Sleeping arrangements for twin infants 

15 February 2006

Dr Helen Ball of Durham University has found that the practices initiated in hospital concerning the sleeping arrangements for twins are highly likely to be continued by parents after twins' discharge from the hospital.

She also found that co-bedding (sharing a single cot) was positively associated with achievement of the Department of Health's recommendation that infants should sleep in a cot in the parents' room for the first six months, rather than in a separate room.

Dr Ball's findings emphasise the importance of giving the correct advice in maternity units, especially for babies at high risk such as those born prematurely or of low birth weight.


This research has been published in: Ball H. Caring for twin infants: sleeping arrangements and their implications. Evidence Based Midwifery 2006; 4:10-16.