If you’re wondering when to transition your baby to a crib, it’s important to be aware that there are certain safety risks associated with co-sleeping. So, if you’re currently co-sleeping, it’s a great idea to transition your little one to a crib as soon as possible. There are two approaches you can take to help your baby work through this transition.

The gradual approach. This is a great option for babies who have previously rejected the crib. Start by introducing space between yourself and your baby on the bed. Once your little one falls asleep, you can slowly move away from them and gradually increase the amount of space between you. Work on this stage for a few nights. Once your baby is accustomed to this, try carrying out their usual bedtime routine until they fall asleep and then gently transfer them to the crib. Continue to do this for a week or more until your baby is spending at least half the night in the crib. Now, you can begin sleep training! Put your baby into their crib while they are awake and work towards teaching them how to fall asleep independently.

The cold turkey approach. If your newborn hasn’t previously rejected the crib, you may be able to successfully carry out the cold turkey approach to transitioning your baby from co-sleeping to the crib. With this approach, you’ll begin sleep training on night one. Once your bedtime routine is complete, place your little one in their crib and work towards teaching them how to fall asleep independently.

It can be tough on new parents (and their tired arms) if their little one won’t sleep without being held. It’s also not ideal for your baby to get too used to always being held while sleeping as it will hold them back from learning how to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own. So, what should you do if your baby won’t sleep without being held? Here are a few of our favorite tips:

Don’t keep your baby awake for too long. If they become overtired they’ll be much fussier when you try to put them down for a nap. So, pay careful attention to their wake windows and cues that your child is getting tired and act quickly.

Put your baby down in their crib or bassinet before they fall asleep. This way they don’t become accustomed to always falling asleep in your arms. Over time, it will become easier and easier for your baby to fall asleep independently.

Try a swaddle before putting your baby down in their crib. This wrapping technique mimics the feeling you create when you hold your little one.

If your baby won’t settle in their crib without you, try some gentle touch. You can stroke their cheeks or place your hand on their stomach until they fall asleep. Over time, you can gradually scale back as your little one learns to self-soothe.
If things aren’t going to plan, call in some reinforcements! A white noise machine or a pacifier might help tip the scales in your favor.

Some parents might wonder whether baby can sleep in their own room from birth. The answer is that experts don’t recommend this. However, recent research shows that babies who slept in their own rooms before four months of age (referred to as ‘early independent sleepers’) slept longer than babies who slept in their parents' room. What’s even more interesting is that the effects of this early change were long-lasting. By 9 months of age, these early independent sleepers were better sleepers than other babies who were still sleeping in their parents' bedrooms. But, they were also better sleepers than babies who had transitioned out of their parents’ bedrooms between 4 and 9 months. It’s not completely clear why this is the case but one hypothesis is that babies who sleep in separate rooms from their parents learn better self-soothing skills.

The Cry It Out (CIO) Method is a sleep training method that requires you to let your baby cry and fuss for a set period of time before you take any action to intervene and soothe your little one. There are both proponents and critics of the CIO Method. It can certainly work for some babies but it may not be the best approach for others. When it comes to sleep training, it’s important to trust your parental instincts, try different methods, and find out what works best for you. Like so many things in parenting, there is no one right way to sleep train your little one.

Some experts recommend that you continue to share a room with your baby until they are about 6 - 12 months old to decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). On the other hand, some research shows that babies who transitioned out of their parents’ bedrooms before 4 months old actually become better sleepers than those who remain in their parents’ bedrooms. So, it would appear the jury is out. If you’re not sure what option is right for you, talk to your pediatrician about your sleep training process and ask them for their recommendations. Other experienced Moms in your community might also be able to offer some advice and guidance by sharing what worked for them.