Getting infant to sleep in crib?

Question

I am going to start getting my 6 month old daughter to sleep in her own crib, instead of with me. How should I go about doing this tonight? Also, should she take her naps in there as well, right now she naps in her stroller during the day.

Answer 1

With my son I started with the naps in the crib he'd cry I'd go in and without picking him up I'd let him know I was there then I'd leave the room again after about 15 min he got tired and fell asleep. Then at night I'd do the same thing I'd go in every 10 min to make sure he was okay if he was still crying and after about 30 to 40 mon he'd fall asleep it's hard because you do have to let them cry but after about a week he knew that the crib meant sleep and he started to just lay down and not cry and now he just lays down and falls right asleep doesn't cry at all and I do his naps and his bedtime at the same time everyday I keep a schedule everyday his feedings, baths, everything at the same time everyday that way he knows what comes next so he knows after bath time it's bedtime...Good luck .

Answer 2

Put her on the crib, she will cry a bit, go and check on her. Give her a shirt or something with your smell on it. She will be fine.
As far as taking naps in her stroller that would seem uncomfortable, put her in her crib. The only thing that I don't believe in is letting the baby cry, if she cries too much pick her up and try later on or another day. Babies don't have sense of time, when you leave the baby to her it means you will never come back. So, please, please make sure she knows you are there.

Answer 3

I went from co-sleeping to crib when my baby was 4 months old. When she would fall asleep after her last nursing, I would pick her up and put her in the crib. She would wake up in the middle of the night more often, at first cause she didn't know where I was but she eventually got used to it. I'm not one of those mommies that follows the whole cry it out thing. If she's crying pick her up. Also put her in there for her naps. She can't fight sleep forever and she'll eventually get used to it. Trust me, it a harder transition for us then it is for them.

Answer 4

I had this problem with my twins. They got to the point when they would only sleep with me, and I wouldn't get any sleep!

One day I put them in their crib AWAKE and let them cry themselves to sleep. They cried for maybe 15 minutes. The next day they cried for 5 minutes. And pretty soon I could put them in their cribs for naps and night time without one squeel. I love it. It was the best thing I ever did.

Now in the mornings when they wake up, they'll play in their cribs for an hour before I have to get up and get them. They are very content being in their cribs.

Answer 5

Put her in her crib for naps, she can stretch out and sleep much better than in a stroller. She definitely needs to get used to going to sleep in her crib. She may not like it at first, but she'll get used to it. She may cry a little at first because going to sleep there is "different". When she cries, just go in to her and pat her, talk to her and make sure she is comfortable and then leave again. She'll fall asleep eventually.

When my son was tiny I used to like to hold him until he fell asleep and then I would put him in his crib.....big mistake....he was in elementary school before he would actually GO to his room to go to bed at night. He preferred to fall asleep in the living room where we were which left us having to carry him to bed. This became a problem when he got bigger.

Answer 6

Yes, she should. And get ready for a fight, literally. But in the long run it will be worth it. It could take a few nights of crying and hollering but leaving her and conditioning her to sleep in her own crib be will be the best decision you've made.

Answer 7

I would have her start napping in her crib before I transitioned her to stay in there all night. And understand that you are going to have to hear a LOT of crying before she goes down willingly. I coslept with my daughter for 2 years because I couldn't bear to hear her cry it out. I didn't think it was healthy for a baby to be put through that but a lot of people do it successfully. Good luck!

Answer 8

Put her in her crib everytime she falls asleep that will prevent a stiff neck. You should've put her in a crib at birth so I don't know how this will pan out but I heard of leaving in her crib and let her cry for 5 minutes. After that if she's still crying, check on her and repeat the pattern, she will wear herself out and eventually will sleep. I know its going to be hard to let her cry but its only 5 minutes not 5 hours! :) I hope this helps because I took my own advice! Is she hungry, is she wet, is she needing held? None of those work, let her hear herself cry maybe she needs that too!

Answer 9

It's emotionally very harmful to let a child 'cry it out' so if you must have your child in her own bed, instead of with you which she naturally prefers, i would be humane and let her fall asleep first and then move her.

cribs are a pretty unnatural invention and totally contary to how humans evolved. on the other hand, some babies love their own cribs, so maybe yours will and there'll be no bother.

whatever you do, don't believe the lies that you can let her 'cry it out.' her trust in you will be rightly damaged forever.

Answer 10

Definatly do it slowly & dont let her "Cry It Out" that is very hard on a little 16pound baby! Let her fall asleep in your arms then lay her down and if she wakes up rock her or just cuddle ... it will take time ...... or you could just Co-Sleep which is great for little ones to be close to their parents & actually you usually all get more sleep!