Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It's best to keep newborn twins close together However, you must adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. Choosing 4-in-1 bedside crib will aid your twins in developing a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet with a divider is a great option for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to allow parents to keep their infants close for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. These beds are also great for babies who are likely to outgrow their baby bassinets before they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
As long as you follow the safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can sleep in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads pointing towards each other and their feet on the opposite ends. Once they are big enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which includes a mesh divider, to keep babies separate, yet close to each other. It also has a pocket for storage for snacks and wipes. It's also foldable making it easy to move around the house or travel with on trips.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides can be raised and lowered for easy access, and are locked to ensure safety. It is a little longer and heavier than other models however it is ideal for the second-floor or homes for grandparents. 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 put their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib, portable crib, or bassinet) in the room of the caregivers/parents until they reach the age of 12 months to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is referred to as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who have grown up in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to use twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets so every baby can have a personal and comfortable space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to room as needed, and it makes it easy to monitor the baby without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their rhythms.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed to allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features 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 lower and raise to make it easy to access. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two separate sleeping zones, separated by mesh panels that allow babies to view each other and the entire bed swivels 360 degrees for easy access to each infant.
Many parents have realized that bedding twins together with a moses basket, or a small bassinette is a great option 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 professional to ensure that 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
The most important safety aspect 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. This also helps to avoid cot deaths, which are more common in single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered multis have their own space to sleep in. The best way to do this is by having an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be placed close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of your babies throughout the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and disallow cobedding but 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 a majority of families with twins who were cobedded in the first three months at home, used unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not follow current SIDS recommendations due to the desire to rest longer and lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition, socioeconomic status could influence family decisions regarding sleeping arrangements.
If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily be pulled together and they could choke each other. If you choose to sleep your twins in the same cot, it's important to place them in a head-to-foot position and with their bedding tucked securely into each cot to minimize their chances of smothering each one.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and more convenient alternatives for twins who wish to sleep in a separate bed. This double bassinet features a mesh wall that separates twins to give them each their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It rotates 360 degrees so you can bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or calming without leaving the comfortable bed, and its side walls lower and automatically return when you move. It's also easy to clean and fits in a standard twin bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is a huge life change. They require plenty of planning and thought, not least 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 are made later in life 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 known as co-bedding and it can be a excellent comfort for babies as it helps them remember the mother's womb. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are big enough for the babies to feel comfortable without touching or bouncing around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who wakes first needs to be fed. It can be beneficial to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you wake one up before the other.
It is important to remember that twins can have very different sleep routines. You may find that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case it is possible to give each twin a separate bassinet or crib.
Find twin bedside cots that have breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is especially important for babies that are more prone to overheating or for families with c-section moms. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to move are also beneficial features. 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 move. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are also options, but have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're very close, it is not recommended for twins to share the bed with an adult. This could increase the risk of SIDS and cause strangulation or suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be kept in their bassinets or cribs in their parents' bedrooms for the first six months.