Mothers have a tendency to want to keep their new babies close. This means that upon first coming home and in the months following, your baby typically sleeps in the same room as its’ mother. Whether that means in a bassinet, in a co-sleeper attached to the bed, or even in bed with you, although parents are not supposed to do that.
Mothers keep their little baby in their room for different reasons. Either it’s more convenient when feeding throughout the night, it makes both mother and baby feel safe and secure, or simply because they want to.
When your baby reaches approximately six months of age, give or take, he or she will hopefully be sleeping straight through the night. This means it is time for baby to go to sleep in their own crib. How do you get your baby to sleep in the crib? Especially if the crib is in another room.
Here we have compiled a step by step guide to show you how easy transitioning baby to crib really is.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN TRANSITIONING BABY TO CRIB
My son’s crib is in our bedroom due to limited space. He has slept in his crib since the day we brought him home. For a few weeks, he slept in his bassinet while I slept on the couch due to my toddler’s bedtime issues. When it was time to go back in his crib, it was no problem at all.
On the other hand, his older sister, my toddler who is now almost 3 was a whole other issue. She slept in bed with me until about a month ago. This caused my husband and me to sleep separately, the kids come first. I promised myself I would not let that happen with my son and thank goodness, it didn’t. He is 7 months old, he sleeps in his crib every night, all night.
Point being, some babies find the transition from bassinet to crib easy. Let me the one to tell you, that is rare. You may be one of the lucky ones, if not we are here to help. Here are some of the factors to consider and implement when transitioning baby to crib.
Falling To Sleep
As a parent, you have two choices. One, you can rock your baby to sleep and then place him in his crib. Or you can do it the right way which is laying your baby down in the crib and letting him fall to sleep on his own. It will take some getting used to but it will happen with persistence.
Many mothers lay their baby in the crib while staying in the room until he falls to sleep. Start by sitting right beside his crib and each night or every other night move further and further away from his crib. Eventually, you will be out of the room and by then, he should be drifting off to dreamland on his own.
Spending Quality Time in New Room
If you have plenty of space and your baby has a crib in his own room, get him used to his new room. New surroundings and scenery are often frightening and feel unsafe to young babies. Get your little one used to his new room, let him have tummy time on the floor in his room, sing him lullabies while he’s in his crib, put his jumper or pack n play in his room and have the both of you spend quality time in his new bedroom.
This will get him used to his new surroundings. It is especially helpful when he is falling to sleep on his own. This way we will feel safe and comfortable, making it easier for him to go to sleep.
Routine and Ritual
Have your baby on a schedule. I know that is easier said than done. Children don’t follow schedules that easy. Trust when I say, if your baby gets on a routine, his brain will adjust like a clock. When you start the bedtime ritual every night, he will start to become sleepy, knowing what time it is.
You could have bath time, then play a little game as your getting him ready for bed. Then it might be time for his night time bottle and lay him down. When he’s laying in his crib, say a prayer or sing him a song. Whatever you do, make sure it is the same every night and as a parent, be consistent. It will work.
Scents
To get him more familiar w his new surroundings, the best way to quickly make him feel better is with smells. He knows mom smells like his milk when he is ready to feed. He is used to the familiar smells of his home. Since moving into a new bed is unfamiliar. Make sure he has a favorite blanket so the smell is familiar.
Or mom can sleep with his blanket so when he goes in his crib for the first time, he smells her. Or have him sleep on his new sheets for a week before he moves into his new crib. This way it will smell like him and he will be familiar with the scent and feel of the crib sheets. For babies, comfort and security is a must.
Instant Success
Do not expect this all to work the very first time. You will learn that anything you do involving children especially young children takes time. The most important thing is to not give up. If it does not seem to be working, your child is crying and screaming.
Keep trying, soothe your baby and put them back in the crib. It will be hard not to put him back in your bed or in the bassinet next to you. Do not take steps backward. Stay firm with your motives and you will persevere.
Final Word
Hopefully, this guide gives you a few strategies for ease of transitioning baby to crib. Overall, it’s not difficult, it simply takes time. The biggest thing to take with you is that a baby needs to feel comfortable and secure in their new surroundings to ensure a successful transition.
With a little time and tender love and care, your baby will easily transition to sleeping in his own crib.
