Transitioning 6 Mo Old to His Room

Hi! I completley understand! I still worry about my daughter sleeping in her own room and she is over a year and a half old. That's the hard part about being a mom. But...it is for the childs own good. You know this. :) I had my daughter in a pack 'n' play as well in my room. I transitioned her by placing the pack'n'play in the other room and only layed her down to sleep at nap time. I did that for about a month and then I let her sleep in there at bed time. She cried for awhile but only for about a few days. I never let her cry for any longer for 5min. at a time. Playing music helped her to sleep too. Eventually the transition was completley. Now she is in her own room and in a toddler bed. She loves it. I wish you luck. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I am here to help. Just be patient, and remember you will always have worries. No matter how old the child is.

S.,

You could try to put his pack-n-play in his room to help with the transition into his new room and then switch to his crib. You might not want to try to have him be a little awake at first-I know this is a step backward and kind of a pain, but it might help him adjust to his crib. Another option is to just skip all of the transition and go with the tough love approach and just put him in his bed. It works for some, but it wasn't an easy thing to do for me, I went the transition route and was successful. Good luck with what you decide.

Hi!
I have been where you are with infertility and NICU. I have triplets that were born at 27w3d and were in the NICU for a looong time. When they came home I had them sleep in my room. Transitioning them into their room was very hard on me. I started out with naps and them being in their own cribs. It took a few weeks but once everyone seemed settled in I put them in there at night to. I wanted a video monitor but couldnt afford three of them and knew that I had to trust my good old monitor. I had that thing turned up so high I could hear them all breathing!!! It took about 3-4 days for them to get used to being by themselves at night and in their own cribs. It was the best thing that I had done, at that point, to help me get used to being a Mom. They all had breatihng issues so I was hyper vigilant about checking them when their heart/lung monitors were no longer needed. That was a rough day when those were taken away. Anyway I survived and so will you. Your baby will be fine. The NICU can make normal everyday things that most people take for granted seem like huge problems. Usually they arent. I really understand your hesitance and I think that most NICU survior's parents are the same way. I hope this helped!

I understand completely, my son was born at 34 weeks(NICU) and I was high risk with him and my daughter but my son was my first born and I worried about everything and we even took shifts to watch him breathe. It was ridiclous how scared I was for his life. Now I feel God delivered me from the agony. Now my daughter is 5 months and sleeps in her crib in her room. I never thought I could do but I did. I remembered the scripture that says by worrying you can not add one single hour to your life so I decided to just trust God. Your baby is a miracle baby God gave you a special gift and he will take care of your son. Hope this encourages you. Please let me know how you are doing and if it worked out. Stay blessed

J.

I know how you feel. I think it's great that you kept your son with you. If you're calm and happy, so is he. I have an 8mo. old that I am transitioning out of our room. He too was sick as an infant and I was a sleepless mom. Luckily he's not my first so I am prepared on how to do this. Start with the small naps during the day. And at first, get him completely asleep in his room before putting him in bed. The half awake thing can come after he's used to his new bed/room. Just be patient and hang in there but don't try night time until you can get a comfortable day routine down. Also, let him spend time in his bed during the day. Say while putting his clothes away or sing songs to him in his bed or change his clothes/diaper in there.
Good Luck!

You have the answer in front of you. Do not put your son in his crib at night, he has been sleeping in the pack and play, use that. For his naps, transistion to the crib, this will allow for trust and transition. Be sure to move blankets and other familiar belongs with him to make him more familiar with his surroundings. A child learns from the get go and if you change to quickly, they will not adapt on your schedule. Think how you would feel if your were not familiar, at first it would be uncomfortable, but you would eventually adjust. Don't give into the crying, that is the method of "get me out of here", if he is safe, comfortable, and you are okay, let him adjust. This is out of everyones comfort zone, you will all get over it in time. Time is what you have, use it. Best of success in the transistion. His first three years are critical, making him secure is very important to trust you and your husband for the rest of his life.

For the first part I would suggest baby steps. I would move the pack and play into his room and start with that. This will help him get used to his room, but still give him the comfort of something familiar. Once he seems to be more comfortable with all of his surroundings then I would try the crib.

