Transitioning to Sleep in Crib Help

Updated on March 21, 2012
N.G. asks from Allen, TX
8 answers

My son is 2.5 months old and has colic and reflux...we are finally getting a handle on things and have used MANY techniques to survive this stuff! He has been sleeping in his swing for the past month but he is getting too big for his swing and so I am wanting to transition him to his crib but I am not sure how to do this without a struggle (and maybe there is no way). Obviously he sleeps in his swing for a reason b/c he sleeps better than the bassinet...we have tried the bouncy seat, nap nanny, bassinet, but I am thinking that if I am going to transition him out of swing that I might as well go for the crib now instead of a transtion to bassinet then crib. But who knows I am a first time mom so I have no idea what I am doing most of the time lol! Anyhow a friend mentioned to me that they make a vibrating thing for cribs and since he seems to like motion to sleep best then maybe this is a worth a shot although I have NO idea where to find something like this...anyhow any advice on how to make this transition as smooth as possible. I have no problem with him sleeping in his swing but he is starting to move around too much and break out of his swaddle and he is getting to where when he moves and scoots around in his swing at night (even strapped in) that his feet hang off of the end...HELP!

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for your help...I am fine with him napping in his swing (he can do that as long as he wants) I just wanted him in more of a laying down position for night b/c it never fails around 3am he gets bad gas and he struggles and squirms and grunts and moves until he can get it out...and then of course this usually wakes him up and then he realizes he is starving (as eating at night has been a struggle for him due to reflux/colic). Last night I put him in his bassinet next to our bed (I elevated the head of it with towels) and then I had bought one of those "snuggies" (it is supposed to go in the car seat...it has a head positioner and side wedges) and I placed him on his side to sleep. Anyway it took him a little bit longer to actually fall asleep but I just did the paci and patted him (he also has a slumber turtle thing that sings to him til he falls asleep...along with a humidifier for allergies and white noise that runs all night)...anyhow he did pretty good...slept 10pm to 3am then passed gas took full bottle and was back asleep at 3:30 and slept til 6:30!

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I kept buying bigger swaddle blankets until he was totally done (5 mos).

I still think you should go w/a cradle. Here's why: it's on wheels so you can move it about the house when you need to & prop it up on a step for relfux help.

Then when I transitioned from cradle to crib I noticed after I fed him he fell asleep anyway so I did it then. Also, the cradle wasn't so far down so he didn't wake from me putting him down (it would feel to him like he was falling).

I could move the cradle around to the quietest part of the house, prop him up on a step to help w/reflux.

Finally transitioned him to crib when he fell asleep in my arms (I was told to do this w/in 10-15 mins of him falling asleep in my arms) to his crib at the age of 5 1/2 mos. Worked really well.

Also, I have propped his crib up on these wood planks we have when I need to (just did it for his last cold). I tried putting something under his mattress but it didn't work as well.

I used that wedge thing for awhile too to help him stay on his side).

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with you to go for the crib vs bassinet. No need to go through 2 transitions. Two suggestions: 1) try the swaddlers with the velcro clasps to keep him snug and 2) get one of those wedges with the sides. With that, he will be on an incline and it will keep him from rolling off of it. I used to place my DD on the wedge either on her back and also on her side, all snuggled in the velcro swaddler. She liked the side best. Good luck!

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M.K.

answers from Dallas on

this is what we did:
Put our LO in a travel yard vs crib - propped up the legs with phone book and our travel yard had a music player along with a vibrating base. Using a travel yard was cosier and easier to prop and move about in the house. We also still don't feed our little one at least 30-40 minutes before bed time and this has tremendously helped with the reflux. The transition from travel yard to crib was difficult but we waited a long time - he was almost 14 mos.
Good Luck!

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J.L.

answers from St. Cloud on

The reflux could hinder things or at least change plans somewhat. He may need to be propped up as though he has a cold. The way I see it is that I feel better sitting up if I have heartburn, so I'm sure the same goes for them. You could try bridging the gap by putting him to sleep in his bouncer or car seat and then setting that in the crib. As a relatively new mom myself, the best advice is to try something and if it doesn't work, try something else.

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A.M.

answers from Denver on

My daughter didn't have any known health issues but loved to be snug, beyond swaddling. So, we put her in her car seat many times. It was slightly elevated and cozy so she'd sleep great. The dr. didnt like this much but didnt tell me it wasn't safe. It was what gave us time to sleep. When we transitioned her from that we put her in this really cozy almost like a snow suit. It was a soft teddy bear blanket sleeper and worked great. We totally were careful that she had room to breathe and wouldn't get stuck and took her out when she moved too much but it worked great. I know what you mean about doing what you have to to get some sleep. Good luck! It will get better!

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S.C.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter was a large baby - 90-95% for height/weight. She slept in her swing until around 6 months and I kept her swaddled in a Miracle Blanket.

I had the Fisher Price Aquarium swing that goes side to side and front to back. I kept the swing next to me and would wake regularly to check on her but never had any problems. If your swing is small, you might want to upgrade to something larger if you can't successfully transition to the crib. I tried multiple things multiple times to transition her but it wasn't until she was around 6 months old that she would sleep in the crib without waking every 30-60 minutes screaming.

For the Miracle Blanket - once she was too long for it, I still swaddled her arms/torso and let her legs be free. She needed the swaddling until around 6 months too.

My family members and friends who all had kids told me that they could help get my daughter into her crib or out of the swaddling, so I let them all try their methods. No one was successful. I hope you find answers that work for your son, but if not, consider a larger swing since you know it works (as long as it is safe for him) and the Miracle Blanket as an option if you haven't already tried it. I always felt like I was putting my daughter in a straight jacket, but she loved it.

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

Talk to your pediatrician's nurse for ideas. My sisters son had reflux...... but he is 21 now, so I don't know if this advice is still what they say. But my sister was told to prop up the crib mattress at an angle so that the baby was not sleeping completely flat. You might try that.

Another thing I tried with my son just to help him relax was to put his blanket in the dryer for a minute before I swaddled him (not too hot!).

Maybe it will be no big deal.... think positive, and good luck!

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Not the answer you're looking for but my 2 kids have slept in the swing or napped in the swing until about 6 months old. If it's one of the big swings, I think they hold up to 25 lbs. Check your manual.

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