Transitioning Your Baby To Their Own Bedroom
Transitioning your baby to their own bedroom is one of those big milestones as a parent…
The safer sleep guidelines over at The Lullaby Trust are:
For the first six months you need to sleep in the same room as your baby for both naps and night-time.
From 6 months old they can sleep in their own bedroom.
But this is a could, It’s NOT a hard should, and you don’t have to move your baby out of your bedroom bang on 6 months!
4 things I really want to remind you about moving your baby into their own bedroom:
You only need to transition your baby to their own bedroom IF you want to.
If room sharing is working for you then you don’t need to stop at any age or stage!
There’s no rush or race to get them into their own bedroom.
And lastly, I would never suggest transitioning them to their own bedroom as a strategy to improve their sleep!
IF it is your time, here are 10 sleep suggestions for transitioning your baby into their own bedroom:
Remember your baby is likely to adapt to their new sleep space fairly swiftly.
Acknowledge that it’s a big step for your baby AND you. You might find this transition trickier. There’s more on this later!
Transitions take time so make sure you give yourselves plenty of it!
Get their new bedroom all set up for sleep. But don’t put a fresh sheet on the cot as a slept in sheet smells familiar!
Have some low-key time in the new bedroom together during the day.
Stick to your usual bedtime routine but do it in their new bedroom.
It’s normal for them to be a little unsettled during the bedtime routine, and it might also take a little longer!
Stick to your usual way of settling them to sleep. It’s normal they might need a bit more time and support to settle.
Their sleep may stay the same, get a bit bumpier before it gets better, or improve.
Change is strange and it’s likely there will be some transition time. But it’s likely to be only temporary.
Moving your baby into their own bedroom is a biggie.
It’s a biggie for your baby, it’s a biggie for YOU, and it’s normal for you to have conflicting emotions about it!
Parenting can be a constant conflict of emotions!
Smalls are often super adaptable. Surprisingly so at times, and most will adapt to their new sleep space swiftly and smoothly. But the transition can be tricky for you too.
I often find that parents find this transition trickier than the Smalls! This is completely normal. You aren’t being controlling, you aren’t being clingy. It’s important to acknowledge that it’s a big transition for you too.
Here’s five tips to help YOU during the big move from your room to their own bedroom:
Acknowledge that you are allowed to miss your baby and that’s ok.
You might also enjoy having your bedroom back. It’s ok to let the guilt go!
It’s always ok to go in and check on them if it reassures you. However many times this might be! I have found that not closing the door all the way helps disturb them less.
You might not sleep, be constantly checking them, or be glued to the monitor for the first few nights. This is normal. This is ok. It’s likely to get less as it feels more familiar for you.
Give yourself all the time and reassurance you need. If you’re finding it tricky, talk to your partner (if you have one) or friends about all the emotions you’re experiencing with this next step on your parenting journey.
If you’re really struggling with any parenting-related stress, my podcast with Dr Fiona Jeffries about Parental Mental Health might help to reassure you, and there are lots of support links in the show notes.