This is a question for anyone who has co-slept before. What did you do to get your baby into his own crib?

Question

I have a 7 month old I'd like to get into his own crib. He's never slept in it, only knows it as a playtime place because I've set him in there to play with his mobile for 30 minutes or so while I go do something. He slept in a changer in our room for 2 months 5 months ago but I'd like to start helping him sleep in his crib. Open to ideas but prefer not letting him just cry. thanks for the answers

Answer 1

Try to move him when he is asleep to his crib so that he gets used to getting up in his own crib. Move him during his deepest part of his sleep (that is about 30-60 minutes after he falls asleep - if he wakes up, pat him back to sleep).

Then slowly after a few weeks put hm in his crib while he is awake but ready to sleep with his favourite toy/ banket and keep the lights dim as well as some soft music. Sometimes he may fall asleep if he is really tired and other times he may cry - but continue to do this everyday as a pattern. He will slowly learn that the crib is his sleeping place.

Though to be honest eventually we let ours cry (he was less than 18 months) and this persisted for 3-4 days (pure hell) but he never came back to our bed! (Similar to the Feber method)

Answer 2

Babies do not need to cry, it does not spoil them. People that tell you that are stupid! Babies cry for a reason. Try putting the crib in your room, next to your bed for a few nights. Slowly begin moving it further and further away from your bed. Then put it is his room. Play some music to distract the baby. He is used to hearing you breathe. If he wakes up stay in his room with him until he goes back to sleep. You may have to hold him and rock him until he goes, then put him back in his crib. Just take out all of the toys so he will understand that it is not a place to play. Good Luck.

Answer 3

I co-slept with my youngest son for health reasons. It was very difficult to get him in his own room. The previous comment should just be ignored. You cannot spoil a child until they are close to being two. Too much love and caring can never hurt a child. I started with my son by trying to keep him up most of the day so he was pretty worn out by the time it was bedtime. I cuddled him until he would go to sleep and then put him in his own bed. If he woke up during the night I would go calm him and rock him and when he fell back asleep he was put back into his own bed. Eventually he learned that this was the place he was supposed to sleep. He didn't have to "cry it out" and was not "spoiled" he was comforted and made to feel safe in his own bed. It may take a week or so but it is worth it. Good Luck

Answer 4

If you are happy with your baby sleeping with you, then there's no reason to make him stay in his crib and cry.

If you would be more comfortable with him sleeping on his own, then try putting his crib or playpen or a mattress next to your bed. You could put him in when he's sleepy, and hold his hand 'till he's asleep, or even lay with him in his spot. He'll feel good and you won't have your heart broken from his cries.

Don't worry, he won't still be sleeping with you when he's 10. Eventually they want their own space/room. You are not spoiling him now.

Answer 5

Try starting him in his crib at naptime. Also, rocking him to sleep then laying him down. Three of my four babies rocked to sleep until they were two years old. You'll probably have some rough nights to start, but he's little. He'll get the hang of it pretty quickly as long as you don't have anxiety about it. He'll pick up on that. Just do what's right for you. There's no right or wrong way.

Answer 6

start off by putting him in after he falls asleep if he wakes up put him back in after he falls asleep this will last for a litle while(not to long) but it will get to where he will sleep in there on his own. others wise just letting him cry method only lasts about a week.and stop using his crib for play time get a walker so you can get things done both of these methods worked for me. you need to do something though or you are going to end up with a 6 yr old sleeping with you

Answer 7

Everytime he falls asleep you need to make sure that you put him IN his crib. I would try rocking him then putting him down in the crib. He will get used to waking up in his crib and eventually he'll be able to fall asleep on his own IN his crib.

Just because you pay attention to him and don't want to let your child cry Does NOT make him spoiled!!

Answer 8

Before leaving your baby to cry in his/her crib ask yourself ...
*have they been fed?
*have they been changed?
*have they been cuddled?
Only leave your baby to cry if there is a yes to these things
I am an Early Childhood Educator and it can be harmful to babies if they are left without these things. Your baby will settle down after a while. If they fall asleep in your arms or any other place move them to the crib so they wake up in there ...Routines help children understand :)

Answer 9

first of all let me tell you every day that goes by is gonna be more and more difficult for you to sleep in his crib. its heart breaking to listen to them cry but that's the only solution, put him on the crib with his bottle let him cry if he cries to much see if he is wet. them let him cry eventually he will get really tiered and he will fall asleep. i was once told that when the are in the crib and cry for hours and are not wet try and pick him up if he stops crying he or she has nothing and put them on the crib again, it takes time and lots of hours of criyng but that's the only way . good luck and have alot of patience.

Answer 10

ok, if you insist on a NONE crying method try this... move the crib to your room, and start naps in it, then move to sleeping at night in it, slowly start to move the crib farther from you, like by the door , then out in the hall, etc...... try each way for about 3 days, then in about 12 days you should have a little one who sleeps in their own room...... Hope you have a big bd room and a hall way....... or you could rock the child to sleep and place in the crib........ you might have to do this for about a week....... God bless