It is common for your little one to sleep in your arms while breastfeeding or with a bottle in their mouth. However, the moment you lay them down in their crib, they wake up and start crying.
Training your baby to sleep somewhere other than your arms or bed can be challenging as your baby may cry excessively when being separated from you. But should that stop you from trying to make your baby sleep in his crib? No!
As a mother, you must understand that sometimes your baby’s problem with sleeping in his crib isn’t often down to his preference but some external factors. For instance, your baby may not find the crib comfortable; he may need a little bath to get him in the mood or a little nap to sleep comfortably in his crib. If you have issues with your baby sleeping in his crib, there are ways to turn the tides.
When Can Your Little One Start Sleeping in a Crib?
The answer to this question varies. It depends on your child’s age and how comfortable you are with him sleeping somewhere other than your bed.
Of course, as a mother, you may be worried about your baby sleeping away from you. However, that can be fixed by placing his crib in your bedroom for the first few weeks. By doing so, you can understand his sleeping patterns, breathing noises, and hunger signals. All these signs will allow you to monitor your little one when he finally gets to sleep in his permanent room.
1. Bath your baby before putting him to sleep
If your baby finds it hard to fall asleep in his crib, consider bathing him. A warm bath will go a long way in cooling your baby’s temperature, thus easing him into sleep. But, if your baby is quite active, the bath will only freshen him up. In this case, ensure that you bathe him a bit earlier in the day and not before bedtime.
It is essential that you use water that’s warm but not too hot (90 to 100 degrees) when bathing your kid. After a warm bath, the baby’s temperature starts to cool, and sleeping becomes easy.
2. Make the baby’s crib comfortable.
An uncomfortable baby is an unhappy baby. Of course, you don’t expect an unhappy baby to sleep soundly in a crib. So before you lay your baby into his crib, ensure that it is comfortable. Purchase a comfy baby pillow for crib to boost the comfort of your baby’s crib. You can also make your baby crib an exciting place by adding a few toys. However, only do this during playtime and not nap time.
3. Prioritize bedtime meals
Have you ever tried sleeping with an empty tummy? Do you remember the discomfort that ensued? Now imagine doing the same to your baby. A hungry baby will definitely cry all night rather than sleep in a crib.
So, to ensure that your baby sleeps soundly in his crib, ensure that he doesn’t sleep on an empty stomach. You can consider giving your baby some formula or great milk before putting him to sleep. Also, ensure you don’t overfeed your baby as it might result in discomfort.
4. Start with naps
Are you worried that your baby might start crying when you lower him to his crib? If yes, why not start the transition to the crib getting your baby to nap.
And how do you do that?
You can put your baby down for a nap by:
- Setting the mood
- Ensuring that your baby sleeps in the correct position
- Staying consistent
- Putting your baby to bed drowsy but awake
Having a few short naps in a crib will allow your baby to get familiar with the new surroundings. When this happens regularly, sleeping in a crib would seem natural for your baby.
Conclusion
Sleeping on the same bed with your baby may appear like the right thing. However, it comes with many consequences like SIDs and suffocation. If your baby often cries when placed in a crib, implement the tips above. If things don’t change after some time, consider seeing a paediatrician.
