Twins (or triplets) will definitely require more swaddles. Four swaddles per baby (8 total) is my minimum recommendation for twins. With all the spit-ups and diaper leaks, times two, you will want a clean blanket at your disposal all the time.
The short answer is that you “need” two swaddles for your baby. The long answer is that the number of swaddles you need really depends on: How often you do laundry. I always encourage new moms to buy extras of their 'essentials' to avoid having to do laundry/dishes every day.
Soft cotton blankets are a good choice; look for blankets that are lightweight and thin, not thick or fuzzy. Finally, swaddle your twins individually. Don't wrap them up together!
Most moms have 4 to 8 “go-to” swaddles. If you plan on taking a swaddle or blanket with you to the hospital, we recommend 2 or 3 just in case baby has some spit up. If you're not planning on using the hospital blankets, you may want to bring even more than that.
In the case of twins, you will need around 12-14 receiving blankets. This is because you will be doing a lot of laundries and you want to have enough receiving blankets on hand so that you can rotate them out.
If you can keep your room at a stable temperature of 68-70℉ (20-22.2℃), a long sleeve onesie or pajama underneath a swaddle will be suitable for most babies. If the room is warmer, try just a short sleeve onesie or diaper. For colder temperatures, add an extra layer of clothing.
Be sure the swaddle blankets go below your baby's mouth across the chest. Do not use more than 2 swaddling blankets so your baby does not get too hot- heavier blankets and the use of too many blankets is not recommended because your baby can become too hot. Overheating increases your babies risk for SIDS.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents keep their babies swaddled for 12–20 hours per day for the first few weeks after birth. This relaxes babies. Swaddling a baby correctly also protects her from overheating, injuries and sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
Can twins sleep in the same crib? Can twins share a bed, or more specifically a crib? While it's tempting to wonder whether your twins might sleep better together, the only safe snoozing setup is to place each baby in his own crib or bassinet.
Put your babies down in a safe sleeping position, on their backs with their feet touching the bottom of the cot or Moses basket. Make sure they do not get too hot, particularly if they're sharing a cot. Keep blankets securely tucked in. Have a bedtime routine and stick to it.
You may like to sleep your twins in their own Moses baskets or cots from birth, or you may decide to co-bed them in the early weeks and months. Co-bedding means siblings share the same sleep surface during any sleep period, for example by being in the same cot together.
For the healthy development of the hips, babies' legs need to be able to bend up and out at the hips. Swaddling for short periods of time is likely fine, but if your baby is going to spend a significant amount of the day and night swaddled, consider using a swaddling sleep sack that lets the legs move.
If your baby can roll over at 2 months, be sure to stop swaddling entirely. Unfortunately, there aren't any swaddle transition products that are safe for a rolling 2-month old baby. A 2-month old baby is too young for the Zipadee Zip. (Baby should be at least 3 months old and weigh at least 12 lbs).
Swaddling your newborn at night can help your baby sleep longer stretches at night. The purpose of swaddling is to help reduce the “startle or Moro” reflex. Yes, you should swaddle your newborn at night. The startle reflex is a primitive reflex that is present and birth and is a protective mechanism.
Babies who are swaddled too tightly may develop a problem with their hips. Studies have found that straightening and tightly wrapping a baby's legs can lead to hip dislocation or hip dysplasia. This is an abnormal formation of the hip joint where the top of the thigh bone is not held firmly in the socket of the hip.
Many Parents Swaddle Incorrectly!
Well, the most common swaddling mistake is not swaddling tight enough. Many parents are afraid of swaddling too snugly. When your baby is loosely swaddled, she will most likely bust her arms out and startle herself awake.
If your baby is swaddled, keep them swaddled throughout their night feeds. Or if your baby is older, keep them in their sleeping bag. If you need to do a diaper change before or during their feed, re-swaddle them again or put them back in their sleeping bag as soon as they are changed.
If it is warm outside, putting your baby in a diaper underneath the swaddle may just be enough. If however, the temperature is cold, it's a good idea to put baby in a short or long sleeved onesie or even footy pajamas to ensure that baby is kept warm.
Generally, a cotton onesie and lightweight swaddle or sleep sack will be sufficient for warmer weather, while footed pajamas and a sleep sack or swaddle will be sufficient for cooler weather.
If the top layer extends to the feet, socks aren't necessary. But if it stops at the ankle, a pair of socks under the swaddle will ensure their toes stay as ward as the rest of their bodies. In warmer weather, socks may not be necessary underneath a swaddle.
While 40 weeks is the full gestation period of the average pregnancy, most twin pregnancies are delivered at approximately 36 weeks (range 32-38 weeks depending on the type of twin pregnancy).