4 Dirty Little Secrets About Twin Bedside Cot And The Twin Bedside Cot Industry
Choosing a Bedside Cot for Twins
Twins in the newborn stage sleep best close to each other However, it's crucial to adhere to the safe sleep guidelines. Selecting the best crib arrangement can aid in the development of an established routine for sleep.
A double bassinet that has a divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds let parents keep their babies near for feedings in the middle of the night and diaper changes. They also work well for infants who might outgrow their bassinets before baby 2.
Space-Saving
Twins can sleep side-by-side in a bedside cot, provided you adhere to the safe sleeping guidelines (that's to say they should be lying on their backs, with the tops of their heads overlapping each other and feet at opposite sides of the cot). Once they are big enough, they can share a bed in a Moses Basket or regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet comes with mesh dividers that allow babies to be separated but still close. It also has a storage pocket for wipes and snacks. Plus, it folds flat and makes it easy to move around the house or go on trips.
Another option is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart that swivels to bring your twins' fluttery little ones closer to you for feeding and comfort. The sides can be raised or lowered for easy access, and are secured for security. It is a little longer and heavier than the other options however it is ideal for the second floor or homes for grandparents. It also comes with a bag for travel. 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. Instead the group Rednose suggests that twins be given their own safe sleeping space (crib or bassinet, or a 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 arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been demonstrated that twins who have grown in this type of environment have a more synchronized sleeping pattern.
One of the most convenient ways to achieve this is to use twin bedside cots, like the Teknum FELLOW 2 which comes with two separate bedding sets, so that every baby can have an individual and comfortable space. The bedside cot can be easily moved from one room to the next as needed. It offers a convenient and easy way to monitor your baby without disrupting their sleep or waking them up.
Other alternatives include double bassinets which have been designed specifically to allow infants to be side-by-side, and are ideal for nighttime feeding or changing diapers. The Halo Bassinest Twin has a breathable mesh panel and adjustable height to allow each baby to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper also lower and raise for easy access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a less expensive option, has two sleep zones separated by a mesh, which allows babies to see each the other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees, allowing easy access to infants.
Many parents have discovered that co-bedding twins with a moses basket, or a smaller bassinette, can be a good solution for situations that are temporary, such as hospitalization or a visit to the family. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a healthcare provider to ensure that babies are properly placed in a cot, with their feet at the bottom of the cot and all bedding is securely tucked in to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
The most important safety feature for twins is that both babies have their own bed. This ensures that each infant isn't smothered, or infected by the other. It also helps prevent the death of a cot, which is more prevalent in infants with one parent than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that tritons, twins, and higher-ordered triplets have their own space to sleep in. The best way to accomplish this is with a separate bassinet or twin bedside cots that can be positioned close to your bed when you feed or soothe one of the babies during the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued guidelines to lower the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and disabling cobedding, many families with twins and multiples find it difficult to adhere to these guidelines (1). A previous study found that a majority of families of twins that were cobedded during the first 3 months at home, used unsafe sleep practices (room sharing without cobedding).
Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS risk reduction recommendations because of a desire to prolong their own sleep and a lack of space to accommodate multiple cribs in the home. Additionally, socioeconomic status can influence family decisions regarding sleep arrangements.
When twins are placed side-by-side in a small crib or Moses basket, they may easily become entangled by their bedding and could choke on each other. If you're planning to put your twins in the same cot it is essential to place them in the feet-to-head position and their bedding secured in the cots to reduce their chances of smothering each other.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safer and most convenient options for twins who want to sleep in a separate bed. This double bassinet features a mesh wall that separates twins, giving them their own safe and comfortable, flat sleeping surface. It can be turned 360 degrees, so you can bring your child closer to you without having to leave your bed. The walls on the sides automatically lower and then return with each movement. It is also easy to clean, and can be tucked away into a standard twin-sized bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features to the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
It's a huge change to welcome twins or multiples into the world. Not only that, they require a lot of planning and thinking when it comes to their sleeping arrangements and how they can get a good sleep. While decisions regarding their bedroom space can be taken when they are older parents often ask how they can help their children get comfortable in the early stages.
When twins are very young, it is possible to share a crib. Co-bedding is a method for helping newborns feel at ease by reminding them of their mother's womb. The most important thing is to ensure that the beds are big enough for babies to feel comfortable without touching or rolling around. You should also remember that the baby that wakes up first must be fed. It is helpful to coordinate nighttime feeds so that you can wake one up before the other.
It is important to remember that twins have different sleeping patterns. It could be that one baby is waking more than the other or that they prefer to be close to you. In this instance it may be beneficial for twins to have their own bassinet or crib in their room.
When looking for a twin bedside cot look for models with ventilated mesh dividers that can create separate sleeping areas. This is important for babies who are susceptible to heat stroke or for families where moms have had a c-section. A reversible base as well as wheels that are easy to move are also useful features. The Arm's Reach cot, which is specifically designed for mothers with c-sections, is a great choice because it offers a huge sleeping space and is easy to move. The Graco Pack 'n Play or Fisher-Price's Easy Swaivel are both options, but have smaller sleeping areas than the Arm's Reach cot.
Even if they're extremely close, it is not recommended that twins share the bed with an adult. It is an increased risk of SIDS and may result in suffocation strangulation or entrapment. Instead, my sources of Pediatrics recommends that twins sleep in their own safe sleeping areas, such as bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first six months.