Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

It is best to keep your twins who are just born close to each other, but you should also adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. A proper crib arrangement can aid your twins in establishing a consistent sleeping routine.

A double bassinet that has a divider can be a great choice for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their children close during middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes. These beds are also great for babies who might outgrow their bassinets when they reach toddlerhood.

Space-Saving

Twins can sleep together in a bedside crib With changing table crib, as long as you follow the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say that they should lie on their backs with the tops of their heads facing each other and their feet placed at opposite ends of the cot). They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or a crib when they're old enough.

This Delta double bassinet has mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated, but still close. It also comes with a storage compartment for wipes and snacks. It folds flat making it easy to move around the house or on trips.

Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feedings and comfort. The sides lower and raise to make it easier for you to get in, and they are secured to ensure safety. It's a bit longer and heavier than the other options, but great for second floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a carry-on bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

It is not recommended that parents of twins put their babies in the same bassinet or crib. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping space (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents/caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to reduce the risk for SIDS. This is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew up in this environment develop a more coordinated sleeping pattern.

A twin bedside baby bed cot such as the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great method to achieve this. It comes with two separate sets of bedding so that each baby has their own personal space. This bedside cot can also easily be moved from room to room when necessary, and also makes it easy to monitor the baby without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their routines.

Other options include double bassinets that have been specifically designed for infants that allow them to remain side-by-side and are perfect for mid-night feeds or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features an air-tight mesh divider and adjustable height so that every baby bedside co sleeper is visible and reachable throughout the night, and the sides of the sleeper are raised and lower to allow easy access. If you prefer a more affordable option, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two sleep zones separated by a mesh panel that allows babies to see one another and the entire bed can rotate 360 degrees to give ease of access for each infant.

For temporary situations like an emergency family visit or hospital stay Parents have reported success in co-bedding twins in a large moses basket or small bassinette with a divider. This should only be done under the supervision of by a medical professional. They will ensure that the babies are appropriately placed in a crib with their feet at the bottom of the crib and all bedding is tucked into.

Safety

When twins sleep together, the most crucial security factor is that each infant has his or her own sleep space. This ensures that each baby isn't smothered or infected by the other. This also helps to avoid the death of a cot, which is more common in single infants than multiples.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins, tritons and higher-ordered multis have their own sleeping area. This can be accomplished with an additional bassinet, or a twin bedside crib you can bring up to your bed to feed or comfort one of the babies during the night.

While recent SIDS risk reduction recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with a parent and discourage cobedding but the reality is that a lot of families of twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). A previous study documented that a large majority of families of twins who were cobedded during the first three months at home opted for unsafe sleeping practices (room sharing without cobedding).

Parents of twins may not adhere to the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines because of a desire to extend their own sleep time and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. Additionally, the socioeconomic status of a family can affect their sleep arrangements.

If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding could easily get caught in their midst and they could choke on eachother. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot together, make sure they are placed in an area that their feet are right next to their heads, and that their bedding is put into the cots securely. This will decrease the chances of them choking on each one.

One of the safest and more practical alternatives for twins to sleep separately is a bedside cot used bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet features mesh walls to separate twins and give them their own flat, secure mattress to sleep on. It swivels a full 360 degrees so you can bring one of your children closer to you for feedings or soothing while still in the comfort of your bed. The side walls lower and auto-return every time you move. It's also easy to clean and fits into a standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out 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 huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require a lot of planning and consideration not to mention when it comes to the place they will sleep and how they'll get a good night's sleep. Parents often wonder what they can do to help their children feel comfortable at an early age.

It is possible for twins to share a single crib when they are small. This is referred to as co-bedding, and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it reminds them of the mother's womb. It is important to make sure the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. You should also keep in mind that the baby who is the first to wake up should be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate nighttime feeds in order to awake one baby prior to the other.

It is important to remember that twins can have very different sleep routines. It is possible that one child sleeps better than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case it may be beneficial for the twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.

Choose a cot with twin beds with breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is important for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a C-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to move are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent option for these needs, as it offers 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 a smaller sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.

It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed with an adult, even if they are very close. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be kept in their bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first 6 months.