Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins

Newborn twins sleep best when close to each other, but it’s important to follow safe sleeping recommendations. The right crib arrangement will help your twins develop a consistent sleep routine.

bedside cot wooden that comes with an divider is the ideal choice for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their children close during mid-night feedings and diaper changes. They are also ideal for infants that may outgrow their bassinets prior to 2 years old.

Space-Saving

If you follow safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should sleep on their backs with their heads in a straight line and their feet at the opposite ends. When they’re old enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.

This Delta double bassinet has a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated but still close. It comes with a handy storage compartment that can keep snacks and wipes close by and also snacks. It can also fold making it easy to move around the house and take on trips.

Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feeding and calming. The sides are lowered and raised for access and lock into place for security. It’s a bit longer and heavier than other models, but great for second floor or grandparents’ homes. It also comes with a bag for travel. It’s also less expensive than the Halo Bassinest Twin.

Convenience

It is not recommended that parents of twins place their babies in the same crib or bassinet. Instead the Rednose group Rednose recommends that twins be provided with their own private sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a portable crib) in the room of the parent or caregiver until they turn 12 months old to reduce the chance of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been shown that twins who grew up in this environment develop a more coordinated sleeping patterns.

One of the most convenient ways to achieve this is by using a twin bedside cot, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 that comes with two distinct bedding sets so every baby can have an area that is comfortable and private. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to the next as needed. It offers a convenient and easy way to check on your babies without disrupting their sleep or wake them up.

Other options include double bassinets, that have been specifically designed for infants that allow them to stay side-by-side and are ideal for nighttime feedings or diaper changes. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a mesh panel that breathes and is adjustable in height to allow each infant to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper can lower and raise for easy access. Walmart’s Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, comes with two sleep zones that are separated by a mesh panel, allowing babies to see each other. The sleeper also swivels around 360 degrees to allow an easy access for infants.

Many parents have found that co-bedding twins with moses baskets or a small bassinette, is a great option for temporary situations such as a hospital stay or a family visit. This should only be done under the supervision of by a healthcare professional. They will ensure that the babies are properly placed on their feet placed at the foot of the crib and all bedding put in.

Safety

When twins are sleeping together, the most important security feature is that each infant has his or her own sleep space. This ensures that each baby isn’t smothered or choked by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more common in single infants than multiples.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered multiples have their own space to sleep in. The best way to do this is with an additional bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be brought up close to your bed while you feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the risk of SIDS by encouraging room sharing and avoiding cobedding, many families of twins and multiples find it difficult to follow these guidelines (1). In a previous study, it was found that the majority of twin families that co-bedded their children during the first three months of their lives at home engaged in unsafe sleep practices.

Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations due to a desire increase their own sleep duration and the inability to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally the socioeconomic status of a family may influence their decisions about sleep arrangements.

If twins are positioned together in a crib or Moses basket, they can easily become entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on one another. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot ensure they are placed in the position where their feet are next to their heads and that their bedding is placed in each cot securely. This will reduce the possibility of them colliding on each one.

One of the safer and more convenient options for twins to be able to sleep separately is a bedside bassinet like the Halo Bassinest Twin. This double bassinet has mesh walls to separate twins and provide them with their own safe, flat sleep surface. It swivels a full 360 degrees to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or calming while still in the comfortable bed. The sides lower and auto-return with each movement. It is easy to clean, and can be tucked away into the standard twin-sized bed frame. If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative, check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet, which is available at Walmart and has similar features to the Halo Bassinest.

Comfort

It’s a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. They require plenty of planning and consideration, not least in regards to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a good night’s rest. Parents often wonder what they can do to make their children feel at ease at an early age.

It is possible for twins to share a single crib when they are small. This is known as co-bedding and can provide excellent comfort for babies as it reminds them of the mother’s womb. It is important to ensure that the beds are large enough for the babies to be comfortable, without touching or rolling around. Also, keep in mind that the baby who wakes up first should be fed. It is helpful to coordinate feeding times at night in order to wake up one baby before the other.

It is crucial to keep in mind that twins are quite different and could develop their own sleeping routines. It is possible that one baby is more sleepy than the other or prefers to be near you. In this case it could be beneficial for twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.

Find twin bedside cots that have breathable mesh dividers for separate sleeping areas. This is especially important for babies that are prone to overheating, or for families with c-section mothers. A reversible base and wheels that are easy to move are also helpful features. The Arm’s Reach cot, which is specifically designed for mothers who have a c-section, is a great choice because it offers a huge sleeping area and is easy to move. 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. This increases the risk of SIDS, and may result in suffocation strangulation, or entrapment. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that twins should be in their own cribs or bassinets in their parents’ rooms for the first 6 months.