Should Twin Infants Sleep Together?

Twins spend their months in utero sharing close quarters, so it might seem logical that they would continue to enjoy closeness after birth. Some twins have a very strong bond that keeps them tightly connected with one another, and other twins prefer more individuality, states Susan M. Heim, author of ̶0;It̵7;s Twins!" A common quandary among new parents of twins involves whether the infants should sleep together or separately, so consider safety recommendations as you make your decision.

  1. Hospital Practices

    • Hospitals often place twins together in the same bed, which is referred to as ̶0;co-bedding." Hospital staff might co-bed twins due to their small size or simply a desire to keep the twins together, states pediatrician Eileen Tyrala, medical director of CribsForKids.org. When parents see the hospital staff co-bedding, it̵7;s common for the parents to follow this same practice at home because of the example set by the hospital.

    American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations

    • The benefits of co-bedding twins are not clear and prevalent, according to the AAP. Additionally, tiny and often premature twins have an increased risk of SIDS, points out the journal "Pediatrics." With co-bedding, it̵7;s more likely that twins could become overheated due to the increased warmth from two babies in the bed. ̶0;Rebreathing̶1; also occurs during co-bedding, which involves the babies inhaling and exhaling within close proximity of each other and possibly inhaling each other̵7;s exhaled breaths. When parents co-bed twins, they often place the babies on their sides in a crib instead of on their backs. For these reasons, the AAP recommends that parents provide their twins with separate sleeping arrangements.

    Safe Bed Options

    • The AAP recommends full-size cribs, portable cribs, play yards or bassinets as safe sleep surfaces for babies. Parents should choose new cribs to ensure that the crib meets current safety standards and requirements; old cribs may not meet safety standards or parts may be missing. For smaller spaces, portable cribs, play yards or bassinets might be suitable choices. The sleep area must have a wide base, sturdy bottom, locking legs and a firm mattress.

    Time Together

    • If you want to ensure that your twins have ample time together, place them near each other during waking hours. You might place a blanket on the floor and put them both on their tummies for supervised tummy time during the day. If you place them head to head, they will be able to see each other when they raise their heads off the floor. You might also place them under a play gym with dangling toys overhead, supervising the babies while they watch and play with the toys.

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