You have just renovated your baby's future room, but you have no idea when he will be able to occupy the room on his own?
Before your child sleeps alone in his own room, there are certain precautions to take so as not to cause too sudden a change.
It goes without saying that, from birth, the newborn must spend his nights in the parental room. In addition to having a reassuring effect on the baby, it is also practical for parents, who constantly have to wake up in order to feed or change them. That said, from a certain age, you will obviously have to take him to sleep in his own room. In this article, you will learn:
- When should the baby be put in his room?
- How do you know if the baby is ready to change rooms?
- How to put the baby in his room?
Here we go !
When should your baby be put in their own room?
Like all new parents, you are probably wondering when you can let your baby sleep in his own room. Of course, as a responsible parent, you don't want to move him too early, so as not to hurt his emotional development. Indeed, your newborn will spend several months in the parental room , before joining his. In this part, you will find out why it is important that the baby stays with you during his first months and when you can put him in his own room.
Why is it important to let the infant sleep in the parental room?
In most cases, it is essential to let the newborn spend his nights in his parents' room. However, he should never be allowed to sleep in the same bed, at least until his first birthday. This is because the baby may suffocate under the weight of either parent or under the sheets. Moreover, the risk of sudden death is not negligible and remains high even when the newborn sleeps in its own room.
On the other hand, letting the baby sleep in his crib, but still in the parental room, reduces this risk by more than 50%. While the reasons for this phenomenon are not entirely clear, experts believe that it is due to the fact that babies sleep more calmly and with much less stress, when they share their room with one or more adults.
In addition, we must not forget that letting the baby sleep in the parental room is also practical for the parents. It will be much easier for you to take care of your baby and take him in your arms as soon as he starts crying.
Now that you have taken this information into account, you no doubt understand why it is important for the safety of your child to let him sleep in your room until he is 1 year old. This period has other benefits, such as strengthening the emotional bond between the child and his parents. In this way, the baby understands more easily that he can count on parental support to meet the challenges imposed by his new environment.
However, a year can be quite a long time and it is quite likely that your child will become ready to move into their own room, even before their first birthday. So don't hesitate to try to make the transition, one or two months before his birthday, if you feel that your baby is able to adapt to the change.
What is the ideal age to put the baby in his room?
Did you know that some babies can sleep alone when they are only four months old? As impressive as that may be, your child probably isn't. Indeed, a baby must be at least six months old to be able to sleep alone , and in general, it is recommended to do so when he is one year old.
This is explained by the fact that at this age, the child will have already sufficiently developed all his senses. He is therefore able to escape the dangers that may cross him. One thinks, for example, of suffocation, which can be caused by a heavy pillow or blanket. In this same context, the baby is also able to swallow relatively large objects without choking. Even if this risk remains worrying, it does not always put the life of the baby in danger.
How do you know if your baby is ready to go to their room?
As we have previously indicated, it is generally recommended to wait until the baby is one year old before putting him to sleep in his room. However, if you're going to do it a little sooner, there are a few important details to keep in mind.
First and foremost, visit your pediatrician to make sure your baby's growth is normal. It is also important to stop feeding your child before making the transition, as your child may wake up several times during the night, asking for food (even milk is considered food). You must therefore ensure that your baby is able to sleep through the night with little or no interruptions.
If your baby wakes up every two, three, or four hours, you should probably postpone the transition. However, if he often manages to sleep six hours in a row, we advise you to move him to his room. Of course, for the first few months after the transition, make sure you're close to your baby . This will allow you to come to his aid in the event of a problem or simply to reassure him if he wakes up suddenly. Note that, if your room and your child's room are too far apart, it is best to wait until the baby is one year old to make the transition.
To find out if your baby is able to spend the night on his own, he must also learn to roll over on his back, without assistance. Observe his behavior and his slightest actions in order to detect this action, before even thinking about having him sleep alone in his room. This gesture is extremely important, because it allows the baby to put himself in the position that best promotes sleep.
The important tips to know to put the baby in his room
In this section, we'll show you the best tips to help ensure a smooth and comfortable transition for your baby:
Preparing the baby room
Above all, you must make sure that your baby's room is completely secure. It must therefore contain a cradle, a rigid mattress, and light sheets. Don't forget to empty the crib of all items that pose a danger to the child, such as toys with detachable parts, which could suffocate him if he were to accidentally swallow them. Incidentally, you can also place a camera to monitor your child's every move.
Before letting the baby spend the night in his room
Once you've got everything ready, you can start transitioning your baby to their room. Start by placing the crib in the room and letting your baby take naps there. This is to get him used to this new environment. Since the naps are during the day, he will easily realize that he is in a new room. In addition, he will be able to memorize the shapes, colors and locations of the different elements that are there.
When your child is finally ready, you can then let him spend his nights in his room. Of course, the beginnings will certainly be difficult and we advise you to keep an eye on your baby during the first months, after the transition. Do not hesitate to buy a baby monitor . This will allow you to watch your baby, without having to move every time and risk waking him up if he is sleeping.
If you're worried about your baby waking up during the night, you can start by sleeping next to him. After a few days, you'll know for yourself when it's time to go back to sleep in your room. It is certain that it will be just as difficult for you, but this is a course that you absolutely must pass with your child.
The importance of baby's sleep routine
Having a sleep routine is also important for baby's transition to the bedroom. This way, you can, for example, get him used to changing his diaper before bedtime . You can do this in his bedroom with dim lighting to condition him and prepare him for sleep. Then read him a short story, before turning off the lights. Then sing him his favorite lullaby until he falls asleep.
Finally, place your baby comfortably in his crib and close the door gently behind you. All of these stages play an important role in your child's transition to their bedroom. They allow him to anticipate the arrival of sleep and to prepare for it.
If the transition to the baby's room goes wrong
If, for one reason or another, your baby categorically refuses to sleep in his new room, do not hesitate to bring him back to the parental room. That said, don't lose hope and keep trying. Moreover, we advise you to keep the habit of letting him take his nap in his room.
You can also anticipate this event and start conditioning your baby a month or two before his first birthday. In this way, you increase your chances of successfully getting him to sleep in his room on D-Day. Your baby needs to get used to his new environment and everyone adapts at his own pace. Moreover, it is for this reason that you should never compare your child to others. Just put it on favorable terms.
That said, be careful not to put off the transition until much later. Over time, your child's habit of sleeping in your bedroom is likely to become extremely difficult to break. Indeed, the more the days pass, the more he becomes attached to his parents. So, if you don't take things in hand in time, the separation may be particularly painful for the baby. It also means that, in this case, your child will be more resistant to your attempts to make him sleep in his room. You therefore risk finding yourself in a vicious circle from which it will be very difficult to escape.
It is true that the separation from the baby is a particularly difficult time for all members of the family. This is the first stage that testifies to the fact that the baby is indeed growing. That said, this trying phase, both for the parents and for the child, can be easily overcome by following the advice given in this article. You just have to know how to choose the right method and the ideal time to put your baby in his personal room.