Pet & Animal: How to Get a Baby to Sleep in a Crib

Getting baby to sleep in his or her crib can be a challenging task, especially if your baby is already used to sleeping in your bed or your room. Training your baby to sleep alone can be accomplished in a variety of ways, but there are some methods that are more common than others. Here are a few different ideas to try when first convincing your baby to sleep in his or her crib.

Steps

Establishing a New Routine

Begin the routine before you move baby to crib. Several weeks before attempting to move your baby into his or her crib, introduce set cues and habits that will let your baby know when bedtime has come.
- A set routine will help your baby know that it's bedtime, regardless of where he or she is sleeping.
- You can vary the routine as desired, making it as short or long as you need in order to help baby wind down. The elements you introduce into your routine should all be of a calming nature, however.
- Beginning the process before moving your baby to his or her crib will help your baby to associate the new routine with bedtime. As a result, your baby will still know that it's time for sleep even when one aspect of the routine—sleeping in your room—ceases.
- Be consistent. The only way to establish certain actions as a routine is to do them every night. If you skip some nights, you might give your baby mixed signals.
- Even if you have no pre-set cues that tell your baby when it's time to go to sleep, there might be signs and signals you unknowingly give to your baby that indicate the arrival of bedtime. Analyze your bedtime habits and determine if there are any habits you have established for your child. If there are, continue these habits as much as possible.

Include a snack.^[1] Try giving your baby 2 or 3 oz (60 or 90 ml) of formula or breast milk before going to bed. For babies over six months of age, you could also try giving them 1 or 2 Tbsp (15 or 30 ml) of cereal before bed.
- Stuffing your baby with too much food will only cause discomfort, but giving him or her a little before bed may help your baby feel more comfortable and last a little longer into the night before waking up.

Give baby a bath. A short, warm bath can help soothe your baby, easing him or her into sleep.
- Note, however, that some babies will feel invigorated when given a bath. If yours falls under this category, then you should do the bath earlier in the day rather than making it part of your bedtime routine.
- Follow the bath by wrapping your baby in a warm towel or blanket. Holding your child close will also add an extra level of warmth and comfort, further soothing your baby in preparation for sleep.

Read a book. Choose a simple book designed for babies and read it in a calm, gentle voice.
- Even though younger babies may not understand the story as you read it, your baby can still appreciate the routine of being held while mom or dad speaks in a calm, rhythmic voice. Additionally, the rhythmic, sing-song quality of the text found in most children's books can have a soothing quality in itself.
- Consider selecting a children's book themed around sleep. Once your child grows old enough to understand the story, the routine may have an even stronger effect.
- If your baby has not relaxed after a single book, you can also consider reading several books before bedtime. Do not allow this part of the routine to last past 5 or 10 minutes, though, since it may actually cause your baby to feel more awake if it continues too long.

Sing a soothing song. Lullabies exist for a reason. Singing a gentle lullaby or similarly calming song might help your baby wind down, and the rhythmic quality of music makes it a great aspect to introduce into a bedtime routine.
- Singing to your baby while holding him or her against your chest allows the child to feel the soothing vibrations of your voice as they listen. This may help maximize the calming quality of the song.
- When the time comes for you to move your baby into the crib, sing the lullaby while still holding him or her. After a week or so passes, change this practice so that your baby is already in his or her crib when you begin the song.

Give baby a bedtime toy. Choose a simple toy, like a stuffed animal, that can act as a symbol of security.
- Avoid stimulating toys designed to help babies develop. While these toys are great for daytime play, placing them in the crib at night might prove too stimulating for your baby and may keep him or her awake.
- You could also try a toy specifically designed for bedtime. For instance, stuffed animals that play soothing music are a popular choice.
- Security blankets often have the same effect and may be used in place of a toy.
- For younger babies who have not established independent head control, you should position the toy far enough away so that it can be seen but not grabbed. Doing so will prevent your baby from accidentally rolling into it and suffocating.

Introduce the Baby to the Crib Slowly

Make the crib a pleasant place. During the day, put toys in your baby's crib for him or her to reach for.^[2]
- Do this during play time, not nap time.
- Place the toys in the crib and encourage your baby to reach for them through the bars. After some time passes, place your baby in the crib to grab the toys.
- By placing toys in the crib, you establish it as a safe, "fun" environment.
- Do not let your baby play for too long in the crib, though. Your child needs to see the crib as a pleasant place, but you should not establish it as a place for play and activity.

