Transitioning Your Baby from Bedsharing to a Crib
Are you ready to move your baby from bed sharing to a crib? This question can be so hard to answer for some parents. There are many reasons why parents choose to bedshare. Some parents choose to bed share because they find that it works well for their family. But what happens when what you thought was working well is no longer working?
Or what if you never really intended to bed share but it was the only way to get more sleep? How do you teach your little one to sleep on their own?
I have talked to many parents who really enjoy bed sharing with their little one. I always tell parents that if what you are doing works for you then keep doing it! BUT… if you need to make a change so that everyone gets more sleep then it’s okay to stop bed sharing.
If you are struggling with sleep deprivation then this could effect your family in negative ways, such as being less patient, having no energy and having a run down immune system leading to more colds.
Your family needs you to help set the stage for your home by bringing peace and calmness. You can’t pour from an empty cup if your exhausted all the time!
It is natural to feel a sense of guilt and heartache, feeling torn between wanting your baby to sleep better and feeling the urge to continue to wait it out hoping something will get better on it’s own. However, there is hope and you don’t have to wait for things to get better. You can make gentle changes now to improve everyone’s quality of sleep! If your ready to make changes and transition your baby to their own crib then remember I am here for you, you will have support every step of the way!
As a sleep consultant, I try to meet families where they are in their journey of bed sharing. I strive to listen to your desires and understand what your goals are for your family. This allows me to cater and personalize what is the best next step for each family member. Sometimes there are little tweaks that need to happen to allow everyone more sleep. Other times there are bigger changes, such as transitioning your baby to their own crib or moving a child into a sleep space of their own.
As a mother you know your children best, so listening to your own intuition regarding when is the best time to make changes will help you feel more comfortable moving forward.
Each of these transitions can be handled gently to allow everyone the time they need to be comfortable in their own sleep space. Transitioning your baby to a crib can be a game changer for both Mom and baby!
Older children can equally benefit from being given the choice to have their own bed. Here’s what one Mom said about her children after we spoke about moving her two boys to their own inviting sleep space.
They have slept two nights in their own rooms. One full night and one 1/2 night with zero tears.
I slept very poorly the first night. I was worried they’d wake up scared or crying and I wouldn’t be right there…but last night (after seeing how well it actually went) I slept AMAZING!
Mom of 2 younger boys
When it comes to bed sharing, moving gently and slowly seems to work the best for most families. It’s okay to want to move away from bed sharing or tweak it enough to make it work better for your family. I am here to listen and offer suggestions, support and a lovingly help you as you seek out the best sleeping arrangements for your family.
If your ready to explore transitioning your baby to a crib, then let’s chat about what your options are!