Your baby seems too big for her bassinet, and you are considering the best way to transition her to sleeping in a crib. You may be wondering if she is too young or small to make the move. Most babies are ready to move from a bassinet to a crib by the time they are 3 months old, according to BabyCenter.com. By this age, your baby can move around enough to make sleeping in a bassinet dangerous. It is time for her to make the move.
Safety
Bassinets, baskets and cradles are cozy, and your newborn probably preferred this sleeping arrangement. These are relatively safe for your child in that he is too young, weak and small to roll himself out of the bedding. However, as your child ages and is able to sit up and move about, the shallow confines of the bassinet are not enough to prevent him from falling out. The bassinet manufacturers often impose a weight restriction to ensure the safety of your baby, limiting the amount of time your child can safely sleep in a bassinet. Transition your child from the bassinet to his crib early, before size and safety become an issue, to allow your baby extra time to make the adjustment.
Stress
Switching beds can be stressful for both you and your baby. Your baby can sense if you are worried about the transition and take her emotional cues from you. Avoid putting her in the crib for the first (or second) time when you are upset or in a rush. Smile and speak to her in warm, calm tones as you lay her down. Train her to think of her crib as a comforting and happy place, so that she is less likely to cry at nap or bedtime.
Pillows and Toys
Even though your baby may look small sitting in the middle of an empty crib, do not put in bumpers, pillows or stuffed toys. Suffocation is the leading cause of death among children under the age of 1. The Utah Safety Council warns that infants often suffocate in their sleeping environments as a result of items such as pillows and cushions blocking their airway.
Face-Up
Use a special mattress cover to reduce the risk for SIDS -- sudden infant death syndrome -- and lay your baby in the crib face-up. According to Prevent-SIDS.org, face-up sleeping reduces SIDS by preventing the gases that cause the syndrome from building up in such a way that the baby ingests these toxic substances.
Comfort
Sit on the outside of the crib and play with your baby when you first place her in the crib. Stay in the room where she can see you for a while. Use a monitor to listen in on your baby as she sleeps and respond immediately if she calls out to you. Resist temptation to allow toys in her crib, as you want her to associate her crib with sleep, not playing.
