You spend most of the nights awake because your baby won’t sleep in the crib? As a new parent, getting your baby to sleep all night in his crib can seem like an impossible task. However, in my experience, I can say that it’s possible, but it takes a lot of patience and consistency. Yes, we can!
First, I’d like to say that having your baby sleep in their own crib or bassinet is part of a good learning and development curve for them. This helps your baby feel at ease to be by himself, knowing that you are right next to him even if you’re not in the same room. Although, remember it’s recommended to have him sleep in his bassinet next to your bed for at least 3 months.
In this post, I’m going to share my true mom story about how my kids have slept in their cribs all night since 3 months old. I’m going to tell you the techniques I used, the routine, and the consistency it takes to achieve it.
Creating A Sleep Routine
The day you get home with your baby from the hospital must be the day that you start your own comfortable and nice routine for your baby to go to sleep.
Part, if not everything, of having a successful ending is sticking to this routine every day. Know that it’s okay to change things if you need it. I always have said that a baby is like a blank page, you have the power to write on it, to erase, and to create whatever is that you want, they can adapt and they will. What you need the most is patience. Patience is your friend and has to be your right hand in this journey.
What Was My Routine?
If you are looking for an example, I have to say that I choose to be simple. To me, this was part of life and something my baby had to feel simple and easy to follow.
My routine in simple steps was to eat, bathe, massage, and put down.
Another factor in all this should be the environment, your baby needs to feel okay and needs to be in a comfortable place, like his bassinet. Also, the room lighting should be appropriate, it’s okay to have a dim color light like blue for example, but to me, the best way was completely dark. This helps to soothe the eyes and rest so much better.
When it’s time to put him down, remember to place him on his back, and be with your baby for around 5 to 10 minutes letting him know that you’re there and that everything is fine. If you want, you can sing or do something that you think will soothe your baby.
Then you can just go to sleep beside him, eventually, he will fall asleep. If not, repeat this routine until he falls asleep. But never grab your baby out of the bassinet or crib, not even if he’s crying, just try to soothe him while he’s lying down until he falls asleep.
I did this with my two children when they were newborns, eventually, I just put them down and they fell asleep by themselves. Sometimes with a little crying but sometimes just making some noises or having the pacifier on.
To be honest, what I just told you, I don’t know if that is some kind of a method or not. I just did what I thought was correct for me and for them. And when I say “correct” I’m talking about what I need in the long term to stay sane, and, what he needs to fall asleep in a sane way too. Sleeping is one of the most necessary things to be happy and healthy, and so you need to sleep and of course them too.
But this is not the end of the story. This is just the beginning.
While the baby keeps growing he keeps changing his temper, and so the routine changes a bit, the feeding, and the needs to play. So the bedtime has to change a bit too. Not necessarily change the core routine (food, bath, Bed), but you can add things like reading a book, doing a massage with a lavender cream (which will soothe them a lot, at least with mine), or just singing his favorite song.
Moving Your Baby From Bassinet To Crib
Now, when your baby is no longer a newborn and it’s about 3 months old, comes the time when you can move your baby from the bassinet (this one is very comfortable) to a crib in his own room. Remember to have a proper crib and mattress, these two I still use every day.
This is a new adjustment not just for your baby but for you too, so please arrange all the pieces in a way that will be comfortable for you too, like having a good baby monitor.
If you are thinking about how to feed your baby in the middle of the night now that he is in his crib, in my experience, I weaned the middle night feeding when they were around two months. So, if you still give them a bottle or breastfeed around 3 a.m., it’s okay if you change them to the crib, but my recommendation is that if you want to stop giving that feeding too, just do one thing at a time not both, it will be too stressful for your baby, and in the end for you too.
This change could be easy or not, depending a lot on your baby’s temper. But what I can tell you is that babies can adjust, and they will with a routine and a lot of patience and consistency. Be strong!
What I did was give him the last feeding of the day around 10 to 12 pm and when he finished I just waited for about 15 minutes so he could rest his food and then put him in the crib, sometimes drowsy, sometimes asleep. And stay with him a little bit more to make him feel safe and comfortable, soothing if he needs it. And he would fall asleep.
