CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Can Twins Sleep in the Same Crib?

Do two babies mean you'll need two cribs? Here's the deal.
save article
profile picture of The Bump Editors
Updated April 21, 2017

Yes, twins can sleep in the same crib—in fact, many pediatricians encourage it.

You know how your bed seems empty when your partner is out of town? Think about how you’d feel if the two of you were together there 24 hours a day, for 35 weeks or more, then suddenly pulled apart. For twins, having each other close by is comforting, since they’ve been together since the get-go. So go ahead and let them sleep in the same crib. It’s totally safe, especially in the first few weeks, when they’re tightly swaddled and hardly move around.

Once they start wiggling more and risk bumping each other, try a crib divider, which slips from side rail to side rail and splits the crib into two so each infant has his or her own space. Most models have Velcro attachments that go around the slats to stay in place. You can keep the divider for a few months, until the babies get big enough to need their own, separate cribs.

Excerpted from The Baby Bump, Twins and Triplets Edition.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

4 month old baby sleeping
Everything to Know About the 4 Month Sleep Regression
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
mom holding sleeping baby
What You Need to Know About Setting a Baby Schedule
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
1 year old baby sleeping on stomach
When Can Babies Sleep on Their Stomach Safely?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
mother holding sleeping baby in arms
What to Do if Baby Only Sleeps When Held
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
dad holding yawning baby
How to Recognize the Signs of an Overtired Baby
By Meredith Hoffa
mother kissing toddler goodnight
What to Know About Night Terrors in Toddlers
By Nehal Aggarwal
tired baby
How to Put Baby Down ‘Drowsy but Awake'
By Katherine Martinelli
ADVERTISEMENT
close up of baby smiling showing teeth
Everything You Need to Know About Baby Grinding Their Teeth
By Nehal Aggarwal
mother comforting baby at night in nursery room
When Do Babies Start Sleeping Through the Night?
By Julie D. Andrews
snoo gets FDA approval
The Cult-Favorite SNOO Smart Sleeper Receives FDA Approval
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
close up of mother holding baby at the end of the day
How to Help Baby Adjust to Daylight Savings Time
By Elena Donovan Mauer
father and baby asleep in bed during the day
Parents Lose This Many Nights of Sleep During Baby’s First Year
By Wyndi Kappes
father comforting baby at home
Here's the Best Way to Soothe a Crying Baby, According to Scientists
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
newborn baby yawning
New Study Shares Tips for Helping Baby Sleep Through the Night
By Wyndi Kappes
one year old baby crying in crib
The Cry It Out Method: Is Extinction Sleep Training Right for You?
By Marygrace Taylor
baby sleeping in car seat in car
AAP: Letting Baby Sleep in the Car Seat When Not Traveling Can Be Fatal
By Stephanie Grassullo
father holding baby at home on couch
New Series Highlights How Every Baby’s Sleep Journey Is Different
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
baby sleeping in mother's arms
Should You Hire a Baby Sleep Consultant? Here’s What to Know
By Christin Perry
These Are the Top Sleep Challenges for Parents With Young Kids
These Are the Top Sleep Challenges for Parents With Young Kids
By Nehal Aggarwal
smiling mother getting her baby ready for bed
How (and When) to Establish a Baby Bedtime Routine
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List