Transição do seu filho de um berço para um berço is a significant milestone in their growth and development. This decision requires careful consideration of various factors, including your baby’s age, sleep patterns, and individual readiness signs.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the advantages of bassinets and cribs, help you identify the ideal timing for the transition, and provide practical strategies to ensure a smooth and stress-free process.
Should I Get a Crib or Bassinet for My Newborn?
Before your baby arrives, you may have struggled hundreds of times, buying a crib or a cradle. Each option has its own corresponding applicability and different advantages. Understanding these advantages can help you make the best choice.
Vantagens dos Berços
Berços são leves e fáceis de mover, o que os torna ideais para manter seu recém-nascido por perto, esteja você no quarto, na sala de estar ou até mesmo visitando a família.
Bassinets are designed to be placed right next to your bed, allowing you to easily reach and attend to your baby without having to get up and walk across the room. This convenience can be a lifesaver during those late-night feeding sessions.
Vantagens dos Berços
Cribs can be used from infancy through toddlerhood, offering more extended use than bassinets, which are typically suitable only for the first few months. Investing in a high-quality crib can be a more cost-effective choice in the long run.
Cribs are subject to strict safety regulations and often come equipped with features like adjustable mattress heights, sturdy construction, and breathable mesh sides. These safety features can provide peace of mind for parents.
If you have a smaller home or plan to room-share with your baby, a bassinet might be the more practical option initially. However, one thing that needs to be understood is that the cradle is only suitable for use in the baby’s first few months. Eventually, the baby will need to move to a crib.
If your baby is already using a bassinet, read on to prepare for your baby’s transition to a crib!
Quando mover o bebê para o berço?
While there is no definitive age for transitioning to a crib, most experts recommend making the switch between 3 and 6 months of age. By this age, babies are often ready for a more spacious sleep environment.
However, it’s essential to watch for your baby’s individual readiness signs rather than relying solely on age.
Some babies may be ready earlier, while others may prefer the coziness of a bassinet for a little longer. If your infant has been using a cradle since birth, watch for these signs indicating they’re prepared to move to a crib:
Increased size and mobility: The weight limit of a bassinet is usually 15 pounds. Once your baby’s weight approaches or exceeds the manufacturer’s weight, or he can support his body on his hands and knees, he should immediately transition to a crib.
Longer sleep time: When your baby begins to sleep regularly, sleeps for a long time, and no longer wakes up in the middle of the night to torture you.
Rolling or crawling: If your baby starts to roll or crawl, you may need a wider and higher crib to ensure safety.
How to Prepare for the Transition?
Making a change is not an easy thing to do, for both adults and children. You can prepare for the transition in advance to make it a smooth and comfortable experience for both you and your baby.
1. Choose the Right Crib
Escolha um berço que atenda aos padrões de segurança atuais definidos por organizações como a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ou a Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA).
Buy a crib with an adjustable mattress height feature that’s on-trend. This way, you can lower the mattress as your baby grows and begins to stand or pull up.
If you’re looking for furniture that your baby can use for a long time, consider a convertible crib that can be converted into a toddler bed or sofa bed.
2. Set up the Nursery
Decorate the room with soothing colors, such as blues, greens, or neutrals. These colors can create a calming atmosphere and help your baby relax.
Keep the nursery tidy by organizing essentials like diapers, clothes, and toys. Use storage solutions like baskets and shelves to keep everything within reach but out of sight.
Prepare an area for the crib away from windows and direct sunlight to minimize disturbances during sleep.
How Do Transition from Co-Sleeping to Crib？
Pediatricians generally advise against babies co-sleeping with their parents, as co-sleeping greatly increases the risk of accidental suffocation and entrapment.
If you have already done this in the early stages, then move your baby to a dedicated crib as soon as possible. But it is obvious that babies are already accustomed to the intimate co-sleeping mode, and there will inevitably be many challenges in the transition, which may include the following aspects:
- Resistance to change: Babies are creatures of habit, and when they are away from their parents, they may cry and cause emotional distress to both babies and parents.
- Separation anxiety: As babies become more aware of their surroundings, they may experience separation anxiety when they are placed in a crib. This may manifest as increased crying or difficulty falling asleep.
- Interrupted sleep: The initial transition may cause disrupted sleep patterns. Babies who are accustomed to co-sleeping may have difficulty self-soothing in the crib, resulting in more frequent nighttime wakings.
Here are a few ways to help smooth the transition from co-sleeping to a crib:
- Start small: If possible, place the crib next to your bed. This way, your baby can still feel your presence while learning to sleep in their own space.
- Comfort items: Consider placing a soft blanket or stuffed animal in the crib with your scent on it. This can provide comfort and reassurance to your baby, helping them adjust to sleeping alone.
