We all know that twins have a special bond that no other siblings have. We hear those stories of twins being able to sense the other; when they’re in physical pain or even when they’re experiencing intense emotions. And, of course, the infamous switching places trick where one twin fills in for the other in class or at work. But, the bond of twins doesn’t just start when they’re old enough to switch places in math class – it starts when they’re much younger. Take these twin babies, for example. They can barely lift themselves, but do they ever love to snuggle each other.
Twins start to form a connection with each other much earlier than you may think – in their mother’s womb!
Dr. Umberto Castiello, and Italian researcher from the University of Padova demonstrated this by using ultrasonography to record five pairs of twins in the womb over time to see how unborn twins interacted with each other [1].
“Unlike ordinary siblings, twins share a most important environment – the uterus. If a predisposition towards social interaction is present before birth, one may expect twin fetuses to engage in some form of interaction,” Dr. Castiello shares. “Starting from the 14th week of gestation twin fetuses plan and execute movements specifically aimed at the co-twin,” the authors wrote, stating that “when the context enables it, as in the case of twin fetuses, other-directed actions are not only possible but predominant over self-directed action,.” [1].
Twins are literally made to co-twin. And, lucky for us, that means a lot of cute pictures of newborn twins cuddling.
Although twin babies are remarkably cute, sleeping routines can be a problem – especially when they love to cuddle.
Can twin babies sleep together in one bed?
Yes. When your babies are small, and often twins are born premature, placing them in a single bed is absolutely safe. In fact, there’s actually a name for it – co-bedding [2].
Experts say that co-bedding actually has some benefits for your twins such as:
- Regulating body temperatures
- Improving sleep cycles
- And the comfort of their sibling to soothe them
What’s the best Sleep position?
Place your twins on their backs “with the tops of their heads facing one another and their feet at opposite ends of the cots, or side by side on their backs, with their feet at the foot of the cot,” [2].
Use a single cot
When co-bedding your twins, it’s best to use a single cot. But experts warn to stay clear of a Moses basket because it will be much to small for both of your babies to fit comfortably and safety [2].
Swaddling
Because twins are used to sharing close spaces with their co-twin, they may expect to feel even more comfort than just sharing a cot. Swaddling may be a good technique to provide your babies some additional comfort.
“The confines of swaddling also prevent the babies’ natural startle reflex from waking them up. Swaddling works best with newborns. After a month or two, your babies will outgrow the comforting effects,” [3].
Restful Environment
Just like other babies, when twins were inside of their mothers womb, it was a restful environment with no such thing as night and day. Your babies were able to rest 24/7 and it may take some adjustment for them to learn when it’s time for them to sleep.
To help your twins wind down together, experts advise mimicking the restful environment that they’re used to. Keep the room dark and quick, reduce noise and use a fan to add some white noise while regulating their temperatures [3].
Consider separate cots as they grow
When your twins start to get older, they’ll also start to grow in size. This may be an ideal time to separate your twins onto separate cots. But, although they’ll both have their own cot, this doesn’t mean they’ll lose each other’s comfort. You can place each cot close to one another so they’ll have their other part near them for soothing purposes [2].
They even may start to cuddle over the bars of their cot like these twins.
Of course, having twins can be challenging. I mean, you have to newborns for heavens sake. But having twins is also an amazing experience! And, don’t get too sad when your twins start to get a little older and their adorable cuddling becomes less frequent. You have inside jokes, secret languages and most importantly, a special bond you have the blessing to see develop over the years.
Keep Reading: Boy Helping Dad Give Skin-To-Skin To Premature Twins Will Make You Smile
References
- “Twins in the Womb.” The Life Institute.
- “Can my twins sleep in 1 cot?.” NHS.
- “How to Get More Sleep With Baby Twins.” Very Well Family. Pamela Prindle Fierro. November 21, 2020.
