When And How To Stop Co-sleeping With Your Child?

Let us start with what co-sleeping is. Even though it sounds like a community program, it means sleeping near another person in the same room and bed. It is natural for you to snuggle close to your baby when you have a newborn and make sure they don’t face any inconvenience during their sleep. A new mom will imagine all near-impossible dangerous scenarios like the fan falling on your baby or perhaps an owl flying in and snatching your baby from the nursery. This makes them throw the whole idea of keeping the baby in another room. While it depends on your parenting style and the convenience of where you want your baby to sleep, if you choose co-sleeping for the first few months and want to change it eventually, it has to be done in steps. Go through the list to know how to transition from it while keeping your baby sleeping peacefully in their new room.

In This Article

Is Co-sleeping Healthy For You?

Is Co-sleeping Healthy For You
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When you become a parent, you place your needs before your kids. It may be your parental instinct to stay up all night, but it will only harm your body more if you don’t get enough rest. Also, if you and your partner are on sedatives, it may be a hazard to place your little one between you. Staying up all night and having a baby bouncing upon you can give you severe body aches. There will also be temperature regulation problems, erratic sleep, and hazards of squishing your baby.

When Should You Stop Co-sleeping?

When Should You Stop Co-sleeping
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There is no definite answer as to when you should stop co-sleeping, as it totally depends on you. However, you should consider your spouse’s opinion and your child’s reaction to changing sleeping arrangements. If your child seems unhappy about it, you need to delay the plan till your child is slowly accustomed to it.

How To Stop Co-sleeping?

To make sure your baby is comfortable sleeping alone, you need to do this in steps. Here is how to approach independent sleeping for different age groups.

Under 6 Months

Under 6 Months
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For newborns, you will need to arrange two sleeping arrangements, one in your room and one in the room where you want to transfer them. Once they start sleeping undisturbed for hours, get them in the habit of sleeping with rocking in your arms. Once they are asleep, place them in the room and set up a baby monitor.

6 To 12 Months

6 To 12 Months
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Start with afternoon naps when they spend more and more time in their own bedroom. Once they are sleepy, make them sleep in their own bed. Once they are comfortable with the bed and setting of the room, try this for the night. It might be difficult to ignore the cries at first, but your child will learn to sleep through them.

1-Year Old

1-Year Old
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Once your baby falls asleep in your arms, place them on the new bed and sit nearby. If they believe you will be there when they need you, they will be able to sleep better. Your voice will help them stay calm and know that you are not going away. Also, the transition has to be smooth since they are old enough to keep track of where you are.

Toddlers

Toddlers
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Putting a toddler to sleep is never easy, especially now that they know how to climb up the bassinet and call out for you. For your toddler, you need to let them pick the bed sheet, pillows and favorite toy and then be with them till they are asleep. It won’t be a piece of cake as they may refuse to nap altogether. They will also enjoy the newfound freedom and play as long as possible. Here are a few things you can try.

  • Start with keeping the baby crib in your room rather than the nursery. The transition has to be very smooth, and they should not feel abandoned at any time. You can place a chair near the crib, so your kids don’t feel you are far away. Also, do not leave the room till your child falls asleep.
  • You can also help your kids enjoy their independence by decorating their room with their favorite toys. There can be a bookshelf nearby to pick up the books they like the most before sleeping.
  • The transition is also stressful for the parents, and most mothers give in to the tantrums. However, it can take a toll on you if you don’t sleep through the night. It is essential to stand your ground and not give in to the howls of your baby when they are made to sleep in a bassinet in the same room.

So now that you know how to induce independent sleeping in your baby, you can give it a try. Make sure you do it slowly and let your child get accustomed to the process without developing attachment issues. So, do you have any secrets to helping your child sleep in their own room as they grow up? Let us know in the comments below!

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