Moving Baby from Bassinet to Crib

I kept both of my girls in a pack and play next to my bed until they were 1 and then moved them to their cribs. I now do foster care and need more sleep with 4 kids so the 9 month old was in the pack and play until 6 months and now he goes to bed in it but then when we go to bed I move him into the crib. We all sleep through the night and since he goes to bed in the pack and play he doesn't keep his 3 year old brother awake or vice versa.
J.

I know exactly how you feel! When my son was born, I couldn't stand the thought of him sleeping in my room. I just felt like we both needed our own spaces. When my daughter was born, though, I had her sleeping in my room, and it broke my heart to move her to her own bedroom. I felt like I was too far away from her.

I'd say start small. Nap in the crib and sleep in the bassinet at night for a week to get yourself used to it. The concern I have is if you continue in the bassinet too long, he could fall and get hurt.

Also, the transition to his new room will be a tough one, but since you're moving to a new place that has three bedrooms, it's a new beginning for everyone and is the best time to separate your rooms. That way you're not waking up in your old room thinking he should be there; you have a brand new space for you and your fiance, and he has a great room he gets to grow up in.

My husband knew how hard it was for me to move my daughter to her new room, so he let me splurge and decorate the nursery to make it easier on me. Putting in the extra effort with the decorating made me feel like I was giving her a truly special place and it really made the transition easier for me.

Anyway, once again I've written way more than was necessary, but I hope something I said will help. I think growing up is harder on us moms than it is on our kids sometimes. :)

I had a really hard time with it, but I knew it was time when we did it (she was 3 months). I literally laid in bed sobbing that first night because she wasn't right next to me. I don't think there is any way to make it easier, it's just one of those things that you have to do. All I can say is that it gets easier with time.

For the first few nights I would walk over to her room to check on her, and now 2 months later I don't worry about it, and I get much better sleep now that she is not sleeping next to me and waking me up with every sound she makes. Since the crib will be in the room with you, I think that it should be easier and help you transition easier. I think what probably makes you feel this way is that in some sense you are admitting that your little guy is growing up, and it's hard to lose your "baby," but it is also a great thing. He is healthy and thriving, and moving onto the next step.

Hi C.,

Glad you asked. Why not put him in the larger crib...surely he could begin, before you know it, to climb out of that bassinet and fall on the floor. Then you'd feel just awful. Believe me as a mother of ten, five girls & five boys, ages 25 down to 4....you would be doing your little darling a big favor by placing him in the crib. I've seen little ones nicely bundled up with their blanket wrapped around their arms so that they feel real snug and secure even tho' they are in the larger bed. Plus that wrapping of the blanket assures it staying in place and keeping them warm all night, etc.

I'm glad you are not allowing him to sleep with you in bed...after the first 2-3 mos. if you're nursing ... that is handy; but just not good in the long haul.

You can do it...move him to his crib tonight. Fold up the bassinet and completely put it away so it's not an option any longer. For your little one to be nearly as tall as the bassinet is long is definite time to no longer use the bassinet. It was for newborns...not your little one...too dangerous now as his weight and heighth increases.

Hope that gives you the confidence to know it's a move in the right direction for his safety's sake,

B. in Eau Claie, WI

in a way I call you lucky...because you get to move him from his bassinett into his crib but he is still in your room.

It was a saturday we moved our 6mo. old into his room with his brother (28 mos old. He and his brother did the transition WAY BETTER than I did, I was lonely, the thursday before I came home from work to find my dog passed away, so first she was gone, next we move him into his room with his brother...talk about quiet....Even my crying at night didn't take away the quiet. I guess it is just something to get used to, but we don't want to let go of either.

Poor C.,
YES I UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELINGS!
I was the same way with my THIRD child,well all my children. I think its anouther way we seem to cut the ties, and as mothers that is way to hard! We want that closeness and security!
My hubby keep bugging me to move our daughter into her own room, and crib. I cried, and refused. Intill she started lifting her head up, and almost sitting. Then I realized that it was unsafe for her to remain in the bassinet. :(
So, we hooked up the baby monitor, I turned it up as high as it would go and I made my Hubby go check on her whenever I felt panic!
It will get easier once you do it, but it takes some time!

I think this is something that we all have a hard time with. But, I did this and it helped me with the transition.

I'm assuming that most of us have our baby's bassinet right next to our bedside. Try moving it a few feet away each night, until they are in their own room. This will get you used to seeing your baby so far away and how well your ears have to be tuned for you to hear them way over there and across the hall, etc. It'll also get your little one used to hearing your snores and sleeping sounds from farther away. Good luck.

I'm in the same boat now. My 6 mnth old needs to move, but can't seem to do it. It will happen soon I suppose and he's my 3rd. Of course he'll be in our room for a while before moving him to the room with the other 3. But since he's our last it's just hard to make that step.

Since he's still in your bedroom, maybe you can just put the crib right where the bassinet is...that way it won't be much different. Try that for a few weeks and then move the crib to wherever you would like it to be. Or, if the crib is too hard, you could also try a pack n play for awhile. That way he'll have more room to move around but it's still small and "bassinet like". :) Good luck!

It was weird for me too, to move my daughter from her bassinette in our bedroom into her crib in her own room. I found that starting off by using the crib for naps helped ease the transition. Actually, I think we both slept a little better once the move was made.

It was hard for me too... I let my little ones sleep with me until they were big enough for a toddler bed...lol Which was before they were 2.. They handled the transition better than I did... I know it is hard... Usually that feeling does go away.. I guess if you really want your child in the crib, just make the same routine every nite. If your little one takes a nap, cuddle with them then, and at nite it will be easier to let him in the crib... Just do tons of snuggling during the day.... Good luck, I know the feeling... A.