I know you’ve spent months creating the perfect nursery, but here’s the truth: Most newborns don’t actually sleep in their rooms initially. Chances are, your baby will start off in YOUR room. This truly is safest and most convenient during those early weeks and months. BUT… at some point, you will find that you’ll want to reclaim your bedroom and actually use that well-decorated nursery. Let's talk about the transition to the nursery.
Here are five tips for a smooth transition to the nursery:
1. Practice AT LEAST one nap a day in the crib in the nursery.
2. Go into the nursery multiple times a day- do diaper changes there, get the baby dressed, and play on the floor. This makes the baby’s room a familiar environment.
3. For 3-4 nights prior to transitioning to the nursery, do the bedtime routine in the nursery and then bring the baby into your room as usual. This sends the signal that the nursery is a safe place associated with snuggles and sleep preparation.
4. On the first night of the transition, keep her in the same bassinet that she was in while sleeping in your room, but move it into the nursery. Keep all other conditions the same... bedtime routine, sound machine, dark and cool environment.
5. After 3-5 nights, move baby to the crib. If she awakens in the night, transition her to the bassinet in her own room. Each night try to get longer and longer stretches in the crib.
You might be wondering….
Are all these steps really necessary to transition to the nursery?
Nope! You know your baby best, so you’ll be the best one to decide what steps will work for your little one. For me personally, I did Steps 1-3 fairly consistently and then just put them in the crib; the transition was simple. It was as if they never knew there was a change because it was a familiar routine and environment.
Expert Tip: Babies often adjust way better than we anticipate.
When is the best time to transition to the nursery?
You’ll want to make sure both you and your baby are both ready for this transition. This blog post goes into depth about the research regarding room sharing. It will help you evaluate the entire picture and help you decide when the time is right.
What if my baby is up all night? Won’t this just mean I have further to walk before I can help my baby?
Sometimes, transitioning your baby out of your room can actually help him sleep better at night. You can read about how room-sharing can keep older babies and parents from sleeping well in this room-sharing blog. But if near-constant wakings are keeping you from transitioning your baby to her nursery, we can help! We have resources to help you teach your baby to sleep so that your whole family can get the rest you need. Just click here to find the class that’s right for your baby!
