Transitioning from crib to bed: I mentioned in last week’s success story about holding off transitioning your toddler into a bed. Unless your child is climbing out, I recommend keeping them in their crib as long as they are comfortable. The crib is safe for a child who is not old enough to understand the responsibility of staying in bed (for example, not to wander around the house at night, climbing furniture etc.) I find the two common reasons parents want to make the big move are:
1) The child isn’t sleeping well
2) There is a new baby coming
If your child isn’t sleeping well in their crib – there could be another explanation and solution to explore. Are their emotional needs being met during the day and at bedtime? Are they dependent on something outside of their control to fall asleep?
If there is a new baby coming, I recommend purchasing a bassinet or a second crib (I bought ours second hand off a local mom’s group). This will allow the toddler to continue sleeping in their comfortable and familiar space, which will be helpful with all the other changes going on in their life.
You can have a baby who sleeps well while still feeding them throughout the night. When they wake up hungry, feed them in their dark and quiet sleep area (perhaps in a rocking chair) and then put them back in their bed while they are still awake. This allows them to take their journey to sleep on their own.
After you feed your baby in the night, do YOU have a hard time falling back asleep? If you return to your bed and find yourself laying wide awake for an extended time, try this: Keep the feeding dark, quiet and boring - not just for you but also for baby. If you are looking at your phone or tablet, you may very well find it hard to wind down back into sleep. You may find yourself thinking about an article you read or what pinterest recipe you will make the next day. Although tempting, try not to touch your phone in the night. If you use your phone for a clock, I recommend buying an inexpensive digital clock to keep in your room. That way, you are aware of the time without having all the tempting stimulation from the phone/tablet.
Sharing this success story from last year, with an update now that she will be two years old this summer!
"Attempting to teach your baby to sleep well can be an emotional and exhausting process. A family from the east coast reached out about their 5-month-old who needed to be held to sleep. They had read a number of books and articles – mostly conflicting each other – and were very confused as to where to start. We worked closely together to come up a plan that was appropriate for her age and developmental milestones. With everyone on board, we started working together and within a few days she was sleeping consistently and independently."
Update: 16 months after sleep training, I have spoken with her mom and learned that she continues to go down for sleep happily. She walks to her room after lunch, knowing that nap is the next step. She is also going to be a big sister soon, so the sleep-filled nights are much-enjoyed by both parents.
