Your baby, sucking their thumb or squeezing a pacifier, is sleeping off in their snuggly bedside sleeper, but they don’t quite fit in there. The time to transition a baby from a bassinet to a crib is here , but you may be unsure when to put a baby in the crib? And how to transition a baby to a crib more conveniently.
A milestone that many parents find complex is changing their baby’s bedtime routine by moving their baby to the crib in the same room because it causes them to feel anxious and disturbed. When you say goodbye to your baby’s bassinet, you’re preparing yourself for the more difficult task of moving the baby to the crib. Since the three months growing period of the baby passed, swift parents cannot even decide when to put a baby in the crib?
You can move a baby to a crib at any age, but you must consider a few factors to make the best decision. Most parents prefer to move from bassinet to crib between 4 to 6 months of baby’s age, but there is no definitive rule for moving to crib. But you need to know how to transition a baby to a crib?
Let’s discuss when the baby should move from bassinet to crib? And when to put a baby in the crib?
When should a baby move from bassinet to crib?
The task of moving a baby from a bassinet to a crib is difficult if you don’t know when to do it. You have to plan the transition from bassinet to a new sleeping environment as soon as possible for your child’s safety because they are now getting bigger and don’t fit in the bassinets.
A mother’s life is all about struggle; you have to ensure your baby’s safety at any cost, whether they fall asleep or they are roaming around in the house. You always have to take a look at their movements. The same goes for the bassinet; at a certain age, your baby wants to sit or turn around, and at that time, bassinets are not safe for your baby.
You have to put your little one sleeping in the crib independently for your peace of mind as well as your baby’s safe sleep and sweet dreams. You don’t need to make a proper nursery for your child to make them sleep in the standard sized crib.
If you’re unsure how to transition to the crib, keep reading for a detailed guide.
The baby is now too old for the bassinet
For a bassinet, the maximum weight limit is 25 pounds, and an infant exceeding this weight is no longer suitable for the bassinet. Before making the switch from co sleeper to crib, be sure to review your bassinet’s instruction manual to determine the actual weight of the bassinet. If you find your baby is stuck in the bassinet in an uncomfortable position, then it means you need to think of changing your four months old baby’s bedtime routine to sleep better.
A peaceful slumber is essential for infant’s health and development
To ensure that your newborn baby sleeps soundly at night, new parents spend a lot of money on baby gear. However, as your baby gets older, you’ll need to make more adjustments, especially in his first year. Your baby will be more comfortable sleeping in a giant crib rather than in a small bassinet because the bassinet’s small size causes him to be cramped.
So, If you notice that your baby’s body is growing too quickly to fit in the bassinet, it’s time to consider moving from bassinet to crib. Your baby cannot sleep peacefully in the bassinet because it is too small for them to stretch out and play in their own space.
Baby roll can be dangerous
Bassinet-bound babies are dangerous to leave alone when they begin to roll over. As a caring parent, you must see that your babies move from the bassinet to the crib at the appropriate time . When your baby plays in the bassinet, pay careful attention to see if they can roll over independently. Because, it is a sure sign that your child is crib ready.
Having a bedside sleepers is necessary because a newborn baby should always sleep on its back, and a small bassinet prevents them from rolling over into the stomach. Bassinets are usually not made for moving babies. That’s why it’s good to carry your baby from bassinet to crib before the age of six months.
Baby is constantly wailing in the bassinet
When your baby is constantly crying while lying in the bassinet, you should be careful. It’s time to switch to a crib and change their environment. Insufficient space in the bassinet makes your baby cranky and unwilling to lay in the bassinet for long periods. Moving the baby to a crib is the best alternative in this situation. As a result, your baby will be able to enjoy some alone time while playing there.
Baby is tricky to manage in the bassinet
The bassinet is a difficult place to deal with a cranky baby. It can be challenging for mothers to repeatedly remove their infants from the bassinet when they wake up throughout the night and at odd times. If your baby refuses to sleep in the bassinet, moving the baby to the crib is an excellent option for parents.
How to transition from bassinet to the crib to fall asleep?
It’s distressing for new moms to see most babies peacefully sleeping in their cribs without room sharing while their baby struggles to settle in. For mothers, moving a baby from a bassinet to a crib can be difficult. A new baby’s transition to a new environment is the most challenging task. Don’t expect your child to become used to his new bedtime routine in a short time.
