Transitioning your baby from bassinet to cot can be an anxious time for many families. In this post I hope to be able to reassure you that this process can be reasonably stress free if you follow a few basic steps which include: knowing when the time is right, starting the transition with day naps, trying the Moses basket in cot technique and keeping a level of consistency.
Read on if you would like to learn more about my gentle approach on how to get your baby to sleep in a cot or book in a 15 minute free chat here to discuss how I can help
Knowing when the time is right for you and baby to transition to cot
When it comes to moving baby from bassinet to cot the element of timing is very important not only for your baby, but also yourself and your partner as you don’t want your baby to be fighting sleep as a result. Your baby could move into a cot as early as birth; however, I believe that babies feel more secure in a crib initially (in a smaller contained space) as this more closely resembles the environment of the womb.
As your baby grows, they will either physically grow out of the crib, or start moving around in the crib so it becomes unsafe to keep them there – e.g. when they start to be able to roll over. For this reason, babies generally move from their crib to cot from around 3 months of age, and again it will vary. For example with our first daughter we moved her into the cot when she was 2 months of age, however with our second daughter we moved her in at 4 months of age.
Start bassinet transition with day naps
As with any change to routine, I would suggest trying the transition during day sleeps before attempting night sleeps. This is because at night you often have less energy and are more tired, secondly it can be more disorientating for your baby (as things appear more manageable during the day to them). Familiarise your baby with their cot during the day by talking and showing your baby where they will sleep. It’s important to keep consistent with what your baby sleeps in such as sleep bags or wraps. I suggest placing your baby in there during their awake times for a short period whilst you are in the room so they can accustom themselves to their new sleep space and so that they can begin to feel secure in it.
Placing Moses Basket in Cot
One technique many of my families have had success with is putting their babies down in their Moses basket and then placing the Moses basket directly into the cot just for the initial period of the transition. Then after a few days they then remove the Moses basket from the equation and place baby directly in the cot. This is a more gentle and gradual approach that might make the transition a bit easier.
If you do not have an option to do this then you could place your baby into your cot for day naps to begin with, and if that proves to be successful then go straight to night naps.
I also believe in the power of observing and not intervening too quickly. Use your baby monitor to listen and learn to read your baby’s cues.
The importance of consistency with bedtime routine
Consistency is key when it comes to babies and children for that matter! As with your previous settling methods prior to transitioning baby to cot, continue with those methods so they know what to expect during this transition. In other words the same pattern of events leading up to sleep. Also encourage your partner and other family members or carers who may be involved with putting your baby to sleep and their bedtime routine to follow the same approach – consistency is key! This consistency will work when you are ready to transition to a toddler bed in the future!
Red Nose Safety Guidelines For Baby Sleeping In Cot
I thought that it is important to call out Red Nose Guidelines on sleeping your baby in a cot as you think about the transition as well. To summarise these include: 1) Ensuring that you use a firm, clean and flat mattress, 2) That you always sleep your baby on their back, 3) That you keep your baby’s head and face uncovered, 4) That you position your baby’s feet at the bottom of the cot, 5) Use a safe baby sleeping bag ideally alternatively ensure blankets are well tucked in, 6) Ensure the room is kept smoke free. Additionally one important things to keep out of the cot include pillows, doonas, cot bumpers or lambswool.
Video Summary – Check Out My Below Video on Transitioning Baby To Cot
FAQs
When can you sleep next to your baby?
Parents can sleep next to their baby as soon as they feel comfortable doing so. However, the ideal time for a baby to transition from a moses basket or co-sleeper to their own cot is around 4-6 months old.
By this age, babies are usually strong enough to roll over and may be too large for the smaller confines of the moses basket or co-sleeper. It is also important to make sure that the cot is baby proofed, and that you follow all of the safety guidelines outlined by Red Nose when placing your baby in their cot.
How to transition baby to cot from co sleeping?
When transitioning baby from co sleeping to a cot, the best time to do so is when they are around four or five months old. At this age, they are more aware of their surroundings and can settle better in their own space.
The transition can be done gradually by first making sure that your baby is safe and comfortable in their moses basket or bassinet before moving them into their own cot. This can be done by placing the moses basket or bassinet directly in the cot for the initial period of transition and then removing it after a few days. It is also important to ensure that you maintain consistency with your bedtime routine to help make the transition easier.
Is 4 months too early to move baby to crib?
It is difficult to provide a definitive answer to this question as individual babies reach milestones at different ages and the decision should be based on the physical and mental development of your own baby.
In general, most babies are ready to transition from a moses basket to a crib at around 4 months of age, though some may be ready sooner and some will take longer. Signs that your baby may be ready to transition include: rolling from back to front, pushing up on their arms when lying on their tummy and displaying signs of being uncomfortable in their moses basket.
What to do if you are still struggling?
If you have tried all the above suggestions and if it is safe to do so, then I suggest keeping your baby in the crib or moses basket for longer and simply delaying the transition by a few weeks, then attempting again. If you are the only one settling your baby, then it could also be worth getting your partner, family member or friend to attempt settling to give both you and baby a break with the process! In time you will get there – don’t stress too much!
Hopefully this post has given you some ideas on how to get baby to sleep in cot. If you would like more specific advice on when to move baby to cot then do get in touch with me via here or give me a call on 0406 344 010.
