Choosing check here for Twins
Newborn twins sleep best when close to one another, but it's important to follow safe sleeping recommendations. The right crib arrangement can aid in the development of a consistent sleep routine.
A double bassinet with an divider is a great option for twins. These portable beds allow parents to keep their children close during mid-night feedings and diaper changes. These beds are also ideal for babies who might outgrow their bassinets when they reach the age of toddlerhood.
Space-Saving
If you follow safe guidelines for sleeping, twins can be in a bedside crib side-by-side. They should be placed on their backs, with their heads touching and their feet at the opposite ends. Once they are big enough, they can also share a bed in a Moses Basket or a regular crib.
This Delta double bassinet comes with a mesh partition that allows babies to be separated but still close. It also has a storage pocket for wipes and snacks. Plus, it folds flat making it easy to move around the house or on trips.
Another alternative is the EZ Fold Twin Bassinet from Walmart, which swivels to bring fussy twins closer to you for feedings and soothing. The sides can be lowered and raised for easy access, and are secured for safety. It's a little larger and heavier than other options, but it's perfect for grandparents' or second-floor homes and comes with a travel bag. 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 crib or bassinet. Rednose recommends that twins have their own secure sleeping area (crib or portable crib or bassinet) in the room of the parents or caregivers until they reach the age of 12 months to reduce the risk of SIDS. This arrangement is known as co-bedding. It has been proven that twins who grew in this type of environment develop a more coordinated sleeping pattern.
A twin bedside cot like the Teknum FELLOW 2 is a great option to accomplish this. It comes with two sets of bedding so that each baby gets their own personal space. This bedside cot is able to easily be moved from room to another as required, and makes it easy to check on babies without having to wake them up by re-entering their sleep zone or disrupting their sleep patterns.
Other options include double bassinets specially designed to allow infants 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 breathes and is adjustable in height that allows each baby to be easily accessible and visible at all times. The sides of the sleeper adjust to lower and raise for quick access. Walmart's Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet which is a more affordable alternative, has two sleeping zones that are separated by a mesh panel permitting babies to view each other. The sleeper also rotates around 360 degrees to allow an easy access for infants.
Many parents have found that bedding twins in moses baskets or a small bassinette could be a good option for temporary situations such as hospitalization or a family visit. However, this should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure that the babies are properly placed, with their feet to the floor of the cot, and all bedding securely tucked in, to prevent them from suffocating.
Safety
When twins are sleeping together, the most important security feature is that each baby has his or her own sleep space. This prevents every baby from being smothered, choked or otherwise being choked by the other. It also helps prevent cot death, which is more frequent in infants who are single than in multiples.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that triplets, twins and higher-order multiples have their own sleep space. The best method to achieve this is with a separate bassinet or twin bedside cot that can be positioned close to your bed when you're feeding or soothing one of your babies throughout the night.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently issued recommendations to decrease the SIDS risk by encouraging room sharing and discouraging cobedding, many families with multiples and twins 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 life at home engaged in unsafe sleep practices.
Parents of twins may not adhere to current SIDS guidelines due to a desire to sleep longer and lack of space at home to accommodate multiple cribs. Furthermore, socioeconomic status may affect family decisions about sleep arrangements.
If twins are positioned together in a crib or Moses basket, they could easily become entangled by their bedding, and possibly choke on one another. If you decide to put your twins in the same cot together ensure they are in the position in which their feet are close to their heads and that their bedding is placed in the cots securely. This will reduce the possibility of them colliding on each other.
A bedside bassinet, such as the Halo Bassinest Twin, is one of the safest and more convenient alternatives for twins who wish to be able to sleep independently. The double bassinet has mesh walls that separate twins to give them each their own safe flat bed. It can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to bring one of your babies closer to you for feedings or to soothe while still in the comfortable bed. The sides lower and auto-return when you move. It is easy to clean, and can be tucked away into the standard twin-sized bed frame. Check out the Delta Children Twin EZ Fold Double Bassinet at Walmart. It comes with the same features as the Halo Bassinest.
Comfort
The arrival of twins or multiples into the world is a major life-changing. They require lots of planning and thought, not least when it comes to where they will be sleeping and how they will get a restful night's sleep. Parents often ask themselves what they can do to help their children feel comfortable in the early years of their lives.
When twins are very young, they are able to share a crib. This is called co-bedding and can provide wonderful comfort for newborns since it reminds them of the mother's womb. The key is to ensure that the beds are large enough for the babies to feel comfortable without touching each other or rolling around. It is also important to remember that the baby who awakes first needs to be fed. It is beneficial to coordinate nighttime feeds to ensure that you wake up one baby before the other.
It is crucial to remember that twins are distinct and may have their own sleep routines. It could be that one baby is waking more than the other or that they prefer to be nearer to you. In this instance it is possible to give each twin a separate bassinet or crib.
When looking for a twin bedside cot look for models with breathable mesh dividers to create separate sleeping areas. This is essential for babies that are prone to heat stroke or families whose mothers 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, specifically designed for mothers with c-sections is a fantastic choice because it offers a huge sleeping space and is easy to maneuver. 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.
Even if they're extremely close, it is not recommended for twins to share the bed with an adult. There is a higher risk of SIDS, and can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. Instead the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that twins remain in their safe sleeping areas, like bassinets or cribs in their parents' rooms for the first six months.