Getting Baby to Sleep in a Crib

H i A., rocking your baby to sleep, is a nurturing habit, I did it with all 3 of my kids, I believe if she is nurtured to sleep she should be fine, it may take a couple nights transition. for babies it's all about feeling secure, my baby girl is 19 now, I would give anything to rock her to sleep one more time. They grow so fast. I understand changing the habit before she gets to old. You know what, since she is usde to falling a sleep. sitting in her swing, you can elevate one end of her crib, so she is a more recloned position like her swing. Just a thought. J. L.

Hi A.,
I just went through a similar situation - 5 1/2 month old boy w/ acid reflux who also had a lot of trouble sleeping. Still has reflux but it's getting better. He used to take all his naps (and some of his night sleep) in the swing. And I would have to get him in a deep sleep at night in my arms in order to get him into the crib (and he was getting way too heavy for that!)

We decided to just bite the bullet and transition him to the crib all at once. I think 5-6 months is a good age to do this. We started on a Friday night, and for every bedtime/naptime we just put him in the crib. I was SO sure that he wouldn't nap. But he surprised me! He cried the first night for 30 minutes (we let him cry but checked on him every few mins). He fussed at naptime for the first few days. But he slept! And after about 5 days he has slept in the crib without any issues, and he's even sleeping longer than before!

Maybe I got lucky, but I would recommend you just give it a try. I had to listen to some fussing and crying, but only for a few days. Just be consistent and don't give in - she may surprise you.

Oh, and we also rock him til he was pretty sleepy, but still awake, and then put him down in the crib. He learned to soothe himself to sleep when he had his normal middle of the night/nap awakenings, which was also a plus.

Good luck!

Hi A.,
My 6-mo-old baby boy just started sleeping in his crib also. It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I think I was more anxious than he was about the whole thing. He used to sleep in his swing for naps & a bedside bassinett at night. To get him to sleep in his crib for naps, I just give him a bottle while rocking him in the glider and he starts to drift off. I then transfer him over to his crib and give him his pacifier, which usually works. When it doesn't work, I go back to the swing, but that's not a usual occurrence. At night, we have a bedtime routine: stroller walk, bath, feeding while rocking, and then he drifts off and I transfer him to the crib--this works every time. The 1st night he woke up about 8 times & I would just go in and give him his pacifier & he'd drift back to sleep. The next night, he slept 6 hrs straight. I think he just wanted to know I was still there. =) Good luck to you and enjoy your beautiful baby!

Go to www.3daysleep.com and get Davis Erhler's video - your daughter will be sleeping in NO TIME!! :) She is an infant/toddler sleep expert that I consulted with and my son is the happiest, 12hr night sleeper and great napper there is because of her! It's only $39.95 and worth every penny (AND she guarantees your money back). Who has time to read books??
GOOD LUCK! :)

Hi A.,

I'm not a big fan of Cry it Out, though I know it works for many. If you want to try something other than that, this is what I do: we take a walk in the stroller for naps - then my kids just sleep in the stroller which I wheel into the house for the rest of their nap (usually about 2 hours) this gets me some exercise and they sleep incredibly well. At bedtime, I rock them to sleep and when they are really out, I put them into the crib. Doesn't always work...but if you keep working at it, it will work.

We had the same issue with our little one. The dr. gave us prevacid for William's tummy.

We started by only letting him nap in the swing, and then bedtime was in his bed. We made a wind down routine to help the transition be smoother: warm lavendar bubble bath, classical music, and two stories and his bottle in the rocking chair. We would always put him in his crib before he finished his bottle so he could soothe himself a little bit. We also always snuggle him tight with blankets so he feels safe.

We did this for two weeks (struggling through for a little bit during the first few nights) but after the second week when we transitioned him out of the swing completely, he had no problems sleeping in his crib.

I hope that helps :)

I actually put my daughter in her swing to fall asleep and she's 4 months. I had the same worry that you do so I asked her doctor what to do when she get's too big for the swing and he said to put a stuffed toy or blanket in the swing with her so she gets used to having it when she sleeps and when it's time to transition, she will have no problem as along as she has her security toy/blanket.

To get my daughter to sleep, it took alot of patience and about 2 weeks (that is how long it takes to break habit). Stick to a routine, and lay her in her crib. Let her fuss and cry. I would hang by her door to peek in where she couldn't see me, but I could see that she was not in danger. My husband wanted to give in many times, but I just stuck with it. It won't harm her psyche and she was able to teach herself how to fall asleep.