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. Selecting the best crib arrangement can help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.

A double bassinet with an divider is the ideal choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to let parents keep their children close during mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their bassinets before 2.

Space-Saving

Twins can share a bed in a bedside co sleeper cot cot, so long as you follow safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should be lying on their backs, with the tops of their heads facing each other and feet at opposite ends of the cot). When they're old enough, they can also share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.

This Delta double bassinet has mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated but still close. It also comes with a storage compartment for snacks and wipes. It can also fold which makes it easy to move around the home and take on excursions.

This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart is swivelling to allow you to bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and soothe them. The sides can be raised and lowered to allow access and secure themselves to ensure your child's safety. It's a bit larger and heavier than other alternatives, but it's a great choice for second floors or grandparents homes and comes with a travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose suggests that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach 12 months to lower the risk for SIDS. This arrangement is also referred to as co-bedding. It has been observed that twins who are used to this sleeping environment will often form a more synchronized sleep pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.

One of the most convenient methods to accomplish this is to use twin bedside cot used cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets, so that each baby can have a personal and comfortable space. The bedside cot can also be easily moved from one room to another when needed. It is an easy and convenient way to monitor your baby without disrupting their sleep or awakening them.

Double bassinets are another option. They permit infants to sleep side-by-side and they're perfect for diaper changes or feedings during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height that allows each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper can adjust to lower and raise for quick access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, has two sleeping zones that are separated by a mesh panel allowing babies to see each one another. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give an easy access for infants.

Many parents have discovered that bedding twins together with moses baskets or a small bassinette, could be a good option for temporary situations such as a hospital stay or a visit to the family. However this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that babies are placed properly in a cot, with their feet at the bottom of the cot and their bedding properly tucked in to avoid them from becoming suffocating.

Safety

The most important security feature when it comes to twins is that both babies have their own sleeping space. This ensures that each baby isn't smothered, or infected by the other. It also helps 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 multiples get their own sleeping space. This can be achieved by using an individual bassinet or a twin bedside crib you can place on your bed to feed or soothe one of your babies during the night.

While recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding, the reality is that many families of twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that a large majority of families with twins who were cobedded in the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).

Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS recommendations due to a desire to sleep longer and a lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally the socioeconomic standing of a family may influence their decisions about the arrangement of their sleep.

If twins are positioned side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they could easily be entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on each other. If you choose to sleep your twins in the same cot, it is essential to place them in the position of feet-to-head and have their bedding securely tucked into each cot to limit their chances of smothering each one.

One of the safer and more convenient alternatives for twins to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet comes with a mesh wall that separates twins so that they each have their own safe, flat sleep surface. It can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or soothing without having to leave the comfort of your bed. Its side walls lower and auto-return when you move. It is also easy to clean and fits into the standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.

Comfort

It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and thinking in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they'll have a restful night. While the decisions regarding their future bedroom space are made later in life, parents often wonder how they can help their children get comfortable in the early stages.

It is possible for twins to share a single cot if they are small. Co-bedding is a method of helping newborns feel at ease by bringing them back to their womb. The most important thing is to make sure the beds are large enough for the babies to feel comfortable without touching or bouncing around. It is important to be aware that the baby who wakes up first should be fed. It can be beneficial to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can get one up before the other.

However, it is important to remember that twins are quite different and could have their own sleep patterns. You might find that one baby is waking more frequently than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case it may be beneficial for the twins to share their own crib or bassinet in their room.

When shopping for a twin bedside cot ensure that it has air-tight mesh dividers that create distinct sleeping zones. This is especially important for babies that are more prone to overheating or families with c-section moms. Other beneficial features include the reversible base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for these needs because it has an ample sleeping space and is designed with mothers who have c-sections in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel however, they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.

It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult even if they're very close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping areas, like bassinets or cribs, in their parents' rooms for the first six months.