A Bedside Cot For Twins
Many parents opt to share a bed with their twins if space is not available. This is in the current guidelines of medical professionals and can help with sleep synchronization and soothe.
However, it's essential to adhere to the recommended safe sleeping guidelines to minimize the chance of SIDS. It is essential to keep your baby's cot, crib or bassinet close by.
Safety
Being the first to welcome two children into the world is an unforgettable moment, but it also carries many responsibilities and decisions to make, particularly when it comes to their sleep. Newborn twins need lots of sleep to develop and thrive. Establishing safe sleep practices is important for their development. But this can be a challenge for parents of all ages, particularly when they are in a tight space or their babies are preterm or have small in weight and will require co-sleeping at times. A bedside cot is a great solution.
A bedside cot is an ingenuous bassinet-style cot which is fixed to the side of your mattress and allows you to pull the baby towards you for night feedings or when they are crying, to soothe them back to sleep. There are a myriad of bedside cots to choose from, with different designs and prices. Some cots can be folded up neatly making it easy to put them away or travel with them on holiday.
The bedside cot's most important feature is that it is distinct from your sleeping area which reduces the risk of suffocation or accidental overheating. While it is recommended by the Lullaby Trust and NHS that your baby sleeps in the same room as you for the first six months, it is not recommended to share a bed due to the risk of SIDS. Using props such as pillows, rolled up blankets or towels is not a good idea either, as they could become dangerous for babies who get caught in them.
It is also important that the cot you choose meets all the required safety standards. Look for holes or weak points, and ensure it's not covered with lead paint. Lead is poisonous to infants. Look for a label stating that it meets the appropriate British and European safety standard.
Some cots have an optional riser that can be used to create a slight incline in the crib to aid infants with reflux. However, it is crucial to do this in a controlled manner and under the guidance of your physician or health professional to avoid any potential complications.
Easy to Use
To decrease the chance of SIDS, you should follow safe sleeping guidelines. Experts recommend newborns rest on their backs in a bassinet or a crib, with no extra pillows, blankets or toys. This will allow them to breathe more easily and to self-settle and fall asleep without the assistance of a caregiver or parent.
Many parents are unable, however, to adhere to the recommended sleep arrangements for newborns and babies. This is particularly true for families with multiples, since they may be limited in space and time to put up separate sleeping areas. Additionally, socioeconomic factors may influence the types of sleeping arrangements for babies and twins.
A twin bedside cot can be a safer and more practical option than placing two babies in the crib at the same time at home. It is possible to keep your twins close while they are young so that you can soothe them or feed them. You can also move your twins into a larger crib or bed as they grow.
Research has shown that twins who are cobedded experience better sleep pattern synchrony than those who sleep independently. This is due to the fact that twins who sleep together mimic the sense they had when they were babies. This helps them regulate their body temperature and sleep cycles.
Experts encourage parents to cobed twins during the first few months of their infants' lives, but caution that this isn't a safe procedure. It can increase the chance of suffocation or strangulation. It's also not recommended if either parent consumes alcohol, smokes or takes medications that impair their judgment. The twins being placed in adult beds can also put them at risk of injuries and falls, as well as being exposed to toxic airborne particles.
The Chicco Next2Me twin sleeper is a fantastic choice for co-sleeping in bed and can be used from the age of birth to six months with improved air circulation to keep your infants comfy. It features a transparent divider with a mesh insert to let the twins feel and see each other, yet they're still safely separated by the barrier. travel cot bedside crib can be folded down for travel or storage.
Convenience
It is tempting when your twins are still small to put them in your bed, hoping that they will rest more peacefully. Co-sleeping can put your twins at risk of suffocation and strangulation, especially if you have babies who are premature or with infants with low birth weights.
The AAP suggests that twins sleep in their bassinets or cribs with their parents, and ideally in their own bedroom for at least six month. However, if you've got twins who do not appear to be sleeping well in their separate cots, you could consider a bedside cot for twins. These bassinets let you keep your twins together, however, they are separated by a divider. Once your twins are old enough to be able to remove the divider, they can be removed easily.
You can play around to determine the best method to arrange your twins. You can put your twins in the cot side-by-side or diagonally. Some studies have shown that this may help reduce arousal, and improve the duration of sleep.
Swaddling twins can also help them relax and self-soothe. While swaddling isn't a recommendation by the AAP, it can be helpful for your twins to feel safe while they're asleep. Swaddling should stop once your twins begin to appear to roll over or begin to show signs of reaching out their arms.
It can be a challenge to get your twins to lie down together, but it is worth it. It will help with their feeding routines and will also give you peace and quiet in the bedroom. A bedside cot for twins could make this much easier to accomplish, since you can keep them both at arm's length while they sleep, and also check on them in the middle of the night.
If you have twins or triplets it's not a secret that finding the ideal sleeping arrangements can be difficult at first. But, if you try various configurations and adhering to the safe sleeping guidelines Your twins will eventually find their own rhythms, and you'll get more restful nights too.
Style
It is recommended that twins sleep independently to decrease the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). If you don't have the money to purchase two bassinets or cribs then a bedside-cot could be an option. A bedside cot allows you to keep your twins close by so that you can pick them up for feedings at night and comfort them throughout the night. They can also be easily dismantled for playtime, and moved from one room to another, or even taken on a journey.
While there are lots of alternatives for bedsside cots, we like the Benzara Modular Dual Level Slatted Crib because it's beautifully constructed and designed to last for many years. It's also a great space-saver, which makes it perfect for smaller homes. It's costly, however it's not cheap, so you might not want to spend this much for a single crib.
You can also go for a twin pack and play that is a more affordable alternative. These models come with double bassinets so that your babies can sleep together. These models have mesh walls, so you can view your baby. They can be used for twins from birth until they outgrow it. The Graco Twin EZ Fold Play Yard is a good example of a pack and play that has double bassinets.
If you choose to separate your twins, you can use a crib separator to stop them from accidentally suffocating one another. You can also buy cribs that are specifically designed for twins. These cribs are usually larger and come with more features.
According to the well-known attachment parenting theory twins can sleep in the same bassinet or crib in the event that they are small enough. Co-bedding is the term used to describe it and a lot of parents continue to do this during the initial few weeks of their child's existence. This can be problematic however, due to the risks of accidental smothering. It is best to follow current medical guidelines and separate your twins once they are old enough.