Jeana McLeay

Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

Twins who are just born sleep best close to each other It's vital to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Selecting the best crib arrangement can aid your twins in developing a consistent sleep routine.

A double bassinet that has the option of dividing it is a great choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their children close during diaper changes and mid-night feedings. They are also great for infants that may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.

Space-Saving

If you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines, twins are able to be in a bedside cot bed crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet on the opposite ends. They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or a crib once they're large enough.

This Delta double bassinet comes with a mesh partition that allows children to be separated but still close. It also has a storage pocket for wipes and snacks. It can also fold which makes it easy to move around the home and travel with on trips.

Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring fussy twins closer to you for feeding and calming. The sides lower and raise to allow access, and they secure themselves to ensure your child's safety. It's a little heavier and longer than some other options, but it's great for grandparents' or second-floor homes and comes with a travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

While many parents of twins may be tempted to place their babies in one crib or bassinet but this is not generally recommended. Instead, the 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 in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding. It has been observed that twins who have been accustomed to this sleep environment will generally have a more coordinated sleep pattern than those who sleep separately.

One of the most convenient ways to make this work is by using a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two distinct bedding sets to ensure that each baby can have a personal and comfortable space. This bedside cot mattress cot can also easily be moved from room to room when needed, and it allows you to check on babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their sleep patterns.

Double bassinets are a different option. They allow infants to sleep side-by-side and are ideal for feedings and diaper changes during the middle of the night. 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 adjust to lower and raise for quick access. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, with two sleeping zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to view each other, and the entire sleeper swivels 360 degrees for ease of access for each infant.

For situations that are temporary, such as an unexpected family visit or hospital stay, many parents have found success with co-bedding twins in the large moses basket or small bassinette with a divider. This should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare provider. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed, with their feet placed at the foot of the crib and all bedding put into.

Safety

The most important safety aspect when it comes to twins is that each baby have their own sleeping space. This ensures that every infant is not smothered or otherwise choked by the other. It also helps prevent cot deaths, which are more common in single infants than multiples.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples have their own space to sleep in. The best way to do this is by having a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots for newborns cots that can be positioned close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies throughout the night.

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families with twins and multiples find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was found that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children in the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleeping habits.

Parents of twins might not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations because of a desire to prolong their own sleep and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally, socioeconomic status can influence family decisions regarding sleeping arrangements.

If twins are positioned side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they could easily get caught in their bedding and potentially choke on one another. If you decide to sleep your twins in the same cot, it is essential to place them in the feet-to-head position and their bedding secured in each cot to minimize the possibility of them colliding with each one.

One of the safer and more practical options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bedside rocking crib bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet comes with a mesh wall to separate twins and give them their own flat, safe mattress to sleep on. It can be turned 360 degrees, meaning you can bring your baby closer to you without having to leave your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with every movement. It is easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, look into the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and offers similar features as the Halo Bassinest.

Comfort

Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a major life change. They require lots of planning and thought not to mention in regards to where they will sleep and how they will get a restful night's sleep. While decisions regarding their room can be made later in life parents are often unsure of what they can do to help them to settle 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 bringing them back to their womb. The most important thing is to make sure the beds are big enough for the babies to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who wakes first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night so that you can get one of them up earlier than the other.

However, it is important to remember that twins are very different and they might develop their own sleeping routines. You might find that one of them wakes more than the other, or they prefer to be nearer to you. In this situation it might be best to provide each twin with their own bassinet or crib.

Find twin bedside cot for twins cots with mesh dividers that are breathable for separate sleeping areas. This is essential for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families in which moms have had a c-section. Other useful features include the reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a good option for these needs because it has a large sleeping area and is designed with c-section moms in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swivel but they offer smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.

Even if they're very close, it is not recommended to let twins share a bed with an adult. This could increase the risk of SIDS and result in suffocation or strangulation. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs, in their parents' rooms for the first six months.