How to Transition to the Crib
How to transition to the crib — the million dollar question! Maybe they’re in a bassinet, maybe you’re bedsharing; whatever the case may be, this blog has some basic steps for transitioning them into the crib and potentially their own room!
This blog will cover:
transition from bedsharing to crib
bassinet to crib
roomsharing/cosleeping to their own room/crib.
Important note: If you are ready to make any changes, it should be because you are ready and committed, not because you are getting a ton of pressure from outside sources or people making you feel guilty or ashamed because you really aren’t going to stick with it in those cases.
From there, set your expectations, because I won’t lie to you and tell you it’ll be a cake walk! It will usually be met with some protest (they want what they want), however it won’t last forever and is typically harder on you than them. You don’t have to worry that they’re lonely or being abandoned. That could not be further from the truth in a loving, secure, and attached relationship (which has nothing to do with the proximity in which you sleep).
Let’s start with the most recent recommendations for safe sleep from the AAP:
The AAP does not recommend bedsharing
They do recommend roomsharing/sleeping in the same room with your child for 6-12 months
The most recent research shows that room sharing benefits significantly decrease after 4 months and that unsafe practices increase the longer you room share
A bassinet can be used until they reach the weight/mobility limit of your specific device
**disclaimer: nothing in this blog should make you feel judged or ashamed for whatever choices you make for your family. I am just providing information and it can be used or not!
First things first, if you want to transition your child to sleep in their crib or own space then it needs to be a familiar space to them.
That means we don’t want to just decide to use their crib one time and see what happens. Likely… nothing good will happen (you never know, but I usually don’t recommend that).
To make it a familiar space, play in it and around it during the day! Incorporate the crib as a normal part of your routine each day, throughout the day.
You can also sleep with their crib sheet for a few nights so that it smells like you ,thus more comforting and familiar for them!
Remember that babies are creatures of habit… They don’t necessarily want to change their current set up if it is something they’ve been conditioned to.
Second, when you’re ready to start using the crib, begin using it for every sleep! The more consistent they are with seeing/sleeping in their sleep space, the quicker they catch on to it.
If you have to start small with the transition to the crib, start with bedtime for a week or two before using their crib for naps.
When you’re ready, you can start with one nap and work your way up to more!
I may harp on this from time to time, but creating routines around sleep is imperative in establishing trust and security no matter where they are sleeping. They thrive on consistency when their world is semi-chaotic while they go through so many developmental changes.
What if you’re not ready for sleep training but are wondering how to transition to the crib?
If you aren’t ready to implement a sleep training method, you can start with your child in your bed first and put them to sleep in other ways (if you are currently feeding or snuggling to sleep). You can try rubbing their back until they’re asleep or asking dad to help put them to sleep before you go to bed. It’s always good to have other tools available for sleep!
What if you are ready for sleep training?
The “cold turkey” approach works by putting them down awake in their crib and utilizing a sleep training method of your choice. There are so many different options! From the no-cry sleep solution (hint, it’s not really no tears), Ferber/controlled crying/graduated extinction, the sleep lady shuffle, or CIO…. you have so many options you can choose to make your own. Don’t feel tied down to one method. Mix and match what feels right for you!
If you are going from bedsharing to just roomsharing, I highly recommend using something like the Slumberpod to give them a separate space. The older they are, the more they’re going to want to interact when they see you at night or especially in the early morning! (note: HEAVENSENT10 saves you $20 on the slumberpod and it is an affiliate code)
Here is more information about room sharing if you’d like to make an informed choice:
If you would like to continue bedsharing, then I assume you have done all the research yourself and have weighed the pros/cons. We are all adults here and I’m not here to tell you what to do/not to do. This is a link to the safe seven.
If you are still concerned about the safety of bedsharing, then I recommend putting a crib mattress on the floor for baby so they are close and an adult twin mattress for you. That way you are close but the firm surface is safest for baby.
Can a baby who sleeps independently for naps and first half of the night still bedshare for the rest of the night?
Potentially! You may see that first half of the night get shorter and shorter to where they are coming into your bed earlier and earlier.
If the task of moving from bedsharing to their own separate sleep surface sounds insurmountable and you can’t fathom tackling it on your own, then I would love to support you in that journey whenever you’re ready!
