How to Get Your Baby To Sleep In Their Own Cot

When we first bring our babies home, we love having them sleep with us, but it can become an issue when they won't sleep anywhere else!  For lots of parents who are dealing with a crying infant, it can be the most natural thing in the world to let them sleep in the bed, but this should by no means become a habit.  After all, you need your space, and babies who are small and delicate should really sleep in their own cot.   If you have a baby who doesn't want to sleep in his own cot, there are quite a few things that you can do about it.

One issue that many parents have is that their babies fall asleep in their arms and lying them down in the crib wakes them up.  Consider putting your baby to bed when he or she is getting sleepy, not when they are fast asleep.  You don't have to go anywhere, in fact, you can just rub their back or hold their hand until the fall completely asleep, but this will spare you having to jar them at all to put them down.  Though lots of parents love letting their baby fall asleep while carrying them, this can create bad sleep habits.

Another issue that your child might be facing is that the cot is going to feel too exposed or open.  Babies need to feel warm and secure, and this can be a little bit difficult if they are small and the cot is rather large.  When your baby feels exposed, he may feel very nervous, so of course he is going to call for mum and dad!  When he sleeps with you, he is getting contact and a feeling of protection.  This might mean that you need more “packing material” in the crib, whether it is more blankets or pillows that can shrink the space a little bit.

Is your child tired when you put him into his cot?  One issue is that parents don't pay enough attention to their baby's sleep schedules and when they should really be put to bed.  When you see your child rubbing their eyes, reaching for something soft or wanting to lie down, this is a sign that preparations for bed should be started very soon.  Make sure that your child is not being put to bed while they are antsy or active, because this will only make them restless.

Some parents come to the cot when their children cry, but instead of picking them up, they'll rub them or pat them. This can comfort your child enough that they will go back to sleep without needing to be taken back to their parents' bed.

Remember that even if your child goes through a phase where they do not want to sleep in their own cot, it will pass.  Most children outgrow the need to sleep with their parents within a few months, and there is nothing wrong with letting your baby sleep with you for a while.  It makes sense that they would seek safety and comfort from their parents, so don't worry even if it happens routinely for a while.

This is an original news article © The Kids Window

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