20 Myths About Twin Bedside Cot: Dispelled
Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to each other, but it's important to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Choosing the right crib arrangement can aid your twins in developing an established routine for sleep.
A double bassinet that has the option of dividing can be the ideal choice 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 bedside co sleeper 2 years old.
Space-Saving
If you adhere to safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can sleep in a crib that is bedside side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet on the opposite ends. They can also co-sleep in a Moses basket or regular crib once they're big enough.
We really love this Delta double bassinet, which features a mesh partition to keep babies separate but close to each other. It also has a storage pocket for snacks and wipes. It is also foldable making it easy to move around the house or take 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 feeding and calming. The sides are lowered and raised to make it easier for you to get in, and they lock into place for safety. It's a bit longer and heavier than other models but is great for the second-floor or grandparent's homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It's also a lot cheaper than the Halo Bassinest Twin.
Convenience
Parents of twins might be enticed to place their babies in one crib or bassinet, this is generally not recommended. Instead the group Rednose suggests that twins be given their own safe sleeping space (crib, bassinet or portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they are 12 months old in order to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew in this environment have a more synchronized sleeping patterns.
One of the easiest ways to make this work is to use twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2, that comes with two distinct bedding sets to ensure that each baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. The wooden bedside cot cot can easily be moved from room to room when needed, and it provides a convenient way to check on babies without needing to wake them by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other alternatives include double bassinets that have been specifically designed for infants that allow them to be side-by-side, and are ideal for middle-of-the-night feeding or changing diapers. 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. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise to allow for easy access. If you're looking for an affordable option, 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 can rotate 360 degrees to give 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 that has dividers. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that the babies are properly placed, with their feet to the foot of the cot, and all bedding properly tucked in to avoid them from becoming suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety feature when it comes to twins is that each baby have their own sleeping space. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered, or infected by the other. This also helps avoid cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins and higher-ordered multiples have their own sleeping space. The best method to achieve this is with a separate bassinet or twin bedside cosleeper cots that could be positioned close to your bed while you're feeding or soothing one of the babies during the night.
Although recent SIDS risk reduction guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage room sharing with parents and avoid cobedding however, the reality is that many families with twins and higher-order multiples have trouble adhering to these guidelines (1). In a prior study, it was discovered that the majority of twin families who co-bedded their children in the first three months of their lives at home were engaged in dangerous sleep practices.
Parents of twins may not follow the current SIDS risk reduction guidelines because of a desire to prolong their own sleep and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs at home. In addition the socioeconomic status of a family may influence their decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are put in a small Moses basket or crib, their bedding can easily be pulled together and they could choke on each other. If you choose to put your twins in the same cot ensure they are placed in the position that their feet are right next to their heads and their bedding is tucked into the cots securely. This will lessen the possibility of them colliding on each one.
A bedside baby sleeper bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the most secure and most convenient options for twins who want to sleep in a separate bed. The double bassinet comes with a mesh wall to separate twins and give them their own flat, secure sleep surface. It can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or to soothe without having to leave the comfortable bed, and its side walls lower and auto-return with each movement. It is also easy to clean and fits into a standard twin-sized 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 comes with similar features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
Being welcomed by twins or multiples to the world is an enormous life change. Not least, they require a lot of preparation and thought regarding their sleeping arrangements and how they will get a good sleep. While decisions about their future bedroom space can be taken when they are older, parents often wonder how they can help them to settle in the early stages.
When twins are very young, they can be able to share a crib. This is called co-bedding and it can be a wonderful comfort for newborns since it helps them remember the mother's womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are big enough to allow the infants to be comfortable without touching or rolling around. It is also important to keep in mind that the baby who waks first needs to be fed. It can be helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can get one up earlier than the other.
It is important to remember that twins have different sleep patterns. It could be that one baby is waking more than the other or prefers to be close to you. In this case it may be beneficial for twins to have their own crib or bassinet in their room.
Look for twin bedside cots with breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is particularly important for babies who are prone to overheating, or families with mothers who have had c-sections. Other helpful features include a reversible base, built-in storage space for blankets and toys, as well as easy-to-use wheels. The Arm's Reach cot, specifically designed for mothers with c-sections is a fantastic choice because it has a large sleeping space and is easy to maneuver. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but have smaller sleeping spaces 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 could increase the risk of SIDS and cause suffocation or strangulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins be kept in their cribs or bassinets in their parents' rooms for the first 6 months.