"Ask Me Anything": Ten Answers To Your Questions About Twin Bedside Cot
Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
It is recommended to keep the twins in the infant stage close together, but you should also adhere to the safety guidelines for sleeping. The proper crib arrangement will help your twins develop an established routine for sleeping.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing it is a great option for twins. These beds can be used as portable beds to let parents keep their infants close for mid-night feedings and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who are likely to outgrow their bassinets for baby by the time they reach toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you follow the safe sleeping guidelines, twins can sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should be positioned on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at opposite ends. They can also sleep together in a Moses basket or regular crib when they're old enough.
This Delta double bassinet comes with mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated but still close. It also has a pocket for storage for wipes and snacks. Plus, it folds flat and makes it easy to manoeuvre around the house or go on trips.
Another option is this EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart It can swivel to bring the twins who are fussy closer to you for feeding and comfort. The sides can be raised or lowered for easy access and are locked in place for security. It is a little longer and heavier than other options, but great for second-floor or grandparents' homes. It also comes with a travel bag. It's also much less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
While many parents of twins might be enticed to sleep the babies together in one crib or bassinet however, this is not recommended. Instead the Rednose group Rednose suggests that twins be provided with their own private sleeping space (crib or bassinet or portable crib) in the parent/caregiver's room until they reach 12 months old in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is also known as co-bedding, and it has been proven that twins who have been accustomed to this type of sleeping environment typically have a more synchronized sleeping pattern than twins who sleep on their own.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a fantastic way to accomplish this. It includes two sets of bedding to ensure that each baby gets their own space. The bedside cot can easily be moved from room to another as needed, and it provides a convenient way to check on babies without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleeping space or disrupting their rhythms.
Double bassinets are an alternative. They permit infants to sleep side-by-side and are ideal for feedings and diaper changes during the middle of the night. The Halo Bassinest Twin, for instance, features an air-tight mesh divider and an adjustable height to ensure that each child can be seen and reached at all times, while the sides of the sleeper lower and raise to make it easy to access. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, the Walmart-exclusive Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet is similar, having two sleep zones separated by mesh panels that allow babies to see each other and the entire mattress is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving ease of access for each infant.
Many parents have realized that bedding twins in moses baskets or a small bassinette is a great option for temporary situations such as hospitalization or a family visit. This should only be done with the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will ensure that the babies are properly placed on their feet at the foot of the crib, and all bedding is tucked into.
Safety
The most important security feature when it comes to twins is that each baby have their own bed. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered or trapped by the other. It also helps prevent cot deaths, which are more frequent with single infants than multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins, and higher-order multiples have their own sleeping space. The best method to achieve this is with a separate bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be brought up close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of your babies throughout the night.
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families of twins and multiples find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was found that the majority of twin families who cobedded their children in the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleep habits.
Parents of twins may not follow current SIDS recommendations due to the desire to rest longer and a lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family could affect their sleep arrangements.
If twins are positioned side-by-side in a tiny crib or Moses basket, they could easily become entangled by 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 a head-to-foot position and their bedding secured in the cots to reduce the chance of them smothering each other.
A bassinet for bed, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and most convenient options for twins who want to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet comes with an enclosed mesh wall that can divide twins and give them their own safe, flat sleeping surface. It can be turned 360 degrees, which means you can bring your child closer to you without leaving your bed. The side walls automatically lower and return with each movement. It's also easy to clean and fits into the standard twin bed frame. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, consider the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and has similar features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Welcoming twins or multiples to the world is a huge life altering. They require a lot of planning and thought especially when it comes to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night's rest. While decisions about their future room can be made later in life, parents often wonder how they can help their children get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are still young, they are able to share one crib. Co-bedding is a method for soothing newborns by bringing them back to their womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are large enough for babies to feel comfortable without having to touch one other or roll around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first needs to be fed. It can be helpful to co-ordinate night feeds so that you can wake one up earlier than the other.
It is important to remember that twins may have different sleep patterns. You may find that one baby is waking more than the other or that they prefer to be nearer to you. In this situation it may be beneficial for twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
When you are looking for a twin bedside cot, look for models that feature air-tight mesh dividers that create distinct sleeping zones. This is important for babies who are at risk of heat stroke or families whose mothers have had a c-section. Reversible bases and wheels that are easy to maneuver are also beneficial features. The Arm's Reach cot is an excellent choice for these purposes since it provides a spacious sleeping area and is designed with moms who have c-sections in mind. Other options are the Graco Pack 'n Play and the Fisher-Price Easy Swaivel, but they offer less sleeping space than the Arm's Reach cot.
It is not recommended that twins sleep in the same bed as an adult even if they're close. It is an increased risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. This Web page of Pediatrics suggests that twins be kept in their bassinets or cribs in the parents' rooms for the first 6 months.