Twin Bedside Cot: The Good The Bad And The Ugly
Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best to keep your newborn twins close together however, you must adhere to safety sleep guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid your twins in developing a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing can be a great choice for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to let parents 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
As long as you follow safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet on the opposite ends. Once they are big enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
We are in love with this Delta double bassinet, which features a mesh partition to keep babies separated but still close to one other. It comes with a handy storage compartment that can keep snacks and wipes in the vicinity, too. It can also fold which makes it easy to move around the house or travel with on trips.
Another alternative is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring your twins' fluttery little ones closer to you for feedings and soothing. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access, and are secured for safety. It's a bit heavier and longer than some other options, but it's perfect for grandparents' or second-floor homes, and it comes with a travel bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Parents of twins may be tempted to put the twins together in one crib or bassinet, this is generally not 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 to reduce the risk for SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who grew up in this environment develop a more coordinated sleeping pattern.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is with a twin rocking bedside crib cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two distinct bedding sets so each baby can have a personal and comfortable space. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to room when needed, and it allows you to check on the babies without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their routines.
Double bassinets are a different option. They permit babies to sleep side-byside, and are ideal for feedings or diaper changes during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height that allows each baby to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise for easy access. If you're looking for a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two sleeping zones separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see one another and the entire bed can rotate 360 degrees to give easy access to each infant.
Many parents have realized that co-bedding twins with moses baskets, or a smaller bassinette, can be a good solution for situations that are temporary, such as a hospital stay or a family visit. This should only be done under the supervision by a medical professional. They will ensure that the babies are properly placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib, and all bedding is tucked in.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most important safety feature is that each infant has his or her own sleep space. This ensures that every infant isn't smothered, or trapped by the other. This also helps avoid 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. The best way to do this is to have a separate bassinet or twin rocking bedside crib cots that can be placed close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of the 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). In a previous study it was discovered that the majority of twin families who cobedded their children in the beginning of their life at home were engaged in dangerous sleeping habits.
Parents of twins might not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines due to a desire prolong their own sleep and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Furthermore, socioeconomic status may influence family decisions regarding sleeping arrangements.
If twins are placed in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily entangle them and they could choke on eachother. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot, it is essential to place them in a head-to-foot position and their bedding secured in each cot to minimize their chances of smothering each one.
One of the safer and more convenient alternatives for twins to sleep separately is a bedside co sleeper bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet has mesh walls to divide twins and give them their own safe, flat sleep surface. It can rotate 360 degrees to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or soothing without having to leave the peace of your bed. Its side walls lower and automatically return when you move. It is also easy to clean and can be tucked away into the standard twin-sized bed frame. Take a look at the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require lots of planning and consideration not to mention 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 often wonder how they can help them get comfortable in the early stages.
It is possible for twins to share a cot if they are small. Co-bedding is a method of soothing newborns by reminding them of their mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are large enough for babies to be comfortable, without touching or rolling around. Also, keep in mind that the baby who is the first to wake up must be fed. It can be beneficial to co-ordinate night feeds so that you can get one up earlier than the other.
However, it is important to remember that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleeping patterns. You might find that one baby is waking more than the other, or they prefer to be close to you. In this situation it could be beneficial for the twins to share their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Choose a cot with twin beds with breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for infants who are susceptible to heat stroke or families whose moms have had a c-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to move are also useful features. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers with c-sections is a fantastic choice due to its large sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but offer smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended that twins share the bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS and may result in suffocation strangulation or entrapment. Instead it is recommended that 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.