Many parents choose to have their babies in their room for the first several months to the first year to help reduce the incidence of SIDS as well as to make it easier to breastfeed. While this may mean little ones sleep in their own bed, though the room is shared for some; or for others, it means the bed is shared. And when co-sleeping has been happening for a year or longer, it can make it difficult to not only move toddlers out of the bed but out of the room as well. But with a bit of patience and consistency, parents will be able to successfully transition from co-sleeping to the crib.
If all toddlers have ever known is sleeping in their parents’ bed, suddenly moving them away from the comfort of their parents can be earth-shattering. Not having ever slept alone to be alone in their crib in their room is scary and confusing. This is why if parents can make the transition a slow but steady one, it may be easier for toddlers to sleep alone. And when this happens there are fewer tears and pushback for it.
Here is how to successfully transition from co-sleeping to crib.
Transition At A Time When Changes Are Not Happening
If toddlers are in the midst of teething, are having sleep regression, have just started school, or the like, it may not be the time to move them from the comfort of their parents to sleeping alone. This is because if done when there is already a lot of change going on in little ones’ lives, the transition will be painful for all involved.
According to Craig Capanari, MD, having a date when the transition will be complete that does not compete with a life change is the best time to begin the process of transitioning from co-sleeping to having toddlers feeling completely comfortable in their own rooms in their cribs.
When there is too much change happening at one time, toddlers can become upset and unwilling to add anything else to their plate. And when this happens, the process of transitioning from the parents ‘bed to the toddlers’ bed becomes miserable.
Bring The Crib Into Parents’ Bedroom
One of the easiest ways that parents can begin the transition from their beds to toddlers’ cribs, according to Healthline is to bring a crib into parents’ rooms. By doing this, toddlers will still be in the same environment at night, their parents will still be in the room, and if toddlers need their parents, they are right there.
By taking this first step, parents will have regained their bed space. And toddlers will have to become just that much more independent in the process.
Transition By Staying In Toddler’s Room
As part of the transition process, parents can stay in their toddlers’ room for a few nights. Be it in a bed already in there, a cot, sleeping bag, air mattress, or whatever the case maybe this small step can pay off dividends in the long run.
According to The Baby Sleep Siteif parents can sleep in the room with babies for a short period, the transition from their room to toddlers’ may be made easier because toddlers begin to understand where their new place to sleep is while having the support of their parents in there with them as they get used to sleeping away from Mom and Dad.
Use Naptimes To Get Used To The Crib
A great way to start getting toddlers ready to completely transition from co-sleeping to sleeping in their own beds is to start the process with naps.
According to WoolRoom, parents may want to start the process of getting toddlers used to the crib with naps. It is a shorter time to sleep, so toddlers are able to get up when they wake up. Something that is easier on parents rather than trying to get them back to sleep in the middle of the night when toddlers would rather co-sleep instead.
As toddlers get used to sleeping in their crib for naps, then it is time to transition to sleeping in the crib at night. And while it may take a few weeks to transition, per publication, the move from co-sleeping to sleeping alone is one that will be successful given the fact that the move was smooth rather than abrupt.
Whatever Method, Remain Consistent
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The biggest thing that parents can do when transitioning toddlers from co-sleeping to their own cribs is to remain consistent. That way, toddlers know exactly what is expected of them, even if they do fight the transition.
According to Parents, it can take up to three weeks to successfully move toddlers from co-sleeping to their rooms in their cribs. While some nights may be more difficult than others, parents need to stick to the transition plan they chose. And when this is done, toddlers will successfully make it from where they used to sleep in their parents’ bed to their own crib, no worse for the wear.
Source: The Baby Sleep Site, Parents, Healthline, Craig Capanari, MD