This may sound really easy as you read, but is not. Putting this experience in words makes it sound like it was easy-peasy for me, but it wasn’t. Helping your baby go to sleep takes a lot of patience and consistency. And those, sometimes are very hard to find. Much of all this depends a lot on your baby’s personality and temperament, but you as a mom can give them love, and make them feel safe so yes it depends on you too, and your patience and consistency level.
Introducing A Sleeping Method
Time will continue to pass and now your baby is maybe 4 to 6 months. The routine keeps evolving as he grows. And about this time I started introducing a sleeping method to my baby. This method is called the Ferber Method and to me, I have to say, is one of the most effective sleeping methods there is.
Some people think that is super harmful because it involves letting your baby cry… a lot…. but crying is not bad, crying is the only way your baby can communicate, so to me is not harmful but it is hard and stressful.
To me, the Ferber Method is that good that in the end, your baby will:
- Go to sleep by himself
- Not to be afraid of being alone in his crib/room
- Learn to soothe himself back to sleep and stay asleep all night
Don’t you think this is a winner?????? To me it is, and it has been almost 4 years and 2 babies.
What is the Ferber Method?
The Ferber Method, also known as “graduated extinction” or “controlled crying,” is a sleep training method that involves gradually increasing the time between checking on your baby when he cries at night. The idea is to teach your baby to self-soothe and learn to fall asleep on his own, without relying on you to rock or feed him to sleep. This method can be very effective if done correctly and with consistency.
How To Implement The Ferber Method?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using the Ferber method to get your baby to sleep all night:
Step #1: Choose a Consistent Bedtime
First, choose a consistent bedtime for your baby. This will help establish a routine and set the stage for good sleep habits. Aim for a bedtime between 7 and 8 p.m. (although that depends on your baby’s need for feeding) for babies between 3 and 6 months old, and adjust it as needed for older babies.
Step #2: Develop A Bedtime Routine
As I’ve been saying, you need to develop a bedtime routine to signal to your baby that it’s time for sleep. This can include activities such as a warm bath, a lullaby, and reading a story. Keep the routine consistent every night so your baby knows what to expect.
Step #3: Place Your Baby In His Crib
After the bedtime routine is complete, place your baby in his crib while he’s still awake. This will help him learn to fall asleep on his own and reduce the likelihood of him waking up during the night looking for you.
For this moment I used white noise. It is simply very soothing and gives your baby calm. Here’s a great white noise machine.
Step #4: Comfort Your Baby
If your baby cries when you leave him in his crib, comfort him with gentle reassurance. You can pat his back or sing a lullaby to help him calm down. However, don’t pick him up or take him out of the crib, as this can reinforce the idea that crying will get him what he wants.
Step #5: Gradually Increase The Time Between Checks
If your baby continues to cry, you can gradually increase the time between checks. For example, start by checking on him every five minutes, then increase the time to 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, and so on. Each time you check on your baby, provide comfort and reassurance, but don’t pick him up or take him out of the crib.
Step #6: Stay Consistent
It’s important to stay consistent when using the Ferber method. Stick to the same bedtime routine and check-in intervals every night. This will help your baby learn to self-soothe and fall asleep on his own.
Step #7: Be Patient
Finally, be patient. It can take several nights for your baby to adjust to the new routine and learn to sleep through the night. However, with consistency and patience, you can help your baby develop healthy sleep habits that will benefit him for years to come.
In conclusion, the Ferber method can be an effective way to teach your baby to sleep in his crib all night long. For me and my family was the way that everyone could sleep well and it gave me and my husband peace of mind.
If you follow these steps, you can help your baby learn to self-soothe and develop healthy sleep habits that will benefit him for years to come. And who wouldn’t want that?
Tell me if you have tried!
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Hello, I'm Ana Cristina
This blog is meant to help new moms and dads start a more successful parenting life and answer most of the questions I’m sure you’ll have. You’re not alone. Hi, I’m Ana Cristina, mom of two: Maurizio & Isabella. We live in el calorcito de Miami and I’m sharing my great experience of being a SAHM to help you get through this wonderful (and sometimes chaotic, messy, and tired) journey.