I have an 11 month old son that sleeps in bed with me. I need help on getting him used to his crib.Any ideas?

Question

I know it was a bad habit to start but I am a working mother with two kids. It's too the point where my husband doesn't sleep with us because the baby is so big. I tried to put him in his crib at bed time and he cried for 1/2 hour. I couldn't just lay in my room down the hall and listen to him. As soon as I brought him into our bed he fell right asleep. With my daughter it was the same thing and I just waited until she was old enough around 2 and a half and just put her too bed but we also made a big deal about her being a big girl and having her own bed. I obviously can't do that with the baby. There has got to be easier way, for both the baby and me. Any thoughts would be great.

Answer 1

At 11 months old he's a little too old for the cry it out method.

Move his crib into your room next to your bed. Here's a great article about how one set of parents transitioned their son from sleeping in their bed to sleeping in his crib without the traumatic experience of crying it out: http://drbenkim.com/blog/2006/11/night-weaning-breastfeeding-baby.html

Answer 2

My daughter slept with me until she was 6 months old, and trust me she did not want to leave my bed... My husband finally put his foot down and insisted she move into the crib (he was sleeping in the guest room and wanted back in his bed). So into the crib she went. She screamed bloody murder sometimes for as long as an hour, but after about a week she got used to it. I think it was harder on me then her... I nursed her until she was over a year old so having her in bed with me made my life a little easier... Or so I thought. Once she started to sleep in her crib, she started to sleep through the night (like for 10 hours at a time). That was the best part of getting her into her crib!

Good luck. Remember, it is best to break this habit sooner rather then later... I have a friend that has her 4 year old and 2 year old and her husband all in the same bed... Not because she wants to, but because the kids will not stay in there own beds... No thank you!

Answer 3

One way to get him to sleep in his crib is to let him cry. Go in after he has cried for 10 mins and reassure him that he is ok and you are really close by. Do not pick him up just give him a hug and lots of kisses. Leave the room again and this time don't come back for 15-20 minutes if he is still crying and repeat the process. The first few nights is torture and it will break you heart so plan to do it when you don't have to go to work the next day. You will be surprised that he will learn much faster than you expect.

Another possibility is to allow him to fall asleep anywhere else but your bed. Once he is asleep, move him to the crib. He may start crying again but he may be much sleepier and less willing to put up a fight. The only problem with this is that eventually he will need to learn to fall asleep in his own crib or bed.

Good luck and

Answer 4

My daughter slept in my bed also, and I swore I'd never do it again because it took so long to get her out, I too hated to just leave her alone to scream and cry, but here I am again with my 4 month old son in my bed, and dad on the couch! I know how much easier it is just to stick them in the bed. Lord knows dad isn't getting up in the middle of the night to take care of them. LOL Maybe you could try putting him in his crib after he has fallen asleep, perhaps waking up in the crib will get him used to being in it, so that eventually he will fall asleep in it for naps, and at night. You could even try putting the crib in your room temporarily so he knows you are close by. I have yet to try this out myself so I'm not sure how well it will work but it beats letting them cry, which if all else fails I guess thats what we'll have to do. I don't know that I've been much help, being in the same situation I am anxious to see some of the other answers myself. Best of luck to you!

Answer 5

Here's what was suggested to me by my son's pediatrician: Start practicing with naps. When he's tired, put him in the crib awake. If he doesn't go to sleep, take him out and play with him. When he's tired again, repeat. Eventually he will go to sleep if he gets tired enough. Let him keep sleeping with you at night until he is accustomed to taking naps in the crib, then start putting him in the crib at night with the same process. It will take a while. You will probably lose some sleep for a few days. It is a process of him getting used to the crib. But, you don't have to let him cry it out this way.

I opted to not do this and just let our son keep sleeping in our room. We put his crib mattress and our mattress both on the floor right next to each other. That way he can be there close, but there's still room for mom and dad in bed. He's almost 2 now and stays on his bed most of the night usually. I still allow him to come into ours if he wants to, but you wouldn't have to let him if you didn't want to. There are my suggestions. Good luck.

Answer 6

My daughter mostly coslept with us until she was about a year. We decided that it was time for her to sleep in her own bed, so I started by getting her to sleep and then putting her there for naps (I am a stay at home mom). Then I did that at night. It took a while for her to stay in there all night but after a month or so she did. Now I am transitioning her away from being held to go to sleep. I put her in her crib and tell her it's time to go to sleep, then sit in the rocking chair next to her bed and pretend I am sleeping until she falls asleep. She cried for half an hour the first night and it has decreased since then. It was hard but at least I was right there and I didn't feel like I was abandoning her.

How does your son nap during the day? If he will sleep by himself at daycare, he can do it at home, too, it's just a matter of retraining him.

Answer 7

Put him with something that smells like you and he will stay in his crib. If he cries just send your husband to go check on him and leave him to sleep. It's hard to hear him cry but it's going to be better in the long run.

Good luck.

Answer 8

i had to deal with this too, my son slept with me until he was 2.

i had to rock him to sleep in my arms and once he was asleep, place him in the crib. since putting him in there to fall asleep didnt work and only made him angry and resent going to sleep.

or, let him fall asleep in your bed and after a few mins, move him into the crib. he shouldnt notice and will probably already be in a deep sleep.

good luck.

Answer 9

I know how harsh this may seem but i suggest that you slowly force him into a crib, first when he falls asleep than put him into one, soon start "naptime in it" make it seem specail and then make him go tobed in it before ya know it it will go fine

Answer 10

The Ferber method, it works! But you do have to be strong for 3 or 4 days. Just think you are doing it for his own good. And you family's.