Overview
Most babies sleep in cribs when they are young, yet as they get older and bigger, it becomes time to move to something new: real beds. According to BabyCenter.com, no set age is the established time to move a baby from the crib to a bed, but it usually occurs around 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years of age, when a baby physically outgrows the crib. Some children love sleeping in real beds, while others take a while to adjust. Getting a baby to move from the crib to a bed is like teaching a baby how to eat solid food or teaching a child how to ride a bike: It’s different and sometimes confusing for him, but it is an important change that will help him grow. Gentle and persistent encouragement will help your baby become willing to sleep in a bed rather than a crib.
Step 1
Look for signs of readiness to sleep before you send your baby to bed. If you put your baby in the bed and tell him that he needs to go to sleep when he really isn’t tired, he will probably just get up and leave or become fussy. Dr. William Sears, professor of Pediatrics at the University of California at Irvine, explains that it is best to wait until he exhibits signs of being truly tired. Depending on your child’s age, he may tell you he is tired, or he may yawn or drift in and out of sleep. If you see these signs, it will be easier for him to fall asleep without protest after you put him in the bed.
Step 2
Encourage the baby to sleep in the bed by letting her choose special blankets for the bed and stuffed animals to cuddle with. This involvement will make her feel special and remind her that sleeping in the bed is a positive step. If she is not old enough to help make any choices, you can still talk to her about how special it is to sleep in a “big kid” bed. Giving the baby the choice of which blankets to have or which stuffed animal to cuddle with will help your baby to act more favorably toward sleeping in the bed.
Step 3
Create a bedtime ritual that soothes your baby and reminds him that it is nearly time for him to go to sleep in the bed. Parenting website BabyCenter.com states that establishing a bedtime routine, such as reading a book to your baby or giving him a warm bath before putting him to bed, will help him adjust and feel normal about sleeping in the bed.
Step 4
Place your child in the bed, and leave her there to sleep. Dr. Sears recommends that you enter your baby’s room occasionally to check on her, especially if she cries, and to show her that you are still around, but after that, you should leave the room. If she gets out of bed, place her back in the bed repeatedly until she gives up and falls asleep. This ritual can be frustrating, but it teaches her that you are serious about getting her to sleep in the bed and that she has no other options.
About this Author
Sarah Davis earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition from San Diego State University. She has worked in nutrition in the clinical setting and currently works as a licensed Realtor in California. Davis began writing about nutrition in 2006 and had two chapters published in “The Grocery Store Diet” book in 2009. She enjoys writing about nutrition and real estate and managing her website, RealtorSD.com.
