How to Stop Co-sleeping: Gently Transitioning Baby From Co-Sleeping

Sleeping together with the baby is an ancient tradition. There was no opportunity to make a separate place for the baby to sleep in poor peasant working families.

Small baby girl 6 months old sleeping in a white bed, healthy baby sleep

It’s comfortable to sleep with the baby, especially if babies are still breastfed and often wake up at night. By a certain time, it becomes already uncomfortable for parents to sleep with their baby in one bed.

Even the most “dependent” on tactile contact children can easily fall asleep on their own at the age of 3-4 years or earlier. Just prepare your child for it.

How to Stop Co-sleeping: Gently Transitioning Baby From Co-Sleeping

First of all, remember that weaning the baby away from the sleep with their parents is a stress. That’s why it shouldn’t coincide with the period of some other important changes, like starting to attend a kindergarten or having another newborn child in the family.

How to wean a child away from sleeping together with parents?

Do that earlier or wait for a couple of months until the baby is used to new conditions.

It’s important to get the baby prepared in the right time. “Catch the moment” when the baby shows their independence and start talking with them about their own crib.

Together with the baby you can choose a new toy to sleep with, a new bedtime fairy-tale, bedding, and pajamas with their favorite characters.

Tactile contact is important for the baby before the bedtime. Give a massage, cuddle and kiss your baby a lot.

Be prepared to difficulties during the first weeks. The baby won’t fall asleep for a long time, ask for a pot, ask for food or drinks.

Just be patient, don’t be angry at your child, and don’t obey the child a lot.

Sit next to the baby for a while, when it’s getting dark. Then explain to the baby with a calm voice that it’s already dark and all of the toys are asleep now, and each is in its separate bed.

At first, it’ll take the baby around 30-40 minutes or even an hour to fall asleep. Then the time period will shorten to 10-15 minutes.

To make it faster and less painful, you should be resistant and don’t take the baby back to your bed. Otherwise, it’ll be harder for the baby to fall asleep in their own bed.

Make sure to also check out our Newborn Checklist – Things to Buy Before the Baby Arrives and Helpful Hints on How to Set Up a Nursery Also, don’t forget to check out CuteRascals to shop for your little ones. Enjoy!!

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Liliana

Liliana is a Licensed Montessori teacher known for her passion and dedication to education. She's been a teacher in the United States for many years, and she truly believes that education is the key to making the world a better place because today's students are tomorrow's leaders. Her experience with Toddlers, Beginners, VPK with Montessori methodology approach; Kindergarten, and first grade made her an authority and trusted resource. Liliana's family taught her important qualities like love, a positive attitude, strong motivation, and leadership. These values have guided her on her journey to becoming a professional and expert teacher. Her mission is to help children grow and contribute to a brighter future for the country.