How do I get my 6 week old baby to sleep in the crib instead of the bassinet?
Baby Bedding
MSA2004 asked:
Baby sleeps in 3-5 hour segments - in the bassinet, in my arms or in the bed next to us. However, when placed in his room in his crib, he will wake up within 1 hour. He will soon outgrow the bassinet and have to sleep in the crib. HELP!!!! Thanks!
I am not trying to make him do for himself at this age. However, he needs to get used to sleeping in the crib because he just will not fit into the bassinet much longer! I will try swaddling him more often when he sleeps. I notice that he startles pretty easy, which is common in newborns. He is already close to 24 inches long and bassinets aren’t designed for sleeping in past 3 months anyhow for most kids. Thanks everyone who responded. It helps!
My baby weighs more than 10 lbs. Closer to 12-13 now. Was 10-7 at last appointment. Currently sleeps for hours in swing, bassinet or my arms. Will outgrow swing and bassinet (size wise) and needs to sleep in crib. Will take naps in crib, but not longer than 45 minutes. Thanks for the hints & tips everyone.
Tom
Baby sleeps in 3-5 hour segments - in the bassinet, in my arms or in the bed next to us. However, when placed in his room in his crib, he will wake up within 1 hour. He will soon outgrow the bassinet and have to sleep in the crib. HELP!!!! Thanks!
I am not trying to make him do for himself at this age. However, he needs to get used to sleeping in the crib because he just will not fit into the bassinet much longer! I will try swaddling him more often when he sleeps. I notice that he startles pretty easy, which is common in newborns. He is already close to 24 inches long and bassinets aren’t designed for sleeping in past 3 months anyhow for most kids. Thanks everyone who responded. It helps!
My baby weighs more than 10 lbs. Closer to 12-13 now. Was 10-7 at last appointment. Currently sleeps for hours in swing, bassinet or my arms. Will outgrow swing and bassinet (size wise) and needs to sleep in crib. Will take naps in crib, but not longer than 45 minutes. Thanks for the hints & tips everyone.
Tom
March 19th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Carolyn
move the bassinette to the bedroom to get him used to the bedroom,robin
March 20th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Katherine
Good luck! I am having that exact same problem. My baby is 7 weeks old and he is still in my bassinet beside my bed. I’m hoping within the next few weeks to have him in his crib in his own room.
March 21st, 2009 at 3:29 am
Don
what do you expect? is only 6 weeks old…
how would u feel if ur parent let you get ur own milk at 3am in the morning when UR 6weeks old?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Jo
Try swaddling him in a receiving blanket so that he cannot jerk his arms and legs in his sleep, the startle reflex is probably what wakes him up and why he sleeps so much better with you. That is a bad habit to let him get into, it is almost impossible to break. Make sure that he is not getting chilled, as well.
March 25th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Lydia
put something in the crib that was in the bassinet like a blanket, believe it or not it will be a fimiliar smell and you may want to wrap him up, he is not use to the space that may be a factor as well.
March 25th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Steve
I sure hope you are going to be getting a truck load of patience soon. The kid is 6 weeks old! You have a good 3 months before you can expect good sleep habits. Are you sure you are not waking him up when you check on him? Unless he fusses for a long period of time leave him alone and let him learn to put himself back to sleep.
March 27th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Rhonda
There is no way a baby of 6 weeks old is aware he is in a different bed. You must do something different when you switch beds. Compare both places and figure out what is different. Is is the way you wrap him or cover him? Is there a bumper pad around his crib?
March 27th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Kelly
THIS MIGHT SEEM CRAZY, but we did it with both of our girls and they have both been great sleepers~ we would rock them to sleep in their carseats- leave them in it and just put the whole thing in the crib. Please make sure you move it so the matress is at its lowest setting so the car seat can’t fall out. then we let that go on a couple weeks and as they became familiar with their room- we’d still rock them in the seat, but them slip them into bed and then a couple weeks of that and then we started rocking them in our arms for a few minutes put on the mobile and then lay them down- and the first 3 days were the worst, but paid off in the end. we let them scream for about 20 mins and then would go in give them their nuk and leave- let them cry 20 and go in- 20 and then go in- 20 and go in and those first few days are very rough, but very worth it. at 6 months- both of my girls were sleeping 8 ish hours a night with no feedings in between- and if you’re breastfeeding- i suggest topping your child off with a little formula to keep them satified longer. if you’re bottle feeding try to wait longer between babie last 2 feedings before bed and then feed the baby an ounce more than usual before bed. well i hope this was helpful.
March 29th, 2009 at 4:12 am
Rita
I think the best thing is to wrap your baby in a blanket or muslin wrap. Nice and tight so that the baby feels secure and cannot startle. In any case it is hard work to get your baby in to good sleeping habits and it trys every inch of your patience, good luck!
To those who have said your baby is too young to sleep alone, rubbish. You know what is best for your baby.
March 31st, 2009 at 4:15 am
Miguel
Sorry you are getting a lot of angry answers.
I understand what you mean completely. My son is 3 months old and I had the same worries. We placed him in his crib at 4 weeks, and I think if we had waited any longer it would have been worse.
What worked for me was:
1. Have him take naps in the crib to get him used to the crib
2. Put him in there when he is HALF asleep. Don’t wait until he’s asleep otherwise he’ll get used to the rocking to sleep bit. And, if he’s a asleep how is he going to get used to the space.