Establish that the crib is a place for sleep during the day. Once your baby gets over his or her anxiety toward the crib, start holding nap time in the crib.
- This can be done gradually. For instance, if your baby takes two naps, you can let your baby take one nap wherever he or she usually sleeps. Place your baby in the crib for the other nap, though. Once your baby becomes comfortable sleeping in the crib for one nap, put him or her in the crib for both.
- Being left alone in the dark could be a major cause for your baby's fear. As such, letting your baby adjust to the crib during the day, when he or she can see more, can greatly reduce initial crib anxiety.

Ease baby into sleeping in the crib at night. After your baby feels comfortable sleeping in the crib for naps, you can start placing your child in the crib at night.
- In some cases, you might be able to simply leave your baby alone in the crib as you would for a nap. He or she may fuss at first, but after several minutes, your baby might fall asleep without much difficulty.
- If your baby still exhibits signs of crib anxiety, you might need to take additional steps to introduce your baby to the idea of sleeping in the crib at night.

Move the crib into your room. Place the crib next to your bed so that your baby can still see you as he or she falls asleep.
- If your baby is used to sleeping in your room, the scariest part about transitioning to the crib might be the change in surroundings. By moving the crib into your room for several weeks, you allow your baby time to adjust to the crib in an otherwise comfortable setting.
- Your baby may still have trouble adjusting to the crib if it is placed on the far side of your room. If this happens, you may need to compromise further by positioning the crib directly next to your bed. Once your baby becomes comfortable sleeping next to you in the crib, gradually move the crib further and further away within the room.
- When you baby is comfortable sleeping in the crib in your room, and has been so for roughly a week, it is time to move the crib back into baby's room.

Sleep in baby's room. If your baby has trouble sleeping in his or her crib once you move it into baby's room, spend a few nights sleeping on a cot or sleeping bag in the same room.
- Your presence can have a very soothing effect on your baby, which can turn an unfamiliar, uncomfortable set of surroundings into a safe place. By spending a few nights in your baby's room as he or she falls asleep, you can help to establish that room as a safe place.
- Once your baby has comfortably fallen asleep in your presence for three or four nights, you can ween yourself away.

Coax baby to sleep before leaving. Instead of spending the night in baby's room, only stay put while your baby falls asleep.
- If necessary, pat or massage your baby's back while cooing or humming softly to make your presence known.
- Begin by sitting nearby, making it easy for baby to see you. When your baby feels comfortable with the distance, move your chair back a little further. Each time your baby adjusts to the change in distance, move back a little more until, eventually, you are out of sight.
- When your baby is comfortable falling asleep without seeing you, you can start leaving the room and letting him or her fall asleep alone.

Getting the Baby Used to Sleeping Alone

Stop rocking baby to sleep. If you coax your baby to sleep by rocking him or her, gradually stop the practice so that your baby learns to fall asleep without human contact.
- When weening your baby from this practice, rock him or her until your child starts relaxing but is not quite asleep. Your baby might protest after you stop, but if your baby feels relaxed enough, these protests should not last long before he or she drifts off.
- Gradually decrease the amount of time you spend rocking your baby until, eventually, your baby is able to fall asleep simply by being held and not by being rocked.
- After your baby adjusts to falling asleep without being rocked, you can transition him or her to falling asleep without being held.

Use a bassinet. If your baby sleeps in your bed, graduate him or her to a separate bassinet or small cradle placed directly next to your bed.
- Your baby might feel more comfortable with the concept of not being able to cling to you at night if he or she can at least see you. After your baby has adjusted to sleeping separately and has done so for several weeks, you can consider moving your baby out of the room completely.

Let baby nap where he or she is comfortable. Instead of holding your baby during nap time, let your baby fall asleep wherever he or she can get comfortable.
- Oftentimes, babies have an easier time napping in baby swings or car seats than a crib.^[3] This is mostly due to the fact that these spaces are more enclosed, thereby mimicking the feeling of being held in mom's or dad's arms.
- While these spaces should not be used for naps indefinitely, they can be helpful in transitioning your baby from napping in your arms to sleeping alone. Once your baby adjusts to sleeping alone in a confined space, you can start placing him or her in the open space of a crib during nap time.

