This Is the Secret Behind How to Transition from Co-Sleeping to Crib

Is it feeling like time to encourage your baby to stop co-sleeping? Or to switch them over to a new set-up so they can catch their Z’s in a space all their own? Great! But does it also feel like a challenge to figure out how to transition from co-sleeping to crib?

Less great…but good thing we have you covered on that front!

Here’s the most important thing to remember as you start on your journey away from co-sleeping: every family is unique. And so is every co sleeping journey.

Though family, friends, or strangers online might swear by one method of transitioning from co-sleeping, that doesn’t mean that this is the right method for you. 

Baby smiling as parents make plans to stop co-sleeping | babybay co-sleeper beds

As you make plans to transition from co-sleeping to crib, take into account your own needs. Also take into account how your baby’s personality might respond better—or worse!—to different possible methods.

Though there are many parent-loved approaches out there (from taking the gradual approach to stopping “cold turkey”), there’s one thing you should keep in mind no matter which strategy you choose…

Consistency is key. 

Though there are sure to be a few bumps along the road or nights when things just don’t seem to go according to plan, keep at it!

Putting a plan in place and following it closely will help your baby quickly get used to their new nighttime routine. 

Why It’s So Hard to Transition from Co-Sleeping to Crib

Have you ever suffered through a night of tossing and turning because you were in an unfamiliar place? Or lost plenty of good hours of rest because you were sleeping on a mattress that wasn’t your own? 

It’s common for anyone (adults and babies alike!) to have a hard time sleeping when they’re getting used to a new sleeping environment. Or when they’re adjusting to new nighttime sounds. 

Your baby has gotten used to the comfortable feeling of sleeping by your side. Suddenly moving across the room into a crib of their own—or moving into a whole new room of their own—is bound to create some confusion and discomfort during the transition stage. 

Baby in bedside co-sleeper being comforted by mother | babybay co-sleeper crib

But the more consistent you can be, the easier it will be for your baby to feel comfortable with the new routine you’re setting. 

It’s important to hold strong! Even in the tempting moments when you’re faced with your baby’s discomfort and a night or two of lack of sleep. 

By outlining your goals ahead of time and being clear on what method you’ve chosen and why you believe it’s the one that will best support your baby’s transition, you’ll be able to roll over all those bumps and help baby get used to their new routine in no time. 

How Bedside Co-Sleepers Help Ease the Transition from Co-Sleeping to Crib

Luckily, families who have been co sleeping with the help of a bedside co sleeper like the babybay often have an easier time transitioning baby away from their bedside. 

Because your baby is already familiar with the feel of their baby co-sleeper, they won’t have to get used to a new sleeping space. They’ll just have to get used to a new distance from you. 

Image of bedside co-sleeper conversion kit to baby bassinet | babybay co-sleeping cribsWith a bedside sleeper conversion kit, you can easily transform your bedside co-sleeper into a standalone baby bassinet. One that you can gradually move across the room until your little one gets used to sleeping away from your side. 

Before you know it, your baby will be sweetly exploring dreamland all night long. Even when you’re not right by their side. 

The Real Key to Transitioning from Co-Sleeping to Crib: Be Consistent 

You’ll hear this advice again and again, and for good reason: keeping consistent is the most important thing you can do to help baby feel confident and comfortable as they get used to their new nighttime routine. 

Some experts recommend putting an “our bed is off limits” rule in place for the first three months after you’ve stopped co sleeping. This means that your baby is not invited onto their mattress at all—even for nap times or cuddling—until they’ve had enough time to adjust to sleeping in a space all their own. 

It makes sense that many parents find this an effective tactic to stop co-sleeping. Your baby is still too young to logically understand why cuddling at 10am is totally fine, but sleeping by your side at night is off-limits. 

Newborn baby with father snuggling | babybay cosleeper cribs

Keeping your baby completely away from your bed until they have fully adjusted to their new nighttime routine can help deliver sounder nights of comfortable and confident sleep for them. And sounds nights of sleep for you!

Of course, if you’ve been co sleeping with the help of a bedside co-sleeper, then your baby is likely well-prepared to take on the challenge of adjusting to a new sleeping space. 

Because they’re already used to being comfy and cozy on a mattress all their own, they won’t have as much trouble leaving your bedside behind. (Especially if you’re simply transforming your trusted bedside sleeper into a baby bassinet that baby gets to continue to happily sleep on all night long!)

Which means when it’s time to figure out how to transition from co-sleeping to crib, you can be confident that your baby is well-prepared for the journey ahead.

How to Safely Co-Sleep With Your Newborn in the Perfect Bedroom Setup

Safely co-sleeping with your newborn doesn’t start in the moment you down with them in your shared room set-up…it starts well before that moment.

