The Key to Successfully Transitioning Your Baby To The Crib
You will witness a lot of milestones in your baby’s life. From a newborn, they will turn into a toddler in the blink of an eye. In their first months in life, they just sleep and are fed. As much as possible, they are always at our side. One of the most important milestones in a baby’s life is when they transition to a crib. When babies are in their crib, they are free to explore and learn about their world. A change in a baby’s sleeping routine is also part of a child’s development.
As your baby develops new skills every month, the more they become mobile, and having them stay in the same arrangement may cause them harm. There are options for the sleeping arrangement as a family. Some prefer to co-sleep with their newborns or put them in a bassinet. It’s up to parents what sleeping routine they prefer. But as the child grows and develops, they will eventually transition to a crib. In this article, we will discuss the important factors on how to transition baby to crib.
The Benefits of Transitioning Your Baby To Their Own Crib
Let’s talk about the benefits you get when you transition your baby to a crib. Sleeping in the crib is not only part of the child’s growth and development, but it also has advantages for you and your baby.
According to pediatricians, co-sleeping with your baby puts them at a high risk of sudden infant death syndrome. They are safer when they are in the crib than being by your side.
When they are in a crib, you can be assured that they are safe, they will also learn independent sleeping and self-soothing. In addition, they will stay put in the crib if they haven’t learned to climb over, and you can monitor them 24/7 using a baby monitor.
It also has benefits for parents because you can have the bed by yourself without worrying about rolling over your little one. When your baby has already adjusted to the new routine and environment, they will look for you less and it will give you enough rest and sleep. And you don’t need to think about spending on a new bed for your baby because you can convert the crib into a bed.
Why Is It Hard To Transition Your Baby Into Their Own Crib?
Babies get used to a routine and their environment. If there is a disruption in their habit, it may cause temporary sleeping difficulties. Because they are used to being near you, when they see you leaving them in their crib, they may take it negatively and may protest so you won’t leave them. They are also used to being soothed every time they cry. They won’t stop crying until you tap or carry them.
Because we are anticipating these things could happen during the transition of your baby to a crib, you should know what kind of approaches you can use to avoid them happening.
Implementing A Sleep Schedule In The Crib
To promote a healthy sleeping pattern for your babies, you need to have a bedtime schedule for your baby. You gradually transition them to a crib. Before using the crib for their bedtime, use it first for their daytime naps and use the bassinet for sleeping. When they are already familiar with what a crib feels like, you can start your sleeping schedule in the crib. You can put the crib on the first days of transition in your room, and when they can adjust to the crib already, you can transfer it to the nursery room.
Create a bedtime routine for your baby
Routine is one of the keys to a successful transition of your baby to a crib. Incorporate a sleeping routine before bedtime because babies recognize patterns, and when they are used to routines, it will be easier to make them sleep.
Your routine can be night bath, playtime, and reading a story. You can sing lullabies for them, let them listen to alphabet songs and breastfeed them before putting them in the crib. It doesn’t matter what compromised your bedtime routine as long as you do it consistently.
Do not be afraid to do what works for you and your baby, do not be pressured by other people’s progress and compare the transition with them. You can choose any method and approach as long as you prioritize your baby’s safety. It is you and your baby’s journey after all. As parents, it gives us a tremendous feeling to witness our baby’s milestones in life.
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Moving into a big boy or girl bed is a fascinating time for a child. It is a massive milestone in your child’s life and should be celebrated! Parents have a variety of reasons for moving, and for some parents, the concept of moving can be pretty stressful. But fear not, the transition can be smooth! One of the most common reasons for change is that the child has outgrown the crib or has started to jump out of the crib. Both are causes for concern; however, think carefully before moving into a bed. Making the transition too soon can cause all kinds of sleep problems. We’ve rounded up our top tips to set you and your child up for success!
Tips!
- The most important advice we can give you is to wait until your child is cognitively ready to move into a bed. Parents often push their children to bed around the age of two. It’s too early for a child to understand that with a new mattress comes new responsibilities. A child over the age of three (or older) is much more cognitively capable of understanding the burden of moving into bed. A three-year-old is MUCH better at foreseeing the consequences of her actions than her. They can also resist getting out of bed to see what Mommy and Daddy are doing. Moving a child too soon is one of the leading causes of sleep problems in older children!
- If your child is a ‘cot jumper,’ moving to a bed will not solve the problem. Instead, it will now be easier for them to visit you during the night. There are two types of cot jumpers, children who are very good at getting in and out without hurting themselves and children who are not as agile. If you have a child who could get hurt, remove any objects that could cause injury and place a mattress or stack of soft blankets on the floor next to the crib.
