Any advice on transistioning my daughter my my bed to the crib?

Megan - posted on 12/06/2009

Hi, everyone...I wanted to offer my advice to all the moms trying to do the transition from bed to crib...I was (and am) one of those mothers that couldn't stand to hear her child crying, but my husband helped me deal with it. He suggested we start with putting her in the crib at night and letting her cry for just 10 minutes...I talked to her dr and he said that 10 minutes of crying wouldn't hurt her at all. So we started with the 10 minutes and after that, if she was still crying, I would go pick her up, rock her for a few minutes, calm her down, and try again. That was at 6 weeks...she's now 4 months old and knows that when she goes into the crib it's time to sleep. But I also don't let sleep in the crib unless it's for her final sleep. This has worked out perfectly and she's slept through the night since 6 weeks old. Hope this helps some other mothers out there.

Chelsea - posted on 12/04/2009

my son slept in my bed for 3 months, i recently started him in his crib and the first night i slept in there with him so every time he woke up I was right there saying its ok, im in here. i did this for a couple nights and he just started being ok. Maybe this would work for you... Good Luck

Jessica - posted on 12/04/2009

Try putting her in a play pen. My daughter is 5months old and just about a month ago I tried her in her playpen. She does pretty good until about 2ish then wants to be in the bed with me. As far as the letting her cry...it wont hurt her. She may eventually get that your not coming to get her and just fall back asleep :)

Lanchi - posted on 12/03/2009

hi there,
yes! im having the same problem but today found my iphone with a white noise application on it. white noise is keeping him asleep since he's such a light sleeper. give it a shot.

:)

Connie - posted on 11/30/2009

i bedshare with both my sons, 4 mths and 22 mths. i personally enjoy sleeping with them around me and i also enjoy putting them to bed (99%) of the time. yes, my older son still nurses while he goes to sleep, but i enjoy our routine of reading a book a couple of times and then falling asleep while he nurses. my youngest still sleeps whenever and where ever and if not woken by his older brother will sleep in until 10 or 10:30. also i kno my son can go to sleep without me and without a fuss as he does that when he visits his dad or i'm at work.

Sharaya - posted on 11/30/2009

My baby sleeps with me too...im so worried about how he will deal with the transition. I just want my bed back cuz he moves around alot and he winds up right under my back (I mean when Im on my side). Also its hard when I want to be intimate with my husband. I could use some suggestions too!!

Amanda - posted on 11/27/2009

I can honestly say with both of my boys that has never been a problem. But from the day that I bought them home I started them into a routine. I did not let them sleep anywhere but in their beds for about a month or so, that way they understood that was where they were supposed to do all of their sleeping. It is harder to do that with babies that have not been in a solid routine of sleeping in a crib so that they understand it, but it can be done. You REALLY have to stick to your guns. A girl I know is living proof, she could not stand the thought of her baby boy crying, so here he is, going to be 3 in Dec. And he still has to be rocked to sleep!!! I do not wish that upon anyone, and he is big enough now, that his tantrums if she sties to change it are HORRIBLE!!! so she just gives in. My boys are 3 years, and the youngest is 4 months, they both wake up between 8-9 am, take a nap at 1, my youngest goes to bed at 8:30 and my oldest at 9. If you keep them consistent a weeks worth of crying and adjusting will make it so worth your while to have years of fuss free bed time! I promise!!

Bronwyn - posted on 11/27/2009

Try reading 'The No Cry Sleep Solution' by Elizabeth Pantley" highly recommended. No trars involved, sleeping all thru the night. My daughter has been putting herself to sleep since 10 weeks, sleeping thru the night in her own room from 12 weeks, she is now 17 weeks. Absolutley brilliant book, easy to follow and implement soothing ideas. Try it!

Alexandra - posted on 11/22/2009

crib used to bring out the same reaction from my baby as Corrie's – nothing appealed to her in the crib at all. she liked being fed to sleep and could (and still can) sleep by my side for a very long time!

what i did: started putting her in the crib when I knew it was getting close to sleep time, but she was not cranky or very tired yet. We have one of those mobile things by fisher price with the spinning umbrella that plays music, so I turned that on so she can look at it and not focus so much on being in the crib.

once she got used to "hanging" out in the crib, I started swaddling her (she cried) and after giving her a pacifier I held her until the crying settled and placed her in the crib awake. I noticed that even if she cries again, she resettles after awhile. Meanwhile I keep sitting beside the crib and every now and again speak to her softly (yes, try a few times as if she's bawling she doesnt always hear :)) and tell her it's ok and offer the pacifier that's being spit out while she cries...
eventually we got to a point, where I place her (swaddled) in the crib and she takes the paci and stares at the umbrella thing. after 2 minutes I turn the spinning umbrella off, so it doesnt distract her or wake her and give her an idea that it's time to sleep. slowly she falls asleep to the music while looking around. if she doesnt cry I leave the room too, so she doesnt "sense" my presence and falls asleep on her own.

I have not mastered this yet, just the falling asleep int he crib part. During the night she still needs a feed and if I fall asleep feeding her in my bed (breastfeeding, obviously) then sometimes we end up sleeping together until morning :)))

Corrie - posted on 11/21/2009

My little daughter screams and works herself up into a tizzy if I lie her down without being next to her or feeding her to sleep (I am a breastfeeding mom exclusively). Even if I try to lie her down after she's asleep--- it's right awake and crying. I've played music, sung softly to her, and just let het cry. Nothing seems to help.

Rebecca - posted on 11/19/2009

it will take time n u have to be patient u can have the crip in the same room as u. when they r asleep put them in the crip n rub on there back for a lil while so they can feel ur touch. a parents touch is what they r missin n they may feel far away when ur not as close as them as they will like to be. it jus takes for them to get use to it. u can try to have something of urs in the crip as well for scent that may also help.

Andy - posted on 11/16/2009

Hi there, Maybe try putting your baby in a hand held bassinet and keep them next to your bed for a couple of nights, then move the bassinet into the crib, and from there move your baby out of the bassinet into the crib.



As Sarah-Jane said, amye try putting them in there for naps, and when they are still awake to let them know its ok to sleep here. Maybe for the first couple of times stay with them till they fall asleep - but dont let that become a habit.



Good luck. Once your baby is in their own room and in their crib you manage to sleep a bit better (once you get over checking on them every 5 minutes =] )

Charmaine - posted on 11/16/2009

I have this problem as well, my son is 4 months and does not want to sleep in his crib!! however when he sleeps near me he is more relaxed and does not wake up that much. I would like for him to sleep in his crib as well, however as soon as i put him there he screams.

Rebecca - posted on 11/12/2009

Thank you

Sarah-jane - posted on 11/12/2009

hi i used to let my daughter sleep in my bed wit me, but to stop it i put her crib next to my bed and when she woke up id soothe her by holding her hand so she still sees she is with you,
and u should try at bed time put her in her crib be 4 she falls asleep it will help let her know its her place to sleep, she will cry and its ok to let her cry

Heather - posted on 11/11/2009

maybe transitioning to a bassinet first will help ease the transition to a crib in a different room? we used a bassinet with our son, and for about a week put him in his crib just for naps so he'd get used to it. when we finally put him in the crib at night he didn't have any problems.