Help with transitioning my baby to her crib?

Question

My daughter is 5 1/2 months old. Since birth she has been sleeping in a pack n play that was shoved up against my bed in my bedroom.

She has now outgrown the pack 'n play (15 pound limit) so yesterday we tried to put her to bed in her crib which is in a different room (the crib doesn't fit in my bedroom) and she wasn't having any of it!! I slept on the floor next to her crib but I'm not sure that helped (I plan on sleeping in her room with her for a while). Normally I can just put her down and she'll fall asleep without a peep but yesterday she just kept crying. I tried soothing her and putting her down again but that didn't work so we ended up setting up her pack 'n play in her new room and she slept soundly in there. Maybe it's too much change all at once?

She's used to the crib b/c we always put her in there to play during the day, but now I'm worried she associates it with play instead of sleep (she has a mobile, a fisher price aquarium and a play mirror in the crib). Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get her to get comfortable sleeping in her crib? My husband thought maybe we should take all her toys (mobile, etc.) out of the crib.

I also can't slowly get her used to the crib by having her nap in there b/c she's in daycare all day for her naps and by the time she comes home it's time to go to sleep for the night. I want to make this transition as painless as possible for her.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Answer 1

Here it is.  Just put her in there and she'll figure it out by night 3...maybe 4.  I also had bassinet next to our bed until baby was too big and needed the crib.  There was definately a transition phase but it's NOT too much for the baby, it's just that she's not used to it and crying is her only way of communciating this to you.  Just power thru it and she'll be fine.  I have 3 children, I sometimes coddle them too much, and other times we let them cry it out, depends on teh situation, but you'll quickly learn, if you don't allow THEM to tell you what to do, lol) that babies are phenomonally resiliant and will adapt.....but you have to give them the opportunity to do so...  

I do not recommend sleeping on the floor beside her crib or she'll get used to that and you'll have another weening phase on your hands...just put her in her crib and if you do let her cry it out, just don't let her cry more than 4-5 minutes, then go into her but DON"T pick her up, just let her know your there and that she is fine....then leave again.  She'll figure it out and remember above all...SHE IS FINE...  I promise if you can stick it out for a few nights, you'll see that you are the one having more trouble w/ it than she is.. smiles...

Answer 2

Well I am no expert but this is what I would do. I would take out all toys, except for the mobile. I would first warm her bed up a little with a heating pad. This makes it a little more comfy, be sure not to get it too hot. Just take the chill off the sheet.  I would do your bedtime routine. Then  I would put her to bed.

It will take a while before she gets used to it, but she will. I am not sure if sleeping in her room is a good or bad thing.

My daughter is almost 5 months old and my doctor told me to do the cry it out method, I am not sure if I am ready for that. But you may want to ask your doctor for his advice.  

Answer 3

My baby is been sleeping in his own crib for a month now (He's 5 month old) Well, what I do with my baby is: I breastfeed him in the rocking chair in his room and he falls sleep. If your baby is bottle fed maybe you can sleep him in your arms and then put her on her crib...

Also, during the day I put him a few minutes various times a day in his crib with his toys for him to get use to the crib...

Answer 4

Was she sleeping on the bassinet part? You can put her in the bottom of a pack n play without the bassinet as far as I know. I put my child in a pack n play when I travel and he is 20 lbs and 17 months old. Just take the bassinet out. I would put the whole pack n play in her new room and let her sleep in it for a few days. I would leave the crib toys in but put her in her crib each day for longer periods of time. Maybe after bath time. As for crying, my cried for about 10 minutes and fell asleep when tired. Just don't put her in when she is over tired. You can do it. Hang in there.