Useful Tips For Getting Baby To Sleep In Crib

The joy of parenthood brings along with it many responsibilities and experiences, that may sometimes be quite a task. One such task is getting baby to sleep in crib. A lot of parents, especially first time parents face difficulty with nighttime parenting like getting the baby to sleep through the night, diaper changing in the night and getting the baby to sleep on its own. It is important that you teach the baby to sleep on her own early on or else she may get habituated with sleeping with you. It will get increasingly difficult for you to make her sleep on her own if she is not taught to do so within a few weeks after birth. So, here are a few tips for you to know how to get baby to sleep in crib.

There are a few things that you need to know about and understand so that you get your baby to sleep peacefully through the night in the crib. These include whether or not your baby requires parental help to sleep, the number of hours that she sleeps, the general pattern of baby sleeping, etc. During the first few days, you will have to spend some extra time trying to put her to sleep in the crib as she needs to get used to the routine. Also, make a note of any peculiar sleeping habits that your baby may have developed while sleeping as incorporating that habit will help you put her to sleep in the crib. The baby crib bedding should be comfortable and cozy for the baby to sleep well.

Getting Baby to Sleep in Crib - The Process

Prepare yourself well in advance for this process and get as much sleep and rest as possible during the day. This is the time when you will establish a bedtime routine and you will need to stick to it for successfully teaching the baby to sleep in the crib. Begin by a practicing a ritual that signals the baby that it is time to sleep. Read a book to her, sing a lullaby or rock her, for a few minutes and then place her in the baby crib. At this point, she will be drowsy and not fully asleep, so you will need to soothe her and not stimulate her to sleep.

Situation 1: Baby Falls Asleep
If she is used to soothing herself to sleep, allow her to do so. Else, soothe or pat her until you can see her drifting to sleep. Once you are sure that she has slept, stop soothing her and wait besides the crib just in case she wakes up. Babies require some time to fall fully asleep, unlike adults. During this phase of drifting into deep sleep, you will notice a number of gestures that the baby makes, but do not assume that she has woken up or soothe her.

Situation 2: Baby Starts Crying
If she starts crying or screaming when she is placed in the crib, do not lift her out of the crib. Soothe while she is still in the crib. She may cry for a few minutes, which is absolutely fine. You just need to reassure her that you are there and that she is safe. She may wake up frequently as she is not very happy with the idea of sleeping all by herself. Do not worry about it and let her sleep with you because of the crying. The best way to teach her would be by not giving into her resistance to sleep in the crib.

Going by any of the situations, this routine should be continued for at least a week or even more, depending on how well your baby takes to it. Remember, that persistence is the only key to getting baby sleep in crib. You may find it a bit difficult initially, but if you give in to her resistance, there is no way she'll learn to sleep by herself.