When Can a Baby Sleep in their Own Room?
I will never forget the first time I held both Liam and Aiden. I never wanted to put them down, however, I read a lot about safe sleep and knew I was a parent that did not want to co-sleep (it just wouldn’t work for us and we couldn’t do it safely; read more about bedsharing safety here).
So Liam (our oldest) stayed in our bedroom (in his bassinet) until 6 months old. 2 years later, I had Aiden and he was a noisy sleeper! I transitioned Aiden out of our room at 2 months of age. Now yes, I still breasted Aiden until he was 16 months and he didn’t start sleeping through the night until 4 months of age, but I still transitioned him to his own room and listened for him through the monitor!
Some parents don’t want to move their kid until they’re sleeping through the night, but it didn’t bother me to go to his room until he night weaned.
To further discuss room sharing and the official recommendations, we will cover:
When can a baby sleep in their own room?
How young can a baby sleep in their own room?
How to make the transition from your room to baby’s room?
When Can a Baby Sleep in Their Own Room?
According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should share a room with their parents for at least six months, preferably a year. This is a “soft” recommendation as it’s not a preventative for SIDS (like the ABC’s of sleep are considered to be), but rather a protective factor. They’re unsure of the mechanism that makes it protective, but not room sharing doesn’t increase the risk of SIDS.
The risk is considered baseline, whether you’re room sharing or not so long as baby sleeps alone, on their back, in their crib with nothing in it.
Room sharing can be thought of like this:
a SIDS event is like a car crash
rainy weather can increase the likelihood of a crash (like intrinsic factors can cause SIDS - ie prematurity)
wearing your seat belt helps protect you in the event of a crash, but not wearing your seatbelt doesn’t increase the likelihood that you’ll crash (like not room sharing doesn’t increase the likelihood of SIDS
Again, we aren’t sure what about room sharing makes it protective though. 🤷♀️
Here are 2 helpful articles:
I felt comfortable having Aiden in his own room at 2 months of age. He was in his safe crib and I was in the room right next door to him. Although my bedroom is not right next to Aiden’s, I moved into the room right next to his room until he became a little older, so I was close by! I also slept on the floor in his room the first week to help with the transition for the both of us.
Some babies are ready to move to their own room when they start sleeping for longer stretches of six hours or more at a time. Any less than that and it’s probably easier to keep him in your room. Babies that are growing well and don’t require as many night time feedings are also better candidates for sleeping in their own room.
What other things are there to consider?
Is your baby outgrowing their bassinet?
Are they rolling over?
If so, they may be ready to move into their own room because it is safer for them to be in a bigger crib as opposed to the bassinet.
How young can a baby sleep in their own room?
Some experts are saying that in order for parents and babies to get their best sleep, infants should move to their own room between four and six months old. After four months of age, room sharing can actually have a detrimental effect on how long an infant sleeps during the night. Also, after six months of age babies are more aware of their surroundings and the transition may actually be harder on them.
They can also start out in their own room as newborns. Some parents will room in with their newborn vs having the newborn in the parents room. This way, a baby can start out in their crib from day one and there’s no “transitional” period for them, only you move when you’re ready!
How to make the transition from your room to baby’s room?
Before moving your baby, make sure it’s set up for safe sleeping. Here’s a helpful blog on safe sleep.
Help your baby get used to his/her new room by letting them nap in their and hang in their crib while you fold clothes, or clean.
Some parents will move their little ones bassinet first into the nursery so they aren’t doing two transitions at once (ie baby to crib AND their own room). This can be helpful if you have a really sensitive baby. Otherwise, one transition to their crib and room is totally fine to do at the same time.
Remember, moving your little one to his or her own room can be stressful. There really isn’t a set time or age to do it, just make sure it is safely done!
Room sharing has a lot of benefits, especially in the early months, however, you might find you and your baby sleep better in their own rooms. When deciding when to make the transition talk with your little one’s pediatrician and decide what’s best for everyone’s sleep and safety!
