Co sleeper transitioning to crib

Julieahammack

My little girl is 20 weeks and has been co-sleeping with me since birth. I feel like it's time for her to start transitioning to her own bed. At night she's waking up every two to three hours to nurse (she's EBF). She doesn't eat too much before she's asleep again. Any advice from fellow co-sleepers on ways to make the transition easier on the baby? I've read routines help but she is not scheduled at all so it's hard to know when she's actually ready for bed. Help!

supersarah77

I started with putting DS in the crib for his longest nap on the day (afternoon) and then a week or two later started putting him in there for bed, too. I bounce him on an exercise ball until he falls asleep and then transfer to the crib. DS goes to bed between 7:30-8:00.

cambam7

My LO coslept in bed til she was 3months. She is 4 months now sleeping in the playpen next to our bed. I dont believe in CIO method. First night, took her 3 hrs to sleep. I would pick her up and put her back down. Nursed to sleep. Repeat til she settled in the playpen. Second night took 2 hrs. 3rd night, was an hour. Overall, It took 10 days for her to transition from our bed to her own. Now she goes down easy. I'll nurse her and put her down awake but drowsy and she stirs a bit but then falls asleep within a minute. No prob.

It's not all or nothing. I sometimes bring her in bed after DD leaves the bed for work. It helps when im too sleepy to hold her while breastfeeding. I do the sidelying position. EBF.

As for bedtime routine. They say bath, books, and bed. I dont give her a bath everynight. Everyone's routine is different.
For us, we change her into her pjs, dim lights, nurse. Put her down drowsy but awake. It helps to know when she starts getting tired. She wont fight it.

Bedtime is btw 9-10p. With 2xs night wakings at 2a and 6a. Wake up at 9-930a.

Goodluck!

Julieahammack

Thank you! My little has a similar routine. She gets in her pjs, I put some lavender lotion on her, nurse, and try to put her in her crib. I will just keep working at it. As much as I love sleeping close to her, I want my bed back!