Please help! Transitioning from swing to crib...

awollenweber

Background:  4.5 months, great sleep at night in crib (swaddled w/ 1 arm out), but has always napped in the swing

After 3-4 attempts per day to place him sleeping into the crib, I am not sure what else to do.  I rock him to sleep and even wait a few minutes before placing him down and he ALWAYS wakes up immediately- doesn't even last 1 minute without crying.

We don't have this problem at all during night, we can even sometimes do the 'drowsy, but awake' thing.  I used to think it was a difference in environment, but we have completely darkened his room and we use the sound machine and pacifier, just like bed time.  The only difference is no swaddle and no bath beforehand.

Please help... I am open to ALL suggestions. 

JSanFran

have you tried to put him down drowsy but awake for naps?  You'll probably get some protesting but it sounds like its going to be a little bit of a fuss/cry-fest anyway?...

I'd try holding to your guns for a day or so putting him down more awake so he doesn't wake up and think "WTH...this is not my swing..." 

I didn't have this problem so I may not be realistic help )

kej2883

Although I don't have any advice (sorry, not helpful, I know...), I could have absolutely written this post myself, so I'm curious to see if anyone else has some suggestions!! 

tarahnpaul

I would swaddle him for naps.  Sounds like he needs it to stay asleep.

kkasper13

I agree with swaddling and drowsy but awake. I found those to be the best ways for us to get LO to sleep in the crib during the day. We also go up early and read a book before rocking to sleep. It seems to calm her down.

That said, we still let LO nap in the swing if she gets to the point of being overtired and has trouble getting to sleep. 

skylooo

tarahnpaul:

I would swaddle him for naps.  Sounds like he needs it to stay asleep.

i agree. The swing sort of hugs his body, so maybe he's missing that snugness. I'm not sure because we are transitioning from the swing also, but this is just something I thought of.

 

genekelly

Swaddle him for naps.  Until we unswaddled at night, LO was always swaddled for naps.  Now that he is unswaddled his naps have gotten shorter but his nighttime sleep has stayed the same.   Once he's used to napping in his crib, then you might try removing the swaddle.  I've found though that his sleep is not as "deep" for naps so his jerky movements wake him up more easily.