Because setting up your room for safe and comfortable co-sleeping is the easiest way for you to get more hours of rest during the night. While feeling the satisfied peace of mind that comes from knowing your baby is lovingly and sweetly snoozing beside you.

Some parents begin their transition to co-sleeping by researching safe co sleeping positions and getting excited for the many co-sleeping benefits they can expect to enjoy in the days ahead. (Ones like an easier nighttime nursing routine and deeper bonding between you and baby, just to name a few!). A newborn safely co-sleeping in bedside sleeper | babybay cosleeping crib

These can be helpful places to begin your co sleeping journey. But once you’re really ready to take the next steps in learning how to safely co-sleep with newborn, thinking through the specifics of your baby’s soon-to-be sleeping environment is the peace of mind-delivering best next step. 

There’s a good reason for that: While there are many ways to co-sleep, but not all of them will gift you with the sound nights of stress-free rest that you’re looking for. 

So before you go all-in on co-sleeping with your little one, ask yourself 2 big questions. Ones that guarantee that you’ll soak up all the beautiful co-sleeping benefits that are available to you. While still guaranteeing that your safety remains top-notch.

What safe co-sleeping positions will work best considering my home setup? 

Experts are in agreement: when your baby is first brought home, the safest place for them to sleep is close by your side. (That way you’ll be able to respond to every need with super-parent speed!)

But sleeping close by your side doesn’t necessarily mean sharing your bed. 

Truth is, your baby’s body will not be properly supported by the super-soft mattress, plush comforters, and soft-as-a-cloud pillows you love. 

Especially during the first months of their life, your baby needs a clean and firm sleep surface that will support them. Particularly as they spend long hours of the night laying on their back and catching some much-needed Zs. 

While pillows and cozy comforters might be the bedding-of-choice for adults, your baby is quite skilled enough to unroll themselves from any tangled situation they might get into. Which means that all that softness should be saved for when they grow a little bit bigger. 

Safe solutions like bedside co-sleepers offer your baby a way to be by your side while still getting the support they crave. They can rest on a made-just-for-them baby bed mattress that provides comfort and proper ventilation. While you rest easy while being surrounded by your comfiest blankets and silkiest sheets. 

Mother looking at daughter in safe co-sleeping co-sleeper | babybay bedside cribs

And though it might seem like bedside co sleepers that securely attach directly to your bed aren’t an option for families living in small spaces, compact co-sleeper models can naturally fit into any room. While still making it easy to turn your bedroom into a baby-loved co-sleeping space. 

How do I create a healthy environment when sharing my bedroom with baby? 

There are several best practices when it comes to sharing bedroom with baby that get said on repeat. Like how important it is to keep the room smoke-free and keep the temperature not too cool, not too hot.

And sure, you might feel like you’ve been there, researched that when it comes to those much-repeated best practices. But there is still one big every-parent-should-know safety concern that still comes as a surprise to most parents. 

Here it is: your baby’s sleeping materials might not be as non-toxic as you think they are. 

Most bedside co-sleepers, baby cribs, and baby bassinets on the market are full of toxic finishes, harmful chemicals, and damaging hard plastics that can wreak havoc on your baby’s still-developing body and immune system. 

That’s why it’s so important to choose a bedside co-sleeper (and stash of baby products in general!) made of non-toxic, all-natural, eco-friendly wood and harm-free finishes. 

Cute baby in co-sleeper | babybay cosleeper cribs

And when it’s time to buy sheets and a mattress pad for your baby to sleep on, look for ones that provide proper ventilation while being made of chemical-free materials and baby-friendly cotton and polyester fabrics

How to Safely Co Sleep With Newborn: The Benefits of a Bedside Co-Sleeper

For parents who are just starting to explore co-sleeping, it’s easy to feel like you’re desperately trying to fit all pieces of the co-sleeping puzzle into one, clearly-readable, easy-to-implement way for both you and baby to rest easy through the night. 

And while many parents toss and turn with worry, wondering…A baby resting in a bedside co-sleeper, an alternative to wooden cribs | babybay bedside co-sleepers

Have I perfectly designed my co sleeping space for baby to sleep easy? 

Does baby have what they need to feel safe and supported as we sleep? 

Have I chosen a safe co sleeping position that will help baby—and me!—rest stress-free all night long? 

Having the right co-sleeping bed securely attached to your bedside can take all the guesswork out of how to safely co-sleep with newborn

It can feel like a challenge to adapt your made-for-adults bedroom into a perfect-for-baby safe sleeping space. 

But bedside co-sleepers make it possible for you to create the perfect safe co-sleeping space for your baby. Without needing to throw away your existing mattress or sheets. Redesign your own bedroom space. Or spend a single minute of much-needed sleep time wondering whether baby is feeling nurtured and supported in the way they need.

Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?