How To Outsmart Your Boss Twin Bedside Cot
Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is best bedside cot for newborn to keep your twins in the infant stage close together however, you must follow safety sleeping guidelines. A proper crib arrangement can help your twins establish a consistent sleeping routine.
A double bassinet that has a divider can be the ideal choice for twins. These beds can be used to keep their babies close for diaper changes and feedings at night. These beds are also ideal for babies who may outgrow their baby bassinets before they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
Twins can share a bed in a newborn bedside cot cot as long as you follow safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say they should be laid on their backs, with the tops of their heads facing each other and their feet placed at opposite ends of the cot). When they're old enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet comes with mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated but still close. It also has a convenient storage compartment to keep wipes and snacks nearby, too. It can also fold which makes it easy to move around the home and take on trips.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and soothing. The sides lower and raise for access and are secured to ensure safety. It's a bit larger and heavier than other options, but it's perfect for second floors or grandparents homes and comes with its own travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Instead the Rednose group Rednose suggests that twins are provided with their own private sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they reach 12 months old to help reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who grew in this environment develop a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
One of the most convenient methods to accomplish this is by using twin bedside cot bed cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets so each baby can have an individual and comfortable space. This bedside crib with changing table cot is also easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It provides an easy and convenient method to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Other options include double bassinets specially designed to allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for middle-of-the-night feeds or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height to allow each baby to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise 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, allowing babies to see each other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to give an easy access for infants.
Many parents have realized 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 family visit. However this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that the babies are properly placed in a cot, with their feet at the floor of the cot, and all bedding securely tucked in, to prevent them from being suffocated.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most crucial security factor is that each baby has his or her own space to sleep in. This prevents each baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise choking by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more common in single babies than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered multis have their own space to sleep in. The best method to achieve this is by having an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be brought up close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, a lot of families with twins and multiples find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that a majority of families of twins that were cobedded during the first three months at home used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS risk reduction recommendations because of a desire to prolong their own sleep and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs at home. In addition the socioeconomic status of a family could affect their sleep arrangements.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they could easily become entangled by their bedding and potentially choke on each other. If you choose to sleep your twins in the same cot it is essential to place them in a head-to-foot position and with their bedding tucked securely into the cots to reduce the possibility of them colliding with each other.
One of the safer and more practical options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bassinet that sits beside the bed like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet has a mesh wall to divide twins and give them their own flat, secure sleeping surface. It swivels a full 360 degrees so you can bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or to soothe without leaving the comfortable bed. The side walls lower and automatically return every time you move. It's easy to clean and can be tucked away in a standard twin bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and offers similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a significant life change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They also require a lot of planning and consideration in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good night's sleep. While decisions regarding their bedroom space are made as they age parents often ask how they can help them to feel comfortable in the beginning stages.
It is possible for twins to share a single cot when they are very small. This is referred to as co-bedding, and can provide great comfort to newborns as it brings them back to the mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to feel comfortable without touching or bouncing around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can awake one baby prior to the other.
However, it is important to keep in mind that twins are distinct and may develop their own sleep routines. You may find that one baby is more sleepy than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this instance it may be beneficial for twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Choose a cot with twin beds with mesh dividers that are breathable for separate sleeping areas. This is crucial for babies who are more prone to overheating or families with c-section mothers. Other useful features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a great choice for these purposes since it provides 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 Swaivel, however, they have less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult, even if they are very close. This can increase the risk of SIDS and cause suffocation or strangulation. Instead the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping areas, like bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first six months.