How to Get Your Baby to Sleep in His Own Room

Many babies spend their first weeks or even months in their parents' rooms. Whether in their own bassinet, a co-sleeper, or in the parents' bed, the baby feels safe and secure sleeping close to people who love him. Eventually, though, you'll miss your privacy, and that little guy will have to move into his own room. These tips will make it easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Safe crib and bedding
• Baby monitor
• Patience

1. Plan ahead. Pick a time when your routine is static, your baby is not stressed, sick, or exhausted, and you don't mind getting up at night to go into the baby's room. Long weekends are the best time to start.
2. Establish a special bedtime routine. A bath, followed by a book, some nursing, and/or some cuddling is a good way to start. The important thing is that you initiate bedtime the same way each and every night, so your child associates the routine with rest.
3. Eliminate anything that might cause you to worry about the baby's safety. Keep the door closed so pets can't sneak in and accidentally hurt baby. The crib slats should be too close together for baby to fit his head through, any drop sides should be secure, and paint or stains should be non-toxic and not chipping. Crib bumpers are actually more dangerous than exposed slats, because baby can get tangled in them and suffocate (don't worry, a sleeping baby can't whack his head hard enough to cause any serious damage.) Don't allow baby to sleep with pillows or fluffy blankets. Fleece blankets are nice because they're lightweight but still warm. A baby monitor will let you hear your baby's activities.
4. Be prepared for a few sleepless nights. Your baby will likely be a little confused by the routine and may resist at first. Comfort him if he's really freaking out, but then put him back in the crib and leave. If he's just whimpering a little or playing quietly, leave him alone. He may get tired on his own and fall asleep.
5. Some experts say to put the baby in the crib while still awake, so that they learn to soothe themselves. This may work for some, but for others, the only way to get baby into the crib is to wait until he's very much asleep. That's fine. All babies wake up occasionally, and he'll soon learn that when his room is dark, he needs to go back to sleep.
6. BE PATIENT. Some babies sleep through the night from the very beginning in their own rooms. Others take longer. Even if you have to get up every hour at first, he'll eventually need less and less attention, and you'll both be better rested than ever.

Tips & Warnings

• Until baby can roll over in both directions, you should always put him to sleep on his back to help prevent SIDS
• Putting baby to bed with a bottle can cause "bottle rot," an ugly and painful decay of the baby teeth. If your baby absolutely will not go to sleep without the bottle, feed him until he's full first, then give him a bottle filled with plain water to play with and comfort himself with.