Introduce baby to crib during the day. Start your baby on napping in the crib before requiring your baby to sleep through the night there.
- Many babies have an easier time falling asleep alone during the day, when things are lighter and more active, than they do at night, once everything quiets down and they can no longer see or hear their parents.

Give baby time to adjust to sleeping alone at night. The transition into the crib may not happen quickly. You may need to stay in the room with your baby as he or she falls asleep for the first few weeks.

Focusing on Comfort

Calm baby down before bedtime. Do what you can to relax your baby enough to make him or her drowsy.
- Wear your baby out during the day. Filling your baby's day with stimulating play and other activities will naturally make your baby feel more tired and worn out at night. As a result, your baby will be less likely to kick up a fuss about where he or she is sleeping. It might be especially helpful to plan an activity an hour before bedtime to burn off extra energy.
- Give your baby a warm bath before bed. Baths often have a soothing effect, and a warm bath can soothe your baby's muscles, making him or her feel physically relaxed. If your baby becomes more alert after taking a bath, however, you should avoid baths before bed.
- Try giving your baby a gentle massage. Gently rub your baby's back, arms, and legs to relax the muscles. If this seems to invigorate your child, though, skip this action.

Minimize physical discomforts.^[4] Pain or other physical discomfort will keep your baby awake no matter where he or she sleeps. On the other hand, removing these sources of discomfort will make it easier for your baby to sleep anywhere.
- Give your baby a little food before bed. Roughly 2 or 3 oz (60 or 90 ml) of formula or breast milk can fill your baby's stomach enough to prevent him or her from getting hungry a few hours after falling asleep. For babies who are at least six months old, give them 1 or 2 Tbsp (15 or 30 ml) of cereal to accomplish the same task.
- Make it easier for your baby to breath by introducing an air purifier or air filter into the room. Contaminants from fuzzy blankets or pets can get into the air, making it hard for your baby to breathe comfortably. An air purifier will remove most of these problems. The "white noise" from the purifier can also have a calming effect.
- Change your baby's diaper. Make sure that your baby has a clean diaper on immediately before going to bed. Use "night time" diapers to prevent waste from leaking out and soaking your baby's pajamas.
- Minimize teething pain. If you have your doctor's permission, you can give your child a small dose of acetaminophen to relieve the pain.
- Make sure your baby has comfortable pajamas. Babies with especially sensitive skin tend to do better in night clothes made from 100 percent cotton than they do in clothes made from synthetic fabrics.

Get the right setting. Creating a setting conducive to sleep will keep your baby mentally comfortable, as well. As a result, it will be easier for baby to feel comfortable enough to sleep in his or her crib.
- Dim the lights. Many young babies can sleep with a little light, but others associate light with being awake and active. Keep the lights off in your baby's room and limit your use of the hallway light while your baby is trying to fall asleep. If your baby is especially sensitive to light, use opaque shades to keep the sunlight out of your baby's room in the morning.
- Reduce noise. Most babies can sleep through a little noise, but it is generally a good idea to keep things quiet while your baby is drifting off. Otherwise, he or she may feel as though there is too much action going on to fall asleep. Do not let your television or radio share a wall with your baby's crib, and keep the volume as soft as possible when these devices are in use. Keep your voices low, and avoid having guests over while your baby is trying to fall asleep.
- Play soothing music. Try playing recorded lullabies, or place plush toys that play classical music or other soothing sounds in your baby's crib at night. Soft music has a rhythmic quality that proves very effective in helping many babies drift to sleep.
- Give your baby something with your scent on it, like a frequently-worn t-shirt.^[5] The scent will be familiar, making the crib feel more comfortable and familiar, as well. You may want to remove the item once your baby falls asleep, however, to prevent him or her from accidentally suffocating on it.

Tips

Mix and match these methods as needed. Every baby is different, so you may need to try a completely different approach when helping yours learn to sleep in the crib.

Your pediatrician may know more about your baby's needs and can provide more tips on how to safely and effectively coax your baby into sleeping in the crib.