in the same cot together ensure that they are placed in a position that their feet are right next to their heads and that their bedding is placed in each cot with a secure. This will lessen the chance of them choking on each other.

A bassinet that is positioned at the bedside, like the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and more convenient options for twins that want to be able to sleep independently. This double bassinet has a mesh wall to separate twins and provide them with their own flat, safe sleep surface. It swivels a full 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or soothing without leaving the comfortable bed. The side walls lower and auto-return with each movement. It is also easy to clean and can be tucked away into a standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and comes with similar features as the Halo Bassinest.

Comfort

It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not least, they require a great deal of planning and consideration regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they'll get a good night's sleep. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel at ease at an early age.

It is possible for twins to share a single cot if they are small. This is referred to as co-bedding, and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it helps them remember the mother's womb. It is essential to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without having to touch each others or roll around. You should also keep in mind that the baby who wakes up first should be fed. It is helpful to co-ordinate night feeds to ensure that you wake one up before the other.

It is important to keep in mind that twins may have different sleep routines. You might find that one child sleeps better than the other or is more comfortable being close to you. In this instance, it may be best to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.

When you are looking for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has breathable mesh dividers to create distinct sleeping zones. This is important for babies who are at risk of heat stroke or families whose moms have had a c-section. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to move are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for this purpose since it provides a large sleeping area and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but offer smaller sleeping spaces than the Arm's Reach cot.

It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult, even if they are close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and result in suffocation or strangulation. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs, in their parents' room for the first six months.