- What do you do if your child keeps jumping? Stay strong. If it remains constant, the behavior will come to an end. At bedtime, tell your child that jumping out of the crib is not allowed and that if he does, Mom or Dad will put them back. When your child inevitably jumps out, go calmly and quickly and return him to the crib. The first few times this happens, you can gently remind him of the rules by telling him to “get out of your crib isn’t allowed; it’s time to sleep.” However, it would help if you did not say anything after the third or fourth time. Return your child to the crib without saying a word. For many kids, negative attention is still attention, and if you talk or get angry every time they jump, chances are they’ll keep doing it.
The Key to Successfully Transitioning Your Baby To The Crib 2023
- If the problem persists, you can use a “tent as a last resort.” It makes it impossible for a jumper to climb out of the crib, ease your worries, and allows the whole family to sleep better at night.
- The day will come when your child is ready to take the plunge. When the big day comes, make it memorable! You can even throw a family party to celebrate how great and responsible your child is! Now, with that said, make it fun, but not too fun! For example, you can involve your child in choosing the new bed and choosing the new bedding, but it’s a delicate balance. You don’t want to overdo it too much because you don’t want to put extra pressure on the child. If you get too excited about the process, you may have difficulty adjusting and sleeping.
- Be sure to clearly outline the new rules and responsibilities of sleeping in a bed, and enforce them if your child begins to test the limits. Stay consistent, and any test of the waters will pass. If your child gets out of bed, use the same strategies you would with a cot jumper. Return the child to bed calmly and quietly. Remember that getting angry or talking to them is still paying attention to them, which they want. Kids this age will develop all sorts of tactics (they want one more hug, they’re hungry or thirsty, they’re cold). Be sure to deal with any of these issues at bedtime (the child has gone to the bathroom, had a snack and drink, is covered) to be comfortable without addressing them when he gets out of bed.
The Key to Successfully Transitioning Your Baby To The Crib 2023
- If your child goes out because he’s thirsty, it’s okay to place a small sippy cup of water (no other kind of drink) at his bedside. Explain that there will be no overnight refills and that if he starts asking for a refill, he will revoke the privilege of having a cup by his bedside for some time.
- Beware of the “honeymoon” phase. Most kids do well with the transition until the fun is over. Once the novelty wears off and the child is comfortable (usually around three weeks), the games typically begin. The key is to be prepared ahead of time, knowing what to do when this happens. Remember to be consistent and use a quiet return to the room.
- You can also offer your child rewards if he stays in bed. If your child can stay in his bed until the morning, until the clock strikes 7:00, he may have a bonus. Rewards need to be as immediate as possible for this age group, or they won’t be motivating at all. For older children, reward charts work well. Be sure to put a digital clock in your room and record the minutes. Teach your child that he can’t leave the bedroom until the clock strikes “Magic 7.”
The Key to Successfully Transitioning Your Baby To The Crib 2023
Soon enough, your child will get used to sleeping in a proper bed and will understand that just because there are no bars to hold him back doesn’t mean he’s free to roam wherever he wants at bedtime. Like all things parenting, it will take perseverance on her part, but before she knows it, her son will be sleeping soundly in his big boy bed.
Sleeping can be a challenge, and we’re always here to help with great resources, downloads, and free training. Join my free Slumber Made Simple Facebook Group; I offer free monthly Sleep training for newborns and children ages four months to 5 years at my Save Your Sanity Sleep Bootcamp and share my secrets to sleep in my 7-Tips Guide for restful sleep, which you can access here and start changing your sleep today. Also, check out my Instagram, where you can get even more tips and tricks for a good night’s sleep!
Have you ever wondered how to transition Transitioning baby to crib 2023
My name is Courtney Zentz, a Philadelphia PAPediatric Sleep Consultant, Postpartum Doula, Lactation Consultant, and founder of Tiny Transitions. As an award-winning sleep consultant, she’s helped exhausted parents teach their babies and toddlers to get a good night’s sleep with gentle, personalized solutions—both group and private coaching options—so your family can be at its best. Based in Philadelphia, I work from home and virtually to support families worldwide who need to be at their best. Join me in my Facebook Group, Slumber Made Simple, where you can ‘meet’ me in my weekly live Q&A, get valuable free content, and build healthy sleep for life.
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The Key to Successfully Transitioning Your Baby To The Crib