The Reason The Biggest "Myths" About Twin Bedside Cot Might Be True
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. Choosing the right crib arrangement will help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet with an divider is a great choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their infants close for diaper changes as well as mid-night meals. They are also great for infants who might outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep together in a bedside cot, as long as you follow safe guidelines for sleeping (that's to say that they should be lying on their backs with the tops of their heads facing each other and feet at opposite sides of the cot). They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or regular crib when they're old enough.
This Delta double bassinet comes with a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also has a convenient storage compartment to keep snacks and wipes close by as well. It can also fold, making it easier to move around the home and take on excursions.
This EZ Fold Twin Bassinet, available at Walmart, swivels to allow you to bring your twins closer to you to feed them and comfort them. The sides can be raised and lowered for access, and they lock into place for security. It is a little longer and heavier than other models, but great for second-floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a carry-on bag. It's also much cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins may be tempted to put the twins together in a single bassinet or crib but this is not generally recommended. Instead the Rednose group Rednose recommends that twins be provided with their own private sleeping space (crib or bassinet or portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they are 12 months old to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding, and it has been found that twins who are accustomed to this type of sleeping environment typically have a more synchronized sleep pattern than those who sleep in separate rooms.
One of the most efficient methods to accomplish this is by using twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, which comes with two separate bedding sets so each baby can have an individual and comfortable space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to room when necessary, and also provides a convenient way to check on the babies without having to wake them by re-entering their sleeping zone or disrupting their rhythms.
Other alternatives include double bassinets which have been designed specifically to allow infants to remain side-by-side and are ideal for nighttime feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for example, has a breathable mesh divider and adjustable height so that each baby can be seen and reached at all times, and the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to give easy access. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, the Walmart exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, featuring two separate sleeping zones, separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see one another and the entire mattress is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving an easy access to every infant.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with moses baskets or a smaller bassinette, could be a good option in situations of a short duration, such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. However it is recommended to do this only under the supervision of a healthcare professional to ensure that babies are placed properly in a cot, with their feet at the bottom of the cot and their bedding securely tucked in, to prevent them from being suffocated.
Safety
When twins sleep together, the most important security factor is that each baby has their individual space to sleep. This ensures that every infant is not smothered or otherwise infected by the other. This also helps to avoid cot deaths, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiplications have their own space to sleep in. The best way to accomplish this is by having an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be placed close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of your babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families with twins and multiples have found it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was discovered that the majority of twin families that cobedded their children in the first three months of life at home engaged in unsafe sleep habits.
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines because of a desire to increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. In addition the socioeconomic standing of a family can influence their choices regarding sleep arrangements.
When twins are placed 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 decide to put your twins in the same cot, it is important to put them in the feet-to-head position and have their bedding tucked securely into each cot to limit the possibility of them colliding with each other.
One of the safest and more practical options for twins to be able to sleep independently is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. The double bassinet has mesh walls that separate twins, giving them their own safe, flat sleep surface. It swivels a full 360 degrees, allowing you to bring your baby closer to you for feedings or soothing while still in the comfortable bed, and its sides lower and auto-return with each movement. It is also easy to clean, and fits into the standard twin-sized bed frame. For a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet available at Walmart. available at Walmart and comes with similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not only that, they require a great deal of planning and thinking in regards to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good sleep. While decisions regarding their bedroom space can be taken as they age parents often ask how they can help them get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are young, it is possible to share one crib. Co-bedding is a method for comforting newborns by reminding them of their mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough for the babies to feel comfortable without touching each other or rolling around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who waks first needs to be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds in order to awake one baby prior to the other.
It is important to keep in mind that twins have different sleeping routines. You might find that one of them wakes more than the other, or they prefer to be closer to you. In this case it might be best to give each twin their own crib or bassinet.
When looking for a twin bedside cot, ensure that it has ventilated mesh dividers that can create separate sleeping spaces. This is essential for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a c-section. Other beneficial features include the reversible base, built-in storage for blankets and toys, and easy-to-maneuver wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, designed for c-section mothers, is a great choice because it offers a huge sleeping area and is easy to move. Other options include the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, but they have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult even if they're very close. This increases the risk of SIDS and could lead to suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. Instead bedside travel crib of Pediatrics recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping areas, such as bassinets or cribs in their parent's room for the first six months.