As for number 2. That is honestly something I went through as well. You just have to come to a decision that he is going to sleep in his room, make sure when you put him down that everything is as you want it and then take a deep breath and go into the other room. I would say that someday your fears will disappear, but my daughter is 7 years old and even though I read her a book and tuck her in... Before I go to bed for the night I always look in on her sleeping and can't help, but give her one last kiss goodnight. As a mother there is a constant connection some I would say are more comfortable with things than others, but I say that whatever gives you a piece of mind... That's what you should do.

My son was five weeks early and also spent 3 weeks in NICU. I can relate to the fear of something happening. Ours slept in our room until he was six months old. We took a vacation and he stayed w/ my mom so he was in a crib at her house. When we got back we put him in his crib at our house. No problems. W/ my daughter, I went to stay w/ my mom for a couple of days. She slept in the crib in the room I was in. When we got home I put her in her crib. Again, no problems. This is what worked for us. Hope it helps. If not, try putting her pack and play in his room and let him get used to being in his room. Then try crib for naps and eventually for bed.

Dear S.,
I received less sleep after transitioning my son in a separate room. It lasted for one week, until my RN said, move his crib into your room. That is what my husband and I did, and that made bliss and rest for me and our little miracle guy.
Blessings to you, your husband, and miracle little one.
M. N.

S.,

You've already gotten good advice. On the hearing concern, I had the same issue. My son is 5 mo. old now. We transitioned him to his crib when he was 2 mo. The first night I cried. I missed not having him by my side. I almost slept in his room on the floor! Almost, but I didn't. I bought the Fisher Price 10 dial monitor and love it! I can hear him breathing right now while he's taking his nap. I was fine with the room separation after that first night, especially after realizing that I now how more freedom in my own room. I don't have to tip-toe around anymore. Good luck.

he may fuss a little until he gets used to it. Use a baby monitor. They are wonderful. I had a good one that I could hear the baby breathe even when it was on it's lowest volume setting. My son had bronchiolitis for about a year and was always worried he would cough so much and quit breathing so the baby monitor was great. I would get up and check on him if I didn't hear him cough as I got used to hearing that cough and wheezing sound all the time.
You also may try moving his pack and play to his room to adjust as he may be fussing about the change of bed more than the change of room.

I had the crib in my room with the 3rd child for a few months then moved it to the other room when I wanted him to move out of my room. He transistioned well but was probably because he had his bed.

Stephaine - You're doing the right thing. My twins were 8 weeks early and spent 4 weeks in the NICU. They came home on oxygen for 12 weeks. I'm a nervous nelly mom, but I do what I know is best, not what others tell me me I should do. We did not move our boys out of our room until they hit 6 months. We took about 3 weeks where they took all their naps in their room/crib, but still slept in our room at night. Take it easy and do only what you think is best. Don't rush it, you'll be fine... and if you're not ready to move your baby out, and your husband is okay with it, leave your precious baby where he is! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Congrats on being a Mommy!

I dealt with infertility also and I understand your worries. Getting your baby to his room is the best thing for all of you. He will fuss but once you get thru that stage you'll/he'll be home free. One suggestion is to get a video monitor (instead of just the regular baby monitor) and you will be able to watch him as he sleeps, moves around in his crib, etc. It was the best baby gift I received. The one I have is from Babies R us and I think it's 'Summer' Brand. The video part can clip on your pants so you can walk around and not feel like you have to be in the room where the monitor/tv part is at. It's the best! Good luck! Jen

I slept with the monitor right next to my bed. The one we have is good and I could even hear her breathe and move so that helped. My sister suggest to us that we sleep with the crib sheet and blanket for a week to get our smell on it. That seemed to comfort our daughter some but we still have some difficultly at night. I don't think there is a good solution but I was willing to try anything. I'm an RN too and love being a mommy!

I seem to be always quoting the American Academy of Pediatrics, but they really are the authority on all things baby. They say it is best to sleep in the same room for the first year (NOT the same bed, but in your room). I am not sure how safe it is to have him sleep in a pack-and-play full time.

My 9-month-old son's crib is right next to mine for a few more months. When I put him down, it is not my bedtime, so I leave the room. When he fusses, I wait five minutes, then go in and reassure him that all is well, and leave again. That's it. He sometimes has to cry it out, but it doesn't last as long now as it did at first. Hang in there!

It probably is more you than him, BUT do what makes you feel comfortable. I got up every hour to check on my kids when they were newborns in their own cribs. And as an RN you are maybe a little too informed. Juat try to relax, keep a moniter by your bed and try to let him cry it out for a few nights. My kids were much smarter than I gave them credit for, even at 6 mo. He knows your weaknesses ;-)

BUT, again, do what you are comfortable with, otherwise you won't get any sleep.

Good luck!

Congratulations on your Sweet Little Guy!! I understand how difficult infertility can be.

I think right now S., your concern is not hearing your little guy. If you do not have one get a monitor for your room and baby's, then get a Baby Einstein Lullaby CD you can find them at Wal-Mart. Put it on continuous play, and let him listen to some soothing music. Or if he wakes up at nap time turn on a music mobile. If he fussy a little it won't really hurt him at 6 months. Not wet, hungry, or poopy he is OK. He can wear himself down with a little fussing.

It is sometimes trial and error with the first one. If something doesn't work after a few days try something else.

Again Congratulations & Be Blessed with your precious little man, he is definitely a Blessing from above.
Best of everything
K. aka Nana K to 5 grandkids.

Hello, S..

You did not say why you are looking to transition your son into his own crib and room right now. We did with our son because he was such a loud sleeper we couldn't sleep at night!
Six months is definitely a milestone age for several reasons: teething, standing/pulling up, the time when stranger anxiety kicks in... there are many reasons your son could wake up and cry in his own room, but it may not have to do with the crib. It could be that you are not there. Or that the bed is unfamiliar. There is some great advice from other posters here. I just wanted to post and say that there is a lot going on with your little man right now, and transitioning to a crib in his own room is a big deal for him, too. I know you can do it, but it will take time.

Maybe investing in a tv monitor will help you with the fear part of him being in his room. You can buy one for around $100 and that way you can look in at him anytime through out the night. Good luck. My son too slept in our room in his pack and play untill he was 6 months and then I tried to move him to his room in the crib and i was up every 30 minutes or so looking in at him and wish I would have made the investment in the monitor. My son is now 11 months old and sleeps with us in our bed so now I have a hard habit to break to get him in his crib. I am not scared for him to be in his room anymore but now he will not stay in there since he is so used to being in between my hubby and me. :)

Get a baby monitor and be persistant. At six months old he should be in his own room. Try using the pack and play in his room for a few days to a week then transition him to his own bed. It could just be the environment he is not used to yet. It may take a few days for you to adjust to, but persistants with anything you do with your child is the key. Good luck and God bless.

I don't have any specific suggestions, but through 3 kids I have learned that persistence is key. It will take a few days for him to get used to new surroundings, but it WILL happen! Our first one slept in a cradle in our room for 6 months. When we finally moved her to the crib in her room, she started sleeping a lot better. Hmmm, hindsight...

I'm glad your baby is doing okay-good luck!

It is a good idea to put him in his crib now than wait any longer,you can do the cry it out method if you choose,or you can gradually put him in, the carseat is a good one so for he can get use to his room also laying him down drowsy but not a sleep especially after a full tummy then you can let him cry for a lil while know that he is full changed diaper and doesn't have to burp before rushing in to get baby.I had the same issues with my 2 kid's,my daughter is over a yr and her dad and I had her crib in our room this was a first it was good though even though I didn't sleep much,before her 1st birthday her crib is in her room no problem she did great a few cries and that was it now she won't sleep with me in my bed even for a nap. It'll be hard and upseting but give it a week or two all of you will be fine.WSAHM of 2

Holy cow - you HAVE to get this book: "Healthy Sleeping Habits, Happy Baby" -- and it totally focuses on kids from 3 months to 2 years.. it was like a godsend for us. she sleeps 11 hours, from 7:30pm to 6:30am, lays down drowsy, falls asleep on her own, and sleeps through the night.. this book is awesome.

and - i was terrified about my baby and SIDS (or anything under the sun really) and ended up getting a "Movement Monitor" from babiesrus... its different than just a sound monitor -- it's like the shape of a computer mouse, slips under their mattress, and is so sensitive it detects their breathing pattern. and if they stop moving/breathing for 20 seconds or more -- it goes off. i had SO much less anxiety after we got this.

(of course -- it only lasts until the baby is old enough to scoot from one end of the crib to the other.. then they move off-center, and the alarm goes off because the baby isnt directly on top of it anymore... but once they're that old, the risk is dramatically reduced anyway.)

good luck!