Transitioning from swing to crib for naps- Advice?

vorse · April 2014

I'm starting the transition from napping in the swing to napping in the crib. Does anyone have any advice on how to do this? I was going to start with just the am nap and do that for a few days, then the pm nap, etc.. However, her am nap only lasted for 45 minutes when she's usually out for at least 2 hours. She sleeps great in the crib all night, so I know she can sleep well in there. Option 1- Should I just go cold turkey and try for all naps in the crib? My problem with this is that I finally got her down to 3 naps a day (4 hour schedule), and I don't want to regress because her crib naps are shorter, therefore she needs more naps-- Do the nap lengths get longer? How long did that take? Option 2- Should I make it a gradual transition? Will this confuse her? How long did this take you if you did it this way? Any advice on what worked for you is much appreciated! TIA

stacers33 · April 2014

I have found that just making the switch cold turkey works best in the long. It will be a painful day (s), and for those days her schedule may be off, just like with any change. I personally think that the gradual transition will confuse her - she won't know why she can nap in the swing sometimes and not others. I think creating the crib as the place for sleep will help develop healthy sleeping habits that are rough to break as the kids get older. My opinion from my experience for what its worth.

74dragonfly · April 2014

Im following this thread. DS naps in the bouncer. sleeps in crib no problem.

Cbowl · April 2014

I transitioned LO to the crib a few weeks ago after she would only nap in the swing. It was really tough for the first week or two as I had to be in her room constantly replacing her paci (sometimes holding it in for her) and propping her on her side. The naps would last 15-30 minutes. Brutal.

Now I can put her in her crib awake and pop her paci in - sometimes she rolls around and chats for a few minutes and then falls asleep - other times she is out right away. The naps are still shorter than the swing naps (30 mins - 1hr) but I'm hoping they'll lengthen as she consolidates them in the next few months.

notkateanymore · April 2014

Cold turkey...you're delaying the inevitable.

ScarlettV · April 2014

KateMW said:
Cold turkey...you're delaying the inevitable.

This is what we did. The longer you wait the harder it gets.

sometimesalwayschaotic · April 2014

This is what I have done with my other two girls. Around 5 months old they seem to just be ready to get out of the swing. My girls have stopped sleeping as well and the transition has been pretty painless. First you do nap without the swing moving. If they still take really good naps it shows that they are ready. Have them sleep like this for a while and then try the crib. They may need a little more help getting down but it shouldn't be that bad.

Marchmellow2 · April 2014

Oh shit!! Lol my LO still naps in the swing! Ahhhh! I didn't even think about transitioning! Durrr. Ok now I'm scared. He is 5.5 months old and he's still napping in the swing!

Following this thread now..

ameegee · April 2014

I need to do this. She mostly sleeps on me. But I think I'll wait for the 4 mw to be over.

vorse · April 2014

Thanks for all the advice! I was about to have her take her afternoon nap in the swing and she was fussing, so I plopped her in the crib and she fell asleep within 10 minutes! So, overall I guess the first day was a success. Although, her naps were only about half the length of the swing naps, but she'll work out (hopefully).

notthecheat · April 2014

ameegee said:
I need to do this. She mostly sleeps on me. But I think I'll wait for the 4 mw to be over.

This for me too

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