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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

EM to twins...what do they sleep in?

13 replies

mrsatkinson · 04/03/2015 20:38

hi everyone,

was hoping for some advice. at my 12 week scan today we have found out we are expecting twins. so excited it's unreal, but (and I know it's still v early days!) where do they sleep?
in the same basket/ cradle? is that a normal sized one or do they do twin size?
separate basket/ cradle...? I really don't know!

prams are fine but where they sleep is stressing me! What did other mums do?

thanks

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TheFirstOfHerName · 04/03/2015 20:43

We put ours in a cot bed, lying perpendicular to how you'd expect. Congratulations, btw.

neversleepagain · 04/03/2015 20:49

Congratulations!

Ours had a cot each but shared one cot until 14 months. They are 2.5 now and still have afternoon naps together squashed in one cot.

There are various options...
Share a cot/cot bed
Own cot/cot bed/ Moses basket
Co sleep with you
Own crib
They do make twin cots but I have never come across one.

MiloCat · 04/03/2015 20:53

Congratulations!

Mine were too big at birth to share a Moses basket although I was advised in hospital for them not to share one dues to SIDS risk (overheating).

Once out of the Moses baskets, they shared a cot bed until 5ish months. We separated them because they were disturbing each other/rolling over etc.

Original poster

mrsatkinson · 04/03/2015 21:06

Thank you everyone it's really helpful to know what everyone did! xx

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slippermaiden · 04/03/2015 21:12

I had one normal size cor that they slept in together, side by side until 11 months (they went one at each end, heads in the middle when they were too big next to each other) then at 11 months they went in their own cot next to each other

familyfortunes · 05/03/2015 22:14

mine slept in separate moses baskets inside a travel cot when a few weeks old (limited space) then both in the same travel cot in our room...then into their own cots in their own room at around 16 weeks when they started sleeping through...they're 22 weeks now and in a great night time routine

Original poster

mrsatkinson · 06/03/2015 07:26

It's lovely to hear what everyone else did. I think I'll most likely buy the one cot for them to share at first but I would love a moses basket. suppose it's quite diffucult lugging two about.

It's very overwhelming being an EM to twins when you have zero experience of children! I'm worried about how you hold them at the same time and everything!
I know it's normal to feel this way but how did everyone cope with things that seem so easy with the prospective single child? x

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stinkingbishop · 06/03/2015 07:31

Huzzah! Welcome to the crazy, wonderful world of doubleness.

Ours shared a moses basket for the first few weeks, swaddled so they didn't clonk each other, then a cot sideways for the next few, then top to tail for a few months. Think they graduated into their own at about 4/5 months (it's all blurry, everything's slightly blurry in twinland).

For holding - can you borrow two dollies from a willing child and practice? It's perfectly doable, just needs some getting used to. Look up TAMBA, they run lots of classes for expectant multiple parents. Very good.

I wrote a blog for the first couple of years about coping (just) with twins. I know we're not meant to publicise blogs, but it's called likepeasinapod.com (hope that's ok!) There's a post about finding out you're expecting twins.

DowntheTown · 06/03/2015 07:35

Ours shared cot bed, head to head (so each had their toes at either end of bed) from start. Nicely swaddled of course. There are warnings about not putting twins in same little space (like Moses basket) because of over heating as stated above but also in rare situations if they're facing each other they can breath each other's expelled air, rather than fresh air, which v dangerous.

The hardest thing is not being able to carry/cuddle as much as you might with a single. Definitely get a sling so one can be with you at all times and rotate frequently. And u can snuggle easily with both on sofa as long as u have all u need close to hand - muslins, drink, remote etc! Littlies do snooze a lot.

Get all the help you can and enjoy!

TeenyfTroon · 06/03/2015 07:43

You wrote a blog, SB?

Mine slept top and tail in a cot at first, can't remember when they moved to their own cots, but you'll know!
The first three months were difficult, but many people find the same with one, so accept any help you're offered and be kind to yourself.
My NCT breast feeding counsellor was my saviour.
They're now 19 and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Original poster

mrsatkinson · 06/03/2015 12:51

Will definitely check your blog out. Any hints and tips highly appreciated! feel like I've been thrown in at the deep end, don't know anyone with twins! really looking forward to it though xx

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slightlyinsane · 07/03/2015 10:48

Congratulations, twins are amazing. I have 9 month old id girls.
They started off sharing a cot until about 5 wks when things went wrong for us and colic/reflux and a possible allergy kicked in. I then had the better of the 2 start the night in the travel cot downstairs while I dealt with the grumpy 1 then they'd swap over for a bit then swap back. Oh it was so much fun. By about 8 wks I discovered the only way to get a couple of hours sleep during the night was to put them in their bouncy chair things. Probably get flamed for saying this but I liked to keep hold of a little of my sanity. At 9 months we finally have the correct milk for them and 1 is back in her cot, the other is nearly there and will soon be in her cot so I can go back to my bed not the sofs. The near lie flat bouncy chairs have been the best buy ever.
Twins are hard work but 2 of my older singletons were and still are worse. Xx

sugarfiend · 08/03/2015 19:18

Congratulations! Sounds like you're a couple of weeks behind me. - I'm about 15 and a half weeks now, found out that it is twins at the 12 week scan and have been rediculously excited since.

I haven't bought anything yet, but had wanted to get a cosleeper cot - I regretted not getting one with my DS. We'll probably be getting the Babybay Maxi - looks easily big enough for two and doesn't have a lip at the side so should be easy to slide them across for feeds. It also has bars like a cot, rather than looking more like a moses basket so I'm less worried about air circulation (have read a couple of not so nice stories about twins sharing a normal sized moses basket).

For daytime naps we're planning on using the pram carrycots - having made sure that they're suitable for overnight sleeping as they'll be in them so often. We did the same with my DS and it worked really well for us. We might rethink this though, as that would mean that they're together at night but not for daytime naps...

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