How to lull a baby to sleep in his own bed.

There are parents, who let their babies to sleep with them in one bed (because it’s easier). In my opinion, it isn’t wrong. Baby feels safe near mum and dad. It’s much easier to feed him, to calm him. I did the same with both of my children. I let them sleep in our bed up to a one year age.

            At first you have to believe that your baby has grown up. You have to want let him sleep in his single bed. Do you remember that baby feels your mood and anxiety? You have to be still and be sure about your decision. If you decided to lull your baby in his bed, you never should retreat from this (even if you haven’t slept for two days because of baby's crying). If you give up, he will remember and next time will cry and wait when you will give up again. There’s need of toughness.

            There are many ways how to do that. It depends of you and your baby. I will tell about methods that I used with my children.

            My son was 1,5 years old, when I started to lull him in his bed. It took so long, because we moved to our new house and I didn’t wanted to stress him. I let him to sleep in our bed for a few more months. We bought him new bed like in picture  (that was the inducement also) and on first days (approx. 3, as I remember) I put him into bath, then followed teeth cleaning. After these procedures we went to his room, he put on the pajama (slowly, with no stress). I was absolutely still and ready for long time crying. Then I read him fairy tale (first was long, I wanted to get him tired). Of course, it was much later than usually. Then I put him into his bed, covered him, switched on nightligt and told him, that now he have to sleep. While he’ll get asleep mommy will wait. Everything was great until this moment :) After about an hour or more (crying, yelling, getting out of bed) he finally felt asleep. I won! Next day were worse, because he understood what I’m doing :) I even had to sing (when he started to talk, he told me – mommy, please do not sing), I’m really bad singer. But after these two days, things got better and better. Finally, after about 3 weeks he felt asleep in 5 minutes. On first week after two horrible evenings, I held his hand while he felt asleep. He didn’t accepted any teddy bears or other toys in his bed.

            My daughter now is one year old and now I am trying the same on her :) She needs different access.

            When she was about 7 months old, I made big mistake. I thought – this isn’t my first child, I am smart now, I will try to lull her in bed earlier than son. My mistake was the way I choose. I started to lull her on my hands, surely she got used to it. It isn’t good way. I’m still alive, because she weights a little, she’s very small for her age. If baby is bigger or really big, your hands can just fell off :).  

            I am still „in process” with her, but looks like things are getting better. Bedtime is later. About half an hour before bedtime I do not allow her to romp around (if I let her, lulling time is much longer). Then I wash her in shower or bath. Then I put her on pajama, turn on nightlight. I am still breastfeeding, so I feed her and after that I put her into her bed. If she’s really tired she needs about 10 to 5 minutes to fall asleep. If she’s not, it can take even 1, 5 hours of crying, etc. And she wants me to lull her on my hands.. :( When she starts to cry, I take her, hug her and tell her that she have to sleep, mommy will be happy if she will do that. After that I put her back in her bed. It works usually. I think it works, because she feels safe and she also understands that I am here with her and I am still, not nervous. In my opinion, that’s the key :)She also have a ritual  - I have attached to her bed few toys like in picture.  After feeding I put her in bed and before sleeping she always plays with them (a little bit). Maybe you can do the same. But these toys should be for bedtime only and you shouldn’t put your baby in his bed just for fun, etc. Bed is only for sleeping.