Dr. Toby & Jennyanne Anderton, Author at Twins and Counting

Twin babies begin their lives cuddled up together, never once leaving each other’s side for an average of about seven months. Naturally, this means separating them after birth could be scary and bring up a few problems. So, can twin babies sleep in the same bed? Twin babies can sleep in the same bed, but it is recommended only to allow this for about the first three months of life. Once they can roll over on their own, the risk of one of them suffocating increases. Parents doing this should avoid allowing the newborns to face each other as they sleep. Surprisingly, this is quite a controversial topic with parents, experts, and doctors disagreeing strongly on both sides. With that being said, we will give you some important information you need to know if you are trying to decide if your twins should sleep in the same bed. Is It Ok for Twins to Sleep in the Same Crib? Having twins will give parents tons of extra things that must be considered and planned for after they are born. How the twins will be sleeping at night is the concern that is at the top of the list for most parents. Twins become familiar and comfortable with each other while they are in the womb, and since most twins are born prematurely, they share a bed in the NICU. This means that separating them to sleep at home could be a challenge. So, can twin babies sleep in the same bed? The honest answer to this question is not simple. The arguments for both sides of this topic are strong enough to completely confuse any parent, so let’s take a quick look before diving deeper: Most pediatricians say that it is okay, and even beneficial, for twins to sleep in the same bed but only for about the first three months of their lives. This time frame could be much longer if you have an extra- large crib. A crib divider or placing the babies on opposite ends of the bed could prevent them from disrupting one another at night.It is recommended to have the twins facing away from each other as they sleep to make sure they both have fresh air and are not breathing in each other’s faces all night. Once the twins start getting bigger, they will learn how to roll over on their own and want to move around more.Keeping them in the same bed while they can move around more increases the risk of one of the babies being suffocated and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which will already be increases if your twins were born prematurely. The people who believe twin babies should not sleep in the same bed will often argue the risk of them suffocating each other is too high, but there are several steps you can take to ensure that your twins sleep together safely. The Benefits of Having Twin Babies Sleep in the Same Bed If you are leaning to the side of letting twin babies sleep in the same bed, then fortunately, there are many benefits that come with doing so. The benefits are not only good for the twins, but in some cases, they are also good for the parents. The Twins Will Typically Sleep Better Most people find it comforting to feel another human near them while sleeping, and babies are no different. Twins not only to get to feel comfort as they sleep together, but they also find security in each other since they spent several months together inside a cozy, comfortable belly. Most experts and parents say that even if one of the twins sleeps worse than the other and cries during the night, it will likely not affect the other twin too much since babies can sleep very deeply. Twins Will Keep Each Other Warm Placing blankets and padding into your baby bed can be quite dangerous and is not recommended. If you have twins sleeping in the same bed, there will be no need for a blanket since they have each other to keep warm. On very cold nights, sleeping bags are recommended. A sleeping bag for a baby is basically a night gown that zips at the feet and closes the legs in to limit movement. Both twins can easily wear one of their own without too much trouble. Twins that Sleep Together are Healthier Studies have shown that twins that sleep together will sleep better, have less apnea and bradycardia, and gain weight better. While the study that proves this was observed for babies in the NICU and not at home, it is likely that the benefits of having twins sleep in the same bed will keep going long after they are home. Another awesome benefit of having twins sleep in the same bed is that they will be right beside each other when the parents have to get up several times in the middle of night, which makes it much easier for the parents to take care of the twins’ needs! The Disadvantages of Having Twin Babies Sleep in the Same Bed In order to get a complete picture of the issue, we need to discuss the very real and present disadvantages that come with this approach, as well. The Risk of Suffocation Increases As mentioned earlier, once the babies can start rolling around, there is a chance that one of them could suffocate the other by rolling over on top of him. The risk of suffocation can also come from allowing the babies to face each other while they sleep. They will breathe in one another’s air all night, which can significantly decrease their oxygen intake, especially in a room with poor circulation. This problem can be fixed by laying both babies on their backs or on opposite ends of the bed and moving them to their own beds when they are able to roll around on their own. SIDS Risk Increases for Premature Twins Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as crib death, is a sudden and unexplained death that happens typically while a baby is sleeping and to babies that seem to be healthy. It has been found that most SIDS cases have occurred in babies that have brain defects, respiratory infections, and had a low birth weight, all of which affect how well a baby can control its breathing. Placing twins in the same bed that were born prematurely increases the risks of SIDS even more because of the risks of suffocation and oxygen depletion if they were to be breathing in each other’s faces. Essentially, it’s not wise to place two babies already at higher risk for SIDS in the same crib since it only increases the risk for each of them. The Best Way for Most Newborn Twins to Sleep Allowing your twins to sleep in the same bed will likely turn out to be a great decision and benefit the whole family, so long as you keep the safety factors in mind. Before doing so, though, here are some reminders or tips to consider: Use sleeping bags instead of blankets.Keep the room temperature around 72 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.Always place both babies on their backs and give enough space so they don’t breathe on each other.Use a firm mattress. These tips will help you to keep your twins safe while they are sharing a bed. Conclusion Twin babies can sleep in the same bed for about the first 3 months, or until they start to roll over. They can share a bed longer if you use a crib divider or have an extra-large crib that gives the twins plenty of room to move around. However, some parents will decide to split the twins up into separate cribs, and this is a completely fine choice as well. It will come down to the risk factors for the individual babies and their parents’ comfort level. Sources Help I'm Having Twins Very Well Family First Cry What To Expect The Bump Web MD Mayo Clinic