"Ask Me Anything": Ten Answers To Your Questions About Twin Bedside Cot
Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Newborn twins sleep best when close to each other, but it's important to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid in the development of an established routine for sleep.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing it is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their babies close for diaper changes and feedings at night. They are also ideal for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before baby 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot provided you adhere to safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should be lying on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and feet at opposite ends of the cot). They can also share a bed in a Moses basket or a crib once they're big enough.
We really love this Delta double bassinet. It features a mesh partition to allow babies to remain separate but close to each and each other. It also has a convenient storage pocket to keep wipes and snacks nearby as well. It can also fold making it easy to move around the house and take on excursions.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart can swivel so that you can bring your twins who are fussy closer to you to feed them and calm them. The sides lower and raise to allow access and are secured to ensure safety. It's a little heavier and longer than some other options, but it's great for second floors or grandparents houses, and it comes with its own travel bag. It's also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins might be enticed to put the twins together in one crib or bassinet however, this is not recommended. Instead the group Rednose suggests that twins be given their own safe sleeping space (crib or bassinet or portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they reach 12 months old to reduce the chance of SIDS. This is known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who have grown in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic method to achieve this. It includes two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby has their own personal space. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to room as needed, and it provides a convenient way to monitor the baby without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their rhythms.
Double bassinets are another option. They allow babies to sleep side-byside, and are ideal for diaper changes or feedings in the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that is breathable and adjustable in height that allows each baby to be easily accessible and visible at all times. baby bedside cot of the sleeper can lower and raise for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel, permitting babies to view each other. The sleeper can also rotate around 360 degrees to give easy access to the infants.
Many parents have discovered that bedding twins in a moses basket, or a smaller 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 professional to ensure that the babies are properly positioned in a cot, with their feet at the foot of the cot and their bedding properly tucked in to prevent them from being suffocated.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that each baby has their own space to sleep. This helps prevent every baby from being smothered, choked, or otherwise being choking by the other. It also helps to prevent deaths in the cot, which are more prevalent in infants with one parent than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered triplets have their own sleeping space. The best way to do this is by having an additional bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be placed close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.
While 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 other higher-order multiples aren't able to comply with these guidelines (1). A previous study revealed that a majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home, used unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins might not follow current SIDS recommendations due to a desire to sleep longer and absence of space in the home to accommodate multiple cribs. In addition, the socioeconomic status of a family may affect their sleep arrangements.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they can easily get caught in their bedding and could choke on one another. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot together ensure they are in an area where their feet are next to their heads and their bedding is put into each cot securely. This will lessen the chances of them choking on each other.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and most convenient alternatives for twins who wish to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet comes with mesh walls to separate twins and provide them with their own flat, secure sleep surface. It can be swiveled 360 degrees, so you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and return with each movement. It is also easy to clean, and fits into a standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet that is available at Walmart and has similar features as 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 thinking in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good sleep. While the decisions regarding their future bedroom space are made as they age parents often ask how they can help their children to settle in the early stages.
It is possible for twins to share a single crib when they are small. This is called co-bedding and it can be a great comfort to newborns as it brings them back to the 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 keep in mind that the baby who wakes first must be fed. It can be beneficial to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you wake one up before the other.
It is important to keep in mind that twins have different sleeping routines. You may find that one of them wakes more than the other or prefers to be nearer to you. In this case it is possible to give each twin a separate bassinet or crib.
When shopping for a twin bedside cot look for models that feature air-tight mesh dividers that create separate sleeping areas. This is essential for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families where mothers have had a C-section. Other beneficial features include the reversible base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, and easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot is a good choice for these purposes since it provides an ample sleeping space and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel are other alternatives, but they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're extremely close, it is not recommended to let twins share the bed with an adult. This can increase the risk of SIDS and lead to suffocation or strangulation. Instead it is recommended that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping spaces, such as bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first six months.