If you are wondering if it’s “TIME” to move your baby out, you are not alone.
Many parents just like you wonder if it’s too early, too late, or better now than later when it comes to providing baby with their own sleep environment.
It can be scary but maybe you’re all not sleeping well in the same room or you want your baby to get used to sleeping without you in their own room.
Completely fair and understandable!
Let’s sift through all of the information and recommendations to get you a CLEAR answer, shall we?
The answer is your baby can start to sleep in their crib, in their room ANYTIME you want.
You need to make that decision for yourself and your family but here are some things you might want to consider…
Pros for sharing a room with your baby until 6-12 months:
This is what is recommended by the AAP as an ADDED prevention for SIDS. This means if you don’t do this your risk of SIDS will not go up but the data suggests it may help reduce the risk if done properly especially in the first few months.
Newborns are still expected to wake up to feed throughout the night and having them in the same room helps keep you from having to make the trip to their room.
Having your baby close by can help them calm by just having your presence in the room (for some babies this can have an opposite effect).
Room sharing is great for bonding with newborns and forming attachment by having them close by and responding.
Cons for sharing a room with your baby
Room sharing is only helpful as a preventative measure against SIDS IF they are not being brought into the family bed and parents don’t reactively bed-share. in these, cases it can significantly INCREASE the risk of SIDS and dangers to your baby.
Babies are loud sleepers and they may wake you up or wake you up all night long (ever tried to hold a cough knowing baby might wake up??). This makes it hard for parents to get any sleep and again might end with baby in your bed and you all being exhausted in the morning.
It can cause a strong dependence on parents actively assisting babies to sleep after each wake up overnight, which for newborns is normal but for babies, over 4 months this doesn’t give them the space to learn.
Room sharing is more likely to impact the quality of sleep for both parents and infants.
You can still bond with your baby without having to share a room.
My advice is that until 4 months, it’s completely fine to share a room as long as you are not ending up bringing baby to your bed and putting them at risk. After 4 months your baby will start to wake every two hours or after a sleep cycle and you will find yourself also in a cycle of fully waking every few hours and likely assisting back to sleep. This is counterproductive and can lead to long-term sleep problems and exhausted sleep-deprived families.
At this time you can safely move your baby to their own crib and sleep space. Have a video monitor so you can watch them and help them learn to sleep independently by implementing a great sleep plan. Their room can be a happy, safe space and give you the space to unwind, connect with your partner again and SLEEP!
The best choice is the one you make for your family and what works for you. Don’t be scared of this transition, it can be a great thing for all of you.
In the end, you have to feel comfortable and in doing so, your baby will also feel comfortable.
If you need help with the transition, I can help you set baby up for success. Help them feel happy and calm in their own environment and still keep the cuddles and closeness you want without compromising safety or health.
Reach out to book a free call and let’s get you an action plan!
Remember, sleep is for EVERYONE!
Stay rested my friend,
Lily xx
