How to Easily Get Your Baby to Sleep in a Crib
Summary
Getting your baby to sleep in his or her crib can be extremely trying, especially for a new parent who is just learning how to take care of and deal with a new little person who needs absolutely everything done for them. If you don’t get your child used to sleeping in his or her crib early on, it can create problems for you later on when he or she is older.
Below I will talk about 4 steps to take in order to get your baby acclimated to the crib:
1. Create an atmosphere that lets your baby know it’s time for bed.
The first step to getting your baby on a sleep schedule in his or her crib is to create an atmosphere that shows baby the difference between awake time and sleepy time. When babies are new, they don’t necessarily know the difference or that they are supposed to be asleep at night. Turning the lights low and the TV or radio down is a start. Getting your baby to do more relaxing and calm activities or simply snuggling with your baby will help him or her relax and feel sleepy.
2. Set a bedtime routine and follow through with it.
It’s never too early to have a bedtime routine. Most children work best with repetition. Even if you think your baby is too young to have a story read to him or her, you should start. It really does make a difference and it instills an interest in books early on. Usually, hearing a parent’s voice is soothing to baby.
You can create a relaxing bedtime routine by giving your baby a relaxing bath and changing him or her into sleep clothes. Turn the lights low and snuggle up with baby and read him or her a story. Try stroking your baby’s face, arms and hands. Light massage may also lull baby into a deep sleep.
3. Create a schedule for your baby.
It’s important to have a schedule for your baby. Babies have little internal clocks and they can adapt to a schedule and get used to one quicker than you think. Putting baby down for naps and bedtime at the same time consistently each day is very important. It’s a lot easier to get baby to sleep in his or her crib if they are used to falling asleep at certain times throughout the day.
4. Sometimes babies just have to work it out for themselves.
Once you’ve done the above, you can transition your baby into his or her crib. Start by putting your baby in his or her crib. Tuck him or her in and explain in a soothing voice that it’s time to go to bed now and that they are safe. Your baby may cry. Don’t take him or her out of the crib. Leave the room and wait 10 or 15 minutes. If your baby still isn’t falling asleep, enter the room, make sure he or she is covered up and that everything is okay, but do not take the baby out of the crib. Reassure by talking in a soothing voice and touching your baby lovingly.
You can do the above three or four times and after that try letting them cry themselves to sleep. Sometimes this can take days, but it’s important that your baby feel safe and secure in the crib, but not that you have to stay with him or her in order for them to fall asleep.
