How to Make a Smooth Transition From Co-Sleeping to Crib

How to Make a Smooth Transition From Co-Sleeping to Crib

29 September 2020 • Words by Sharon Brandwein 5 mins

When it comes to parenting, in that location are very few topics as polarizing as co-sleeping. Some parents are vehemently opposed to it, citing fears for the kid'south safety as a main concern. While others cover co-sleeping every bit a fashion to bond with their kid. Statistically, over half of the mothers surveyed, 61% to be verbal, reported co-sleeping with their child.

What Exercise Experts Say About Co-Sleeping?

For years experts take staunchly warned parents to steer articulate of co-sleeping with their babies. Specifically, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned that co-sleeping could exist a dangerous practice putting babies at risk for entrapment or suffocation. Both of which tin happen as a outcome of parent rollover or when the baby becomes wrapped and tangled in blankets and soft bedding. Moreover, co-sleeping has been associated with SUDI (sudden unexpected death in infancy), a wide term that has come to embrace SIDS (sudden infant expiry syndrome) and other sleeping accidents.

While pediatricians and experts go along to warn parents about the dangers of co-sleeping, they likewise realize that there are plenty of parents who volition exercise it anyway (see statistics above).

According to the revised co-sleeping guidelines:
  • Babies should be placed on their backs for every sleep.
  • Infants should be placed on firm sleep surfaces that encounter prescribed safety standards.
  • Co-sleeping is non recommended for babies younger than one twelvemonth. Ideally, infants should sleep in the parent'southward bedroom, close to their bed, but on a split up surface. This is specially important for infants vi months and younger.

Co-Sleeping Is Usually Born Out Of Necessity

Truth be told, information technology's highly likely that no parent e'er sets out with co-sleeping in mind. Sleeping arrangements are oftentimes a thing of circumstance. More often than not, sleep-deprived parents will do what they need to do but to get some shut-middle. Co-sleeping, as information technology were, is often a office of parents responding to the needs of their child and an all-out effort to preserve their sanity at the same time.

Still, even if you choose to co-sleep with your kid, there comes a point where y'all're just done and ready to motion past that stage. And whatever number of factors may spark your decision. Perhaps your child is sleeping through the night. Maybe he/she is not feeding as much, or possibly you simply want your bed back. Whether it lasted for a few weeks or a few months, rest bodacious you're not alone. Every parent reaches an impasse where it'due south time to reassess the best sleeping arrangements for themselves and their kid.

When the time comes to transition from co-sleeping to a crib, it will no dubiousness exist a challenge for anybody. To minimize the frustration and maybe even some tears, here are some tips and best practices to assist with the process:

Gradually increase the space between you lot and your child

Like many parents, you may find that a bedside co-sleeper or a bassinet will be helpful for increasing the space betwixt you and your child. These items go along your child at a safe altitude, this way, he won't find himself suddenly and unexpectedly without you, which can be alarming. In fact, bedside sleepers can give you lot both a little space, and they're a corking way to ease into the transition.

Bring your kid'southward crib into your room

In keeping with the idea of gradual change, try moving your kid's crib into your room for a short while. In doing so, you can move your child out of your bed but still remain close by until your child has adjusted to the transition. If information technology doesn't make sense to motility an entire crib into your room, or you just don't accept space, bassinets could besides piece of work. No doubt they would be less of a hassle to boot.

Motion into your child'due south room (temporarily)

If moving the crib into your room is not an choice, you may try bunking in your child'due south room for a while, instead. This method, too, allows you to stay close as you try to create some distance. Keep in mind that this shouldn't be a lengthy stay by any means. The idea is to bunk with your child for a while and get out of contrivance once she gets used to her new infinite.

Establish a consistent bedtime routine

Bedtime routines are a crucial role of helping your child develop salubrious sleep habits. While a bedtime routine tin exist quite helpful in the transition from co-sleeping to the crib, it can also be invaluable with other transitional sleep stages equally well, such as sleep grooming, for example.

To help with the transition from co-sleeping to a crib, make every effort to found a bedtime routine while your child is still co-sleeping. Moreover, be certain to do the routine in the child's room.

"I always recommend parents do bedtime routines in their child's room, fifty-fifty leading up to the transition to the crib. Yous can do a bedtime routine in your child's nursery then bring them to your room for 3 to five days leading upward to the transition."

Amy Mortoni, Certified Baby and Toddler Sleep Consultant and the Founder of The Postpartum Party

For parents who demand assist establishing a bedtime routine, Moshi is a wonderful resource filled with meditations, magical stories, and soothing music. This app tin can help your little one make positive associations with bedtime, and in turn, make for an easier transition from co-sleeping to the crib.

Familiarize your child with his/her infinite

Endeavour to spend as much awake time as you tin can with your kid in his/her plant nursery. Think about diaper changes, post-bath time, downtime, and playtime. Spending time here serves to familiarize your child with his environs, so come nighttime, information technology won't be scary or foreign.

"One of the almost important (and easiest) things parents can do to transition from co-sleeping to a crib is to spend fourth dimension in your kid'southward room," says Mortoni. "Feed your child in their nursery, read books in at that place, and play peek-a-boo with them in the crib. We want our children to be familiar with their rooms and comfortable in their environment. Create happy memories in the plant nursery, and it will brand the transition to sleeping in the nursery so much smoother."

Try information technology for naptimes first

Naptime tin can be a adept bridge for the co-sleeping to crib transition. Try to put your child downwardly for daytime naps exclusively in her crib. These short stretches give her a run a risk to go used to her environs. In due time she'll feel more comfortable in the space, which will undoubtedly brand the dark transition that much easier.

When you decide to transition from co-sleeping to the crib, recollect that information technology's a big step for both you and your kid. No doubtfulness, information technology volition exist fraught with stress, frustration, and plenty of tears.



As y'all begin with those crucial offset steps, bear in mind that the overarching theme is to take information technology slowly. Although at that place will exist times where you only desire to give in, call back that it has to exist done at some bespeak. Any waffling on your part will just confuse your child and prolong the process. Just like any transitional stage in your child's evolution, consistency and patience are fundamental. This transition is more of a marathon, not a sprint to the finish.

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  • Sharon Brandwein

    Sharon Brandwein is a writer specializing in all things parenting. Her work has besides appeared on ABCNews, Motherly, and, Scary Mommy, and Parents. When she's not busy curating a wardrobe for her puppy, you can find her writing most maternity, amidst other things, on SharonBrandwein.com, and of class right here on Moshi.