Even though it may be difficult for mothers to comprehend at first, the process of helping your baby adjust to falling asleep inside the crib is rewarding in the long run.’ “How do I get my baby to sleep in a crib?” “What can I do to keep my child content?”
Prepare a comfortable crib according to baby’s weight
Don’t you want your baby to be able to sleep peacefully on his own? To ensure a peaceful night’s sleep, you’ll need to set up a cozy crib where your baby will feel more comfortable and make sure that the crib sheet is warm. Make your baby’s space as beautiful as possible so that they enjoy sleeping there instead.
Switching the bassinets with safe crib at the ideal time
The best time to make the transition is when you and your baby are both stress-free. Your baby’s transition to the crib may be affected by teething, which is a challenging period for babies to deal with it. Make sure that you are prepared for disrupting your regular sleep routine for crib transition to have a sound sleep environment.
Safety measures necessary for crib in baby’s room
Even though you are over possessive of your baby’s safety and want to keep them in your own room, you need to take precautionary measures and provide your baby with a comfortable sleep environment so that the baby transitions gradually, make adjustment in the crib easier and start sleeping peacefully inside the crib. Focus on the overall structure of the crib, firm mattress and crib sheets.
Whether it is the crib mattress or the sidewalls, the length of the crib or the height, you have to look into every minor thing of the crib to ensure your baby’s comfort. You can also use a sleep sack instead of loose sheets.
Make sure to provide a good quality mattress
Baby-friendly crib mattresses are available from a wide variety of manufacturers. Before putting your baby to sleep, make sure the mattress is tight enough without bumper pads. There is a chance to increase the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) ratio when a baby under age feels suffocated while resting on a soft mattress. It must be according to the weight limit of your baby.
Always make sure your baby’s mattress is breathable, chemical-free, and does not contain any foam or latex for baby’s sleep.
Spend some quality time near the crib within same room
Make sure that you spend a lot of time with your baby in or near the crib or you can use baby monitors if you want to become familiar with the crib. place your baby’s crib in the parents room for a few starting days. After that you can use a baby monitor to have a watchful eye.
Ensure your sweet baby gets used to the new environment, whether the crib is in your room or a separate nursery. You can also use a baby monitor or try to do things like reading, playing, and eating there that your baby enjoys the most. As a result, your baby will be able to associate the new bedtime routine in their own crib quickly.
Transition baby gradually in your own room
Slowly changing something will take longer, but it will have a long-lasting impact. In the same way, it will take some time before the baby can sleep independently after moving from the bassinet.
When introducing your baby to a new environment, it is best to do so gradually according to weight limits. You don’t have to worry about making a separate nursery and transitioning baby at once. Changing your baby’s crib one step at a time will allow you to move it into their rooms once they are satisfied sleeping in it.
Start with small naps
As a new mom, I know that you may have difficulty adapting your child’s bedtime routine, but don’t worry. This simple baby sleeping trick will help you out. Put your baby to sleep in their crib for naps and avoid disturbing them at bedtime. You can leave them in the bassinet overnight. That will allow them to adapt quickly and begin to sleep independently in the crib easily.
Put white noise machine for baby sleep
A white noise machine is a great investment if you want your baby to sleep peacefully within a few nights. It is best to soothe your baby and fall asleep faster. It creates a womb-like atmosphere for infants, making sleep train to their new surroundings easier. A white noise machine will make it easier for your baby to drift off to sleep in their crib.
Add some attractive elements to the crib
When we talk about a baby’s attraction, we immediately think of toys and other creative items that every baby enjoys. Your baby will eventually tend to lean toward their cozy warm crib if you make it attractive to them. You can decorate your baby’s crib with bright lights, stuffed animals, lamps, and the theme that they like the most.
Be patient and wait for some time
When a few things don’t go according to plan, you have to wait for some and be patient. Your baby is not the same as others; they may need a little extra time to adjust to a new environment. To see better results, you’ll need to be more tolerant. Following these tips calmly will make the transition from bassinet to crib more accessible for both you and your baby.
Conclusion
Parenting is a name of struggle; you will face many ups and downs. Having cranky babies to fall asleep can be a challenge, but you will be able to manage your life with them with a little bit of effort. Moving babies from a bassinet to a crib is a difficult task for every mother, but it isn’t a bad nightmare; your baby will gradually adjust to a warm, cozy crib with minimal crying and fussiness, and things will get better soon enough.
Action and the growth objectives are everything, so love and appreciate every second with your baby, and make special memories for yourself as well.
