Transitioning to a crib-- advice?

hannahpistolas

Okay guys,

My son will be five months old on the 29th and we just bought his first crib this week as opposed to sleeping with us. The first few nights were fine, but last night he ended up just coming to bed with me after he had problems sleeping, and tonight he keeps waking himself up by rolling against the bars, and whatever else. Tonight has been even worse-- he's woken up every hour or so and just wants to be cuddled. I'm worried that this is an adjusting problem because after I brought him to bed last night he slept the whole night through and tonight he wakes up and just wants to be held.

Any advice on making the transition easier for him? He's too youn to have pillows and blankets in there, otherwise I would put some with our scent in so he feels more comfortable.

momwantsbodyback

Maybe you could cuddle with his sheets for a night and then put them in his crib the next day?! That way the scent of you guys is in the crib and it might be easier for him...

.. I would just keep putting him in his crib, tell him that it will be okay and when he screams, take him into your bed. When he falls asleep, put him back.

We started putting our little one in the crib when she was 6 weeks old and when she cried, I did the same. Now she is 3 months and always sleeps in her crib.

hannahpistolas

That's definitely good advice. I'll do that! I don't think I have the heart to let him cry it out amd, honestly, I don't know that he's old enoug for that method. I'll definitely do that. Thank you so much for the advice!

Jenny_Rose77

Is there room for you to sleep in his room? Maybe so he could get used to sleeping in there, but feel safe that you are nearby...

Pepper2185

You could start by having him take his naps in the crib so he gets comfortable sleeping it. Soon enough he will know the crib belongs to him and he'll figure out its boundaries.

daytolive

Great book i read : The sleep easy solution. Get him on a schedule so he knows his cues. And like pepper said, start with naps in his crib so hes comfortable with it. Im just now getting my daughter used to naps which is way harder than going to sleep. Just keep at it. He'll get it

Sjenny5891

It could be a growth spurt.
As for the scent, You can cuddle with his bottom sheet before you put it in his crib each night.

blink1021

Yes you are right he is too young for the cry it out method. My daughter had some issues with the crib too and what worked for us was a mobile. It worked wonders for us I always wait till she falls asleep before I place her in her crib too. Seems to work for us and I also use crib bumpers I know some people say not to use them but it keeps her from waking up when hitting the bars. As long as you tie it properly they cannot get under them.

RBXChas

When my son was born, I had him in a bassinet and slept on the couch (same room as bassinet). Awesome, right? (I was trying to make it so that my husband got somewhat normal sleep, since we were counting on him 100% for income.)

When we moved him to the crib, he cried and cried and cried. So did I. I could not let him cry it out.

What our pediatrician recommended was to hang out with him (rocking, singing songs, whatever) until he got sleepy, then put him in the crib when he was still awake but very sleepy. Yeah, I had a few weeks where I'd spend anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours getting him to that point in a semi-dark bedroom, but I admit that it did work. Eventually we were able to put him down while he was still relatively awake and have him fall asleep on his own within a half an hour. If he did cry, I gave him 5 minutes (hard, I know) to calm himself down, and if he did exceed, I went in and rubbed his back but did not pick him up (I mean, unless he needed a diaper change - in which case I would completely re-set). I would talk to him a bit and let him get a little sleepy, then sneak out quietly. He had one of those little music boxes with the light that fades in and out, and that calmed him down, plus it covered the noise of my sneaking out if he was drifting off.

Best of luck with the transition! I know it's hard, but it will eventually be ok. Then you have to do it all over again with the bed... but once you bite the bullet and do it, it's fine :flowerforyou: