How do you get a baby to not sleep in a swing anymore?

Question

I'm working on a nighttime routine for my 7 month son but for naps and currently bedtime, he's used to going to sleep in a swing. How can I break him out of it?? He's never slept in his crib yet but my ultimate goal is to get him there as quickly as possible. Thanks

Answer 1

Ease him into it slowly..When he falls asleep in the swing pick him up and put him down in the crib...soon enough he will get used to it...also try to puthim down when you notice him dozing in the swing...my daughter did that too...now she only sleeps in her bed.

Answer 2

Try it one night. Just lay him in his crib. What I do with mine (he's also 7 months) is I give him a bottle (while a lullaby CD is playing in the background), with the lights in his room dimmed, only a nightlight. Then I wait for him to go to sleep (usually when he finished drinking) and put him in his crib. I let the CD play all the way through. Before even feeding him, I give him a bath. Every night. It takes about a week or so before they get used to it. No naps after 4 pm, or he's not likely to sleep much during the night. Give it a try. Having the baby on a schedule is very good, gives you more time too. He might even sleep the whole night through!

Answer 3

It takes ALOT of patience. I used to take care of infants in a daycare and some of the babies were used to falling asleep in their swings but we were not allowed to leave them there. You just have to move him to the crib after he falls asleep and when he wakes up, put him to sleep and then move him in there again. Eventually, he will be so tired that he wont care where he is and fall into the habit of sleeping in the crib. I would recommend only doing this during the day for a while. Also, you could try rocking him to sleep and then moving him to the crib, or just take him out of the swing when hes getting drowsy. If you stick with it, he will learn. Dont give in mom! Its tough! Good luck.

Answer 4

I tell you what works! Rock him a little to calm him down. Maybe play some classical music. But likely the first several times he'll cry when you put him in the crib. You have to let him cry!!! He will get used to it. It might be harder on you than him. Just close the door after you make sure he's ok and after about 7-10 minutes he'll fall asleep. After about a week of doing this, you'll put him down and he'll stay calmly. But you have to be strong. He is old enough for this. I don't recommend this for younger babies.

Answer 5

I would try at least one nap at a time, eventually getting to everything in the crib. Our daughter took all naps in the swing, but now that she's getting bigger, I want to get her out before she HAS to be out.
My opinion- don't put your baby down TOTALLY asleep. It will be hard at first, but he will learn to fall asleep on his own. When our daughter fusses, we go in and gently give her her pacifier, maybe pat her tummy, but don't speak or make eye contact (even though its hard). She now knows that crib = sleep, and falls asleep quite well.
Every baby is different, decide to try one new thing and stick with it a few days, then if you need to adjust, do so!
YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD THE BEST!!! : ) happy sleeping!

Answer 6

I had the same trouble with mt daughter who is now going on 9. She slept in her swing for the first 6 months of her life. I tried placing the carseat carrier inside of the crib, so she still felt snug and then I rocked the carrier until she fell alseep.

Answer 7

well a lot of the experts say that once they begin to sleep through the night they should be placed in their own bed in their own room,and as they get older they should be put there before they are completly asleep(its suppose to help build a sense of self security) as much as i hated to put my son in another room at 3months of age i can honestly say that looking back im glad i did and know it was the best thing for both of us.......as a result i have no issues with getting my son to go to bed(reading stories definately helps make it something to look forward to)..sure he occassionally complains a bit, but what kid doesnt................therefore the unfortunate but necessary action is the tough love route...meaning:as much as it may hurt you the best thing to do is to just suffer a few nights(hopefully thats all)and get rid of the swing odds are he will outgrow it very soon anyway....they are very adaptable and easily realize that the swing is gone and life goes on(as he gets older it wont be so easy because they begin to understand that you could bring it back and sometimes throwing a nonstop fit occassionally works)............i know it sounds harsh but it works...for pacifiers and bottles too.....my son just got up one day and i never gave him a bottle again....he didnt even notice..........and the binki oh, was he attached you could never get it away from him and i really feared trying to get rid of it i thought it would be like the horrible stuff you see on tv then one day i grabbed it when i woke him up and never gave it back....didnt even care............good luck and hope all works out

Answer 8

I have a 20 mos old, we converted him by starting to rock him in a rocking chair till he fell asleep bout 10mins; then would put him in bed. Then we stopped rocking and started laying in the crib only; in no time he was sleeping on his own

Answer 9

My recommendation is, whatever you decide to do, DO IT NOW!! It's going to be easier now that he is only 7, If you wait a little more, when they learn to stand by themselves, you will have more trouble trying to putting him to sleep on his crib. They can get very stubborn and cranky, standing up and refusing to go back to sleep. Good luck!!

Answer 10

depends on how old it is and as long as its comfortable and quiet i would enjoy the time its in there. my mom used to pick up the car seat and put it in my bed so she didnt have to wake me up but then again i was a large pain lol