Choosing bedside crib or cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to each other It's vital to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement will aid in the development of a consistent routine of sleep.
A double bassinet that has a divider can be a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their children close during diaper changes and mid-night feedings. They are also great for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before 2 years old.
Space-Saving
As long as you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet on the opposite ends. They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or regular crib when they're old enough.
We love this Delta double bassinet, which features a mesh partition to allow babies to remain separate, yet close to each the other. It also has a pocket for storage for snacks and wipes. It folds flat and makes it easy to move around the house or on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides are lowered and raised to allow access and are secured to ensure security. It's a bit bigger and heavier than other options but is great for the second-floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
It is not recommended that parents of twins sleep their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Instead the group Rednose suggests that twins be provided with their own private sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding, and it has been observed that twins who are accustomed to this type of sleeping environment often form a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep in separate rooms.
A twin bedside cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great way to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own space. This bedside cot is also easily moved from one room to the next depending on the need. It is an easy and convenient method to check on your children without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed for infants that allow them to remain side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height to allow each infant to be seen and reachable at all times. The sides of the sleeper also lower and raise for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh, which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to allow easy access to infants.
Many parents have discovered that bedding twins together with moses baskets, or a small bassinette is a great option in situations of a short duration, like hospital stays or a visit to the family. This should only be done under the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will make sure that the babies are appropriately placed on their feet placed at the foot of the crib and all bedding is tucked in.
Safety
When it comes to twins sleeping together, the most important security feature is that each infant has his or her individual space to sleep. This ensures that each baby isn't smothered or trapped by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more common in single babies than in multiples.
bedside crib or cot of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping area. This can be done with an additional bassinet, or twin bedside crib that you can put on your bed to feed or sooth one of the babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families with twins and multiples find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that a large majority of families with twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home, used 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. In addition, socioeconomic status could affect family decisions about the arrangement of their sleep.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they can easily be entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on one another. If you decide to sleep your twins in the same cot it is important to put them in the position of feet-to-head and with their bedding secured in each cot to limit the possibility of them colliding with each other.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and easier options for twins that want to sleep separately. The double bassinet features a mesh wall to divide twins and give them their own flat, safe sleeping surface. It swivels a full 360 degrees, allowing you to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or soothing without having to leave the comfortable bed. Its sides lower and auto-return when you move. It's easy to clean and fits in the standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a major life change. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they will have a restful night. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel comfortable from an early age.
When twins are young, they are able to share one crib. This is referred to as co-bedding, and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it reminds them of the birthing process. It is essential to make sure that the beds are large enough for infants to be comfortable without touching each other or roll around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who waks first must be fed. It can be beneficial to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can get one up earlier than the other.
It is important to be aware that twins have different sleep routines. You may find that one baby is waking more frequently than the other or prefers 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.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models with breathable mesh dividers to create distinct sleeping spaces. This is particularly important for babies that are prone to overheating, or for families with c-section mothers. Other helpful features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, designed for c-section mothers is a great option because it offers a huge sleeping area and is easy to maneuver. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other alternatives, but they have a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're close, it's not recommended to let twins share the bed with an adult. This can increase the risk of SIDS and lead to strangulation or suffocation. Instead the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping spaces, such as cribs or bassinets, in their parents' room for the first six months.