The Best Ways to Transition From a Bassinet to a Crib

A tiny baby often fits cozily in a bassinet for naps and overnight sleeping. Eventually, however, your little one will outgrow the bassinet and it will be time for a change. Although the switch to a crib involves acclimating to a new sleep environment, you can ease this transition for your child by proceeding carefully.

  1. Gradual Transition

    • It may help to proceed through the transition process gradually to give your little one a chance to acclimate to the change, suggests certified sleep consultant Linda Szmulewitz on the Sleep Tight Consultants website. Instead of simply moving the bassinet out and the crib in one day, give your baby a chance to play in the crib to spend waking time there. Stay nearby to interact with your infant to ensure that the play time is positive and enjoyable for her. You might introduce sleeping in the crib gradually by starting with naptime and moving to nighttime after your baby learns the new naptime routine.

    Positioning

    • If you think the crib will feel too vast and roomy for comfortable sleeping, place your baby crosswise into the crib so he̵7;s against one short side, suggests Ann Douglas, author of ̶0;Sleep Solutions for your Baby, Toddler and Preschooler.̶1; If you swaddle your baby for sleep in the bassinet, swaddle him in the crib for continuity. Your baby will probably sleep better if you don̵7;t make too many changes at once.

    Transitional Object

    • If your baby is older than 12 months, it̵7;s safe to use a transitional object in the crib to provide comfort and security, advises the American Academy of Pediatrics HealthyChildren.org website. Professionals do not advise using blankets or toys in cribs for younger babies due to the possibility of suffocation or entrapment. For younger babies, you might sleep with a crib sheet next to you and then place it on the crib mattress to help provide the baby with a comforting scent during sleep. Another option involves using a crib sheet as a receiving blanket as you hold your baby for a few days to transfer your baby̵7;s scent to the sheet, and then placing it onto the crib mattress, suggests sleep consultant Nicole Johnson, with The Baby Sleep Site.

    White Noise

    • Provide white noise during sleep time in the new crib, especially if your baby listened to white noise in the bassinet. White noise can comfort babies and help them sleep more deeply. White noise also masks other background noises that might disturb sleep.

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