3. Rock him, love on him as much as you want. Just not to the point of ‘he’s outta it’.
Does he scream like someone’s pinching him or is he fussing?
Have you tried just going in there and stroking his head/hair to calm him. That’s worked wonders with my son.
Also, this may sound gross, but we didn’t wash the crib sheets. We used a blanket to cover the sheet. It was a clean blanket - that had been used by him. This way the scent was familar, and we just laid the blanket over the mattress.
For SIDS concerns just nix the blanket under him and put it over him. And, don’t wash the crib sheets until he’s used to the area. It will take time because he’s comfy in the enviornment he’s in now. But, he’ll be fine in a few weeks.
Good luck!
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Jean
A couple of suggestions that I have is to use a larger blanket to swaddle him with. I had a terrible time with our son b/c he would get his arms free and then wake himself up. Also, try lying him horizontal in the bed instead of vertical. If he feels the bumper pad on his head and feet, he will think he’s in the same place. My son is now 2 and still sleeps vertical in his bed. He has slept in his own room and in the crib since he was 4 weeks old.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Carmen
Its really very simple. Get rid of the bassinet and start using the crib all the time before long the baby will get use to it. Are you sure its baby waking up or mommy waking him up checking on him. If the baby cries a little and is not sick it will be ok.
April 7th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Ricky
FIRST 3 MONTHS IS SURVIVAL MODE SWEETIE IM TELLING YA
MY SON WOULD ONLY SLEEP IN HIS BOUNCY CHAIR OR IN HIS BASSINET OR CAR SEAT UNTIL 4 MONTHS OF AGE NOW HE SLEEPS IN THE CRIB HOWD I SWITCH WELL AT 3 MONTHS I STARTRED LETTING HIM FALL ASLEEP IN BASSINET THEN PICKING HIM UP AND PUTING HIM IN THE CRIB .. HE DIDNT KNOW I SWITCHED
April 7th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Janet
Have you tried white noise in his room. A fan, air purifer, ect. It worked with all three of my kids, including my 6 week old, who now will sleep for up to 6 hours in her crib. The noise is very soothing to them. Just think about how noisey it was inside you.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Barbara
There are alot of different answers. My son was born under six pounds and we put him in his car seat next to our bed to sleep for a couple weeks, then started putting him in his crib. But he did wake himself up alot too. We had to wrap him up tight everytime he took a nap or went to bed. We had to keep wrapping him up till he was about 4 months old. His arms did wake him up alot but as he got older when didnt do it as much. Just when he started sleeping through the night. When he took naps I didnt’ wrap him.
April 10th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Kristin
have you tried putting a small fan ((maybe a desk fan)) away from the crib, it can drown out noises that may wake him around the house, Cars driving past, and etc this worked with my son.
And if he is just making little noises on the monitor, leave him, until he is actually crying for at least 5 to 6 mnutes! He will learn to comfort himself back to sleep!
April 11th, 2009 at 1:03 am
Stacy
if she is under 10 lbs. let it sleep in the bassinet. …..sleeping in your bed is a bad thing……..
April 12th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Wilma
I was happy if my kid slept anywhere, seriously. Maybe try easing the baby into the crib. Just putting the baby in the crib from time-to-time during the day to get him used to it. Wish I had better advise.
Good luck.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Edward
Good luck with whatever you finally do because my grandson won’t sleep in his crib either and that’s next to his mother’s bed already. We have tried putting him in his car seat in the crib and he sleeps in his bouncer or stroller (for naps). But his best sleep is in his mother’s arms or in mine. It feels wonderful to know that the baby feels comfortable and secure to get a good sleep that way but I am a little concerned that he will always want to sleep inhis mother’s bed. She needs her rest too.So do you.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:41 am
Charlotte
I used to put a Hot Water bottle next to my daughter in her crib with warm water in it. You can get those small ones at the dollar store. You could even place a hot water bottle where you are going to lay your baby down and remove it just before you do. Sometimes the warmth tricks them into thinking they are being held.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Ella
if you’re giving in to your 6 week old’s preferences now, imagine how bad it will be when the child is 3, 6, 9, 16?! Face it, the child will sleep when it is tired. Just as one will eat when it is hungry. Stop giving options, and start telling your child that this is how it will be. They WILL learn to accept it. Wil be rough in the beginning, but you’ll succeed, I promise.
April 19th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Joyce
Your going to have to leave him in the crib if he cries. If you know hes been fed enough and changed recently, then hell get use to the crib eventually. You just cant spoil him by picking him up everytime he cries. Hell get over it. Good Luck!!
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
Joe
I think you can try to play mother touch CD
April 25th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Elaine
Try putting a night light in his room and put on some soothing music. The noise from the songs may be enough to drown out the other noises he is hearing. Try not letting him nap in your arms or in the swing too much, always lay him in his crib for his naps. This will help at night because he will start getting used to it. It is very frustrating I know being woke up every hour but keep reassuring him it’s okay and to go back to sleep then lay him back in his crib. It is okay if he cries some, as long as he isn’t hungry, wet or hurt he will be fine. Let him try to go back to sleep on his own. If you start this now it will make thigns so much easier for you in the months to come.