When a baby is born, its first moments are spent with the mother, bonding and forging a lifetime connection. Then the baby is taken home and placed in a bassinet, most times in the same room as the mother or another monitored room.
The bassinet is a cradle-like bed that is for babies from the ages of zero to five months. It is shaped like an oval, and has sides that are cloth padded to prevent injuries. Some bassinets are designed with fixed and sturdy legs, while others are designed to provide a rocking motion.
Bassinets, also known as cradles, are designed for easy mobility and movement. The easy movement makes it easy for the mother to reach out and feed because babies at that age tend to eat frequently.
When a baby reaches six months, it is advisable to move your baby from a bassinet to a crib. The reason is that the bassinet is not large enough to accommodate the growing baby comfortably, and at this point where babies are sitting and trying to stand, it becomes unsafe.
You do not want your baby bumping into the sides of the bassinet, getting upset at the discomfort, and crying in the middle of the night.
Transitioning Baby from Bassinet to Crib
Transitioning your baby from the bassinet to a crib most times is a tricky business. Your baby is used to how the bassinet feels and your presence.
This will make sleeping in a different place difficult right from the start. Waking up at night to soothe your crying baby might become a routine.
Babies are creatures of habit, and disrupting their routine can cause temporary sleep setbacks.
If your baby is used to being attended to immediately in the middle of the night because the bassinet is close to your bed, your baby will also expect the same thing while sleeping in a crib.
There are, however, certain ways to transition your baby from the cradle to the crib in a short time and resume a normal sleeping schedule.
Move the crib into your room for a few nights: Although your baby still sleeps in the same room, it is a bigger bed. Knowing that you are close can allow your baby to adopt a good sleeping pattern even in a bigger space. Once the baby becomes adjusted to sleeping in a bigger space, you can now move the crib back to its proper location.
Bedtime routine: It is important to set up a bedtime routine if you haven’t. Babies thrive on a solid bedtime routine, and when you do it every evening (bath, night story, and snuggles), it will signal your child that bedtime and sleep await.
Make the switch in stages: If your baby refuses to sleep in the crib throughout the night, start with afternoon naps. Start by letting the baby sleep in the crib during afternoon naps for a few weeks and then at night. After a while, complete the transition by allowing the baby to sleep in the crib all the time.
Wait a while: After placing your baby in the crib, don’t just walk out of the room. Wait a while to make sure your baby is comfy and well settled.
Start by sitting on the floor beside the crib, moving further every night until you’re out of the door and your baby can sleep comfortably on their own.
Make the area comfortable: If your baby is not old enough to be safe around stuffed toys, there are other ways you can make the room comfortable for them to sleep in.
Dimming the light, painting the ceiling in attractive, soft colors, and creating designs high enough that it poses no threat are some ways to bring about comfort to your baby.
Bottom Line
Moving your baby from your room to the crib poses many challenges, no doubt. However, this should not deter you from making a move. It might involve waking up at night and other uncomfortable scenarios, but in the end, it is best for you and the whole family.
Your baby will learn to sleep on its own, and you can reclaim your room.
