Transitioning your baby from co-sleeping or bassinet to a crib is a big change for both the baby and parents. It can be tricky to know how to make the transition, so your baby can be both safe and comfortable.
Here are some of the best tips for transitioning your baby to a crib:
Transitioning Your Baby to a Crib: The Best Tips for Success 2021
Newborns feed so many times at night. The convenient way is to co-sleep or put them on a bassinet for easy access during feeding, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Co-sleeping also increases the bond between mother and child. But most pediatricians don’t recommend co-sleeping because of the harm that it would cost. Co-sleeping will put your child at risk of suffocation and entrapment. But parents want to respond immediately to their child’s needs, so they prefer to co-sleep with their newborn.
If your baby is in a bassinet, they will outgrow it, and when they already know how to roll over and if they are too heavy for a bassinet. They need to move into bigger sleeping spaces for their growth and development.
The time of transitioning your baby to a crib would eventually come, as it is part of a baby’s milestone. The transition won’t be that easy because babies get used to a routine, and when they are in a new environment, they tend not to adapt quickly. It would take time, consistency, and patience. You will use many approaches until they get used to things around them. We will give you tips on how to transition baby from co sleeping to crib or bassinet to crib. These tips will help you make your baby’s transition easier and successful.
Safety first
You have to keep in mind that during the transition of your baby from co-sleeping or bassinet to crib, your top-most priority is your child’s safety. Parents want to have peace of mind and assurance so they won’t hesitate to transition their baby to the crib.
Aside from safety, these are important things to consider during the transition of your baby to a crib.
1. Lots of love and reassurance
When you co-sleep with your child, you feel closer to them, and you get used to them being by your side and vice versa. Some parents don’t want to be separated physically from their babies during bedtime. At first, you feel strange without your baby by your side. Before putting them in their crib, you may spend time cuddling your baby and have your mother and child bonding first, until they fall asleep.
You can also sit near them while they are dozing off. But with today’s technology, you can use a baby monitor to assure yourself that they are safe when they are in their crib.
2. Be patient and take your time
The transition needs patience and time. You assess your baby’s readiness through their physical behaviors. When they are ready, you don’t have to do things quickly. Make small changes until you observe them adjusting little by little. If you want to transition your baby faster, they can not adapt to a sudden change, it will be harder for you to transition your baby.
3. Set up the crib properly
Ensure that the crib is properly assembled and passes the safety standards. Check that all parts of the crib are in working condition before assembling them. You follow the instructions on the manual even if it takes time to put all the parts together.
4. Place the crib close to your bed so you can be nearby
For the first few days of transition, you can place your baby’s crib near your bed. Let your child get used to the crib first and then transfer the crib to a room. Step by step adjust your child and yourself to be physically separated during bedtime.
5. Make sure the mattress is firm but comfortable
A soft sleeping surface can suffocate your baby. Choose a firm mattress but comfortable for the baby to lay in. Make sure the mattress is made of non-toxic materials because your baby spends most of their time sleeping.
6. Place a safety gate on the stairs so baby can’t wander
As the baby grows and develops more skills, that’s the time when they already know to climb over their crib and get loose. It’s better to install safety gates on stairs in case your baby escapes from the crib.
Bonus Tip
One way to ensure peace of mind for parents is to install a baby monitor in the baby’s crib. Because of today’s advanced technology, you can monitor the baby even if you’re away from your home. Just like the Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor, which has AI detection for your baby’s covered face, baby’s cry, and baby’s danger zone.
Even if you are busy doing your household chores that you can’t monitor your baby every minute, the Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor will alarm you if your baby is in danger while on the crib.
Conclusion
As parents, we have many worries regarding our babies. We tend to be overprotective of them because sometimes we want to baby them forever regardless of the adjustment they need to do for their own growth and development. Our newborns will never be newborns forever.
As they grow each month, as parents we are here to witness and support them in their growth and development. We are just here to make sure they are safe but let them do things on their own that can help their development.
Also read: Prime Reasons Why Stuffed Toys are Good for Toddlers