Sleeping close to a newborn can be comforting for the parents and the baby. Yet as the baby grows older, it is important to get the baby to sleep in his own crib. Moving the child out of the parents' bed allows Mom and Dad to sleep better at night and also teaches the baby how to sleep alone. It's often difficult for babies to sleep in cribs initially, because they feel alone and scared. Instead of letting a baby sleep in the same bed as his parents forever, though, parents need to move their baby to the crib at a time that feels comfortable and right to them.
Step 1
Wait until your baby shows signs of sleepiness before putting her in the crib. If your baby is wide awake and alert, putting her in the crib will do nothing but agitate her. Dr. Bill Sears, pediatrician and professor of Pediatrics at the University of California at Irvine, states on his website that it is impossible to force a baby to sleep. Watch for signs of readiness to sleep, such as yawning, nodding off and a glazed look in the eyes, to know that the baby is truly tired. If the baby is really tired when you put her in the crib, she will fall asleep more easily without any fussing. BabyCenter.com notes that some babies get tired at the same time every night, while others get tired at different times. As long as your baby is indicating that she is tired, she is ready to be placed in the crib.
Step 2
Soothe the baby just before placing him in the crib. Many babies start to cry as soon as they are placed in the crib. If your baby cries, sing to him, gently stroke his hair or play soft music to make his environment more relaxing. The calmer you can make the room for your baby, the more quickly he will stop crying and fall asleep in the crib. After sleeping in the crib continually for a period of time, such as a few weeks, he will become used to it and not have any continued problems with it.
Step 3
Create a comfortable sleeping environment so that it is easier for your baby to go to sleep even if she doesn't prefer to be in the crib. Making the room very quiet and dark can help. Dr. Sears recommends even making sure the rest of the house is quiet as your baby sleeps in the crib by silencing the phone ringer and lowering the television volume.
Step 4
Check on the baby continually to let her know that you are still near, but then leave the room so she can adjust to sleeping in the crib alone. Dr. Sears explains that although it is hard to leave the room when your baby is crying, this type of training is important to familiarize your baby with sleeping alone in the crib. He recommends putting the baby to sleep in the crib and then walking away. Checking in on her every hour or so is fine, but don't stay in the room too long. Persistency in teaching her to sleep in the crib is important.
