Transitioning From A Bassinet
How do I transition my baby from sleeping in a bassinet to a cot?
Some babies likely won’t care much about switching from a bassinet to a cot — they will happily sleep wherever you put them. But if you’re worried the change will cause your little one to have trouble sleeping, here are few ideas to help with the transition to a cot.
Make the switch in stages.
Let your little one nap in the cot during the day for a couple of weeks until they get used to it.
Then complete the transition so they’re sleeping in their cot for every sleep.
Create a bedtime routine.
If you haven’t already established some night time rituals (bath, book, snuggles, sleep), now’s the time.
All babies thrive on a solid bedtime routine, so as you repeat these activities each evening, they’ll start to signal to them that their cot — and sleep — await.
Same room, different bed.
Transitioning your baby to a cot might be easier if it involves one switch at a time.
So consider moving their cot into your room for at least a few nights.
Then once your little one becomes adjusted to sleeping in a bigger space,
you can choose to move the cot to their nursery.
Sleep in baby’s room.
Another way to ease your baby into the idea of sleeping in their own space is to sleep in their room.
If there’s a bed or a couch you can sleep on or if you have an air mattress, spend a few nights bunking with baby.
Linger for a while.
Give your baby a chance to settle down and get comfy while you’re still in the room.
One tactic to try is the chair method of sleep training.
Have a seat or sit on the floor next to the cot as she starts to doze, and then move a little farther away the next night — and the night after that — until you’re out the door and they’re happy on their own.
Add some comfort.
Make the room more comfortable by turning on white noise and ensuring the room is dark.
Don’t let the thought of transitioning your baby from a bassinet to their own cot keep you up at night.
It may take some time to adjust, but ultimately this change should be good for the entire family.
Want some extra help?
If you’d like some assistance with transitioning your little one to their cot, you can book in a free 15min consult.
We can offer support by helping with creating a tailored sleep routine, the right sleep environment as well as settling tools and techniques.
A note about bassinets
Parents may also prefer to use a bassinet as they take up less room than a cot in the parent bedroom in those early months of baby’s life. Bassinets do not have a separate Australian and NZ Standard and there is a variety of devices that are sold as bassinets. Babies grow fast and will grow out of a bassinet as early as a couple of months old. As each bassinet comes with different recommendations as to when to move to a cot it will also depend on how big your baby grows. Bassinets should not be used once your baby can roll over or pull themselves up the side of the bassinet, which is usually around 4-6 months of age. To find out more about keeping baby safe in a bassinet or cot refer to the Keeping Baby Safe: A guide to infant and nursery products24 and the resources available at www.productsafety.gov.au
Helpful Links;
https://rednose.org.au/article/room-sharing-with-baby