When we were expecting our twins, one of the questions people always asked us was whether we would put our twins to sleep in one crib or two cribs. Sleeping arrangements for your twins is a big deal because you want to do what’s best for them, and after about day 2 you will realize that you REALLY want to do whatever gets you the most sleep at night. When it comes to making the big decision about their cribs, safety should be your number one concern. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click through to buy, at no additional cost to you, the company sends me a few pennies. Your support of this blog is much appreciated.
Copyright: karenr / 123RF Stock Photo
Do you want them to cosleep?
Cosleeping twins share a crib space and go to sleep at the same time. Putting them to bed at the same time is ideal, whether or not they are in the same crib. Until they start to move around too much it is safe for them to share a bed. For the first few weeks, twins sleep better when placed near each other. As they grow and learn to move, one wiggly twin scooting around can wake up the other twin. Our twins actually slept just fine in one crib until they were a year old. HOWEVER, since that time I have heard numerous stories of mothers who lost a twin due to an incidence of SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against putting twins in one crib because the risk of SIDS is increased for low-birthweight babies and when babies share a crib. For more information on safely putting your twins to sleep, visit SIDS and Kids or read this publication.
How much room do you have?
When our twins were little, we didn’t know that twins weren’t supposed to be in the same bed. We were short on space, so we only had room for one crib in our room. This was a few years before the space- and budget-friendly Swaddle Me By Your Side Sleeper. We would have definitely used that if it was available back then! They both slept in the same crib in our tiny bedroom for a full year. That’s a long time to have to sneak around the room at bedtime! But it was convenient keeping them in the room with us. Newborn twins come with two times the nighttime wake-ups. Ours were within 2 feet of Mommy and Daddy so getting up to help them find their pacifier every few hours was no big deal. If your bedrooms are small but you want separate cribs, another option would be to put one crib or Pack and Play in the living room and one in the bedroom. Dad’s Guide to Twins has more crib arrangement ideas for small space living.
A Pack ‘N Play with a double bassinet keeps both babies close by and safe!
What is your budget like?
Don’t we all wish we could just go on a shopping spree before setting up the nursery? If it is in your budget to have matching cribs and bedding, you might as well get two right away. We didn’t have it in our budget to buy two brand-new cribs, but we got lucky with hand-me-downs. 2 different friends had a crib they wanted to get rid of, and they were both similar in color and design. If your budget is tight, keep your eyes peeled for nursery gear at garage sales and thrift stores, and ask around. Cribs are a big ticket item that parents hang on to long after they are outgrown, and they are usually happy to donate or resell a crib to someone who needs it. Also, check out our 12 tips for financially planning for twins.
When it comes to deciding if you want your twins in one crib or two, my best advice is to put them in separate cribs just to be on the safe side. Even though our twins co-slept, I was constantly worried that one was going to smother her sister while they slept. You’re going to need a second one sooner or later, and once the twins arrive life gets pretty crazy. Twins often arrive earlier than expected, so it’s best to be prepared and have a second crib ready. That way you can sleep better knowing your twins are sleeping safely.
Are you or someone you know expecting twins? You might also like this post on what to expect as a postpartum mom of twins.