- Reassure: If your baby cries in the crib, respond to them early on so they can feel your presence and feel reassured.
- Comfort setup: Make sure the crib is set up comfortably. Use a firm mattress, fitted sheets, and appropriate sleepwear. The room should be dark, quiet, and a comfortable temperature.
How Do Transition from Bassinet to Crib？
Obviously, transitioning from a bassinet to a crib is easier than transitioning from co-sleeping, since the baby is simply changing the furniture they sleep in.
But as we mentioned above, babies can be a little resistant to new things, so parents still need to provide plenty of patience and a gentle approach during the transition. Here are some methods that are somewhat similar to co-sleeping, but different.
- Start with naps: This gradual approach can help them adjust to the new sleep space without the immediate pressure of a full night’s sleep.
- Maintain a familiar environment: To make the crib feel more familiar, try to replicate the environment of the bassinet. Use the same bedding, swaddle, or sleep sack.
- Stay consistent: Continue to put your baby to sleep in the crib each night to reinforce the new sleep space. With time and patience, your baby will adjust to sleeping in the crib, paving the way for a restful night’s rest.
What if My Baby Refuses the Crib?
Babies are prone to fear and anxiety when facing a new environment, which is a headache for parents. They may not be able to speak yet, but their reactions seem to tell you that they are very reluctant to use the new bed. What should you do?
The following are some of the behaviors of babies resisting the crib and solutions.
1. Despertares noturnos
The new sleep environment might cause your baby to wake up more often during the night. This is a common concern for many parents, resulting in both children and parents experiencing poor rest.
At this time, you need to carefully check the reasons why the baby wakes up and cries. Is he hungry, has a wet diaper, or is he sick? You need to find them one by one according to the situation and solve them accordingly.
2. Separation Anxiety
Por volta dos 6-9 meses, os bebês frequentemente sentem ansiedade de separação, o que os torna mais apegados e resistentes a ficar sozinhos no berço. Isso é normal, mas há uma série de métodos que você pode usar para aliviar esse sentimento.
Aumente gradualmente a distância entre você e seu bebê durante os horários de sono. Comece ficando no quarto até que seu bebê adormeça, então reduza gradualmente sua presença ao longo do tempo. Fale com uma voz calma e suave, e forneça toques suaves para confortar seu bebê.
Durante o dia, pratique separações curtas para ajudar seu bebê a se acostumar a ficar longe de você. Comece com períodos breves e aumente gradualmente a duração conforme seu bebê se sentir mais confortável.
Dicas para acalmar e confortar o bebê
A transição do seu bebê para o berço pode ser um momento desafiador, mas há várias estratégias que você pode usar para acalmar e confortar seu bebê, tornando a transição mais suave para todos os envolvidos. Aqui estão algumas dicas detalhadas:
1. Diminua as luzes: Lowering the lights in the room signals to your baby that it’s time to sleep. A dimly lit environment can help produce melatonin, the sleep hormone.
2. Máquina de ruído branco: A white noise machine can mimic the soothing sounds your baby heard in the womb. It can also drown out household noises that might wake your baby.
3. Temperatura ambiente: Maintain a comfortable room temperature between 68-72°F (20-22°C). Overheating or being too cold can disrupt your baby’s sleep.
4. Toques suaves e silêncio: When your baby is in the crib, gently pat their back or stomach and use a soothing “shhh” sound. This can mimic the feeling and sounds of being in the womb.
5. Enfaixar: For younger babies who haven’t started rolling over, swaddling can provide a sense of security and prevent startle reflexes from waking them. Ensure you swaddle safely to prevent any risks.
6. Fique por perto inicialmente: Sit next to the crib until your baby falls asleep. Your presence can be very reassuring. Gradually reduce the amount of time you spend in the room over several nights.
7. Resposta consistente: When your baby wakes up, respond consistently with a calming routine. Avoid picking them up immediately; instead, use gentle patting and soothing sounds.
8. Ofereça uma chupeta: If your baby uses a pacifier, offering it can help soothe them back to sleep.
9. Tranquilize verbalmente: Use a calming voice to reassure your baby that you are nearby. Repeat phrases like “It’s time to sleep now” or “Mommy/Daddy is right here.”
10. Breves check-ins: If your baby is very upset, consider brief check-ins. Go into the room, reassure them without picking them up, and then leave again. Gradually extend the time between check-ins.
Conclusão
Remember, every baby is unique, and the transition may take time. Offer reassurance and support throughout the process, and celebrate each small victory as your baby adjusts to their new sleeping sanctuary.
With patience, consistency, and a nurturing touch, you’ll soon find your little one peacefully slumbering in their cozy crib, ready to embark on the next chapter of growth and discovery.
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