Your bundle of joy has been sleeping peacefully (hopefully) in their bassinet since their arrival home. But they’re growing fast. So how do you know when it’s time to move your bubba into their cot and how do you go about it?
It can be an anxious time for parents as they don’t want to disrupt their baby's sleep and may be concerned about hearing their baby and listening to their cues. Read on for more information about how and when to transition baby from their first baby bed to their cot.
Both Red Nose Australia and the American Academy of Paediatrics recommend babies sleep in the same room as their parents for at least the first 6 months of life, up to 1 year of age if possible. For many parents the practicalities of keeping a baby in their room can be tricky as they will easily outgrow their bassinet before 1 year old. Cots are much bigger in size so may not fit in your bedroom, so this is one thing to consider.
If you have a bassinet or co-sleeper that has higher weight and height limits and if your baby isn’t rolling you can keep your baby in your room with you until they grow further or show signs of rolling.
There are a number of signs to look for to determine whether your baby needs to move on from their bassinet or co-sleeper.
The height and weight of your baby. Each bassinet or co-sleeper has different weight and height limits that they can safely hold. Babies usually have regular height and weight checks through Plunket or your family doctor, so keep an eye on their stats and know the limits of your bassinet or co-sleeper. As the approach the weight and height limit of their bed, you’ll need to to transition them.
Your baby’s stage of development. A bassinet or co-sleeper should not be used once baby can roll or sit up due to fall risk. Most babies roll between 4-6 months, however babies can show signs of rolling at as little as 2 months old, so keep an eye on your baby’s development and as soon as they show signs of rolling or they sit up, move them on to their cot.
Making the transition to a cot might seem daunting, but this is likely one of the first of many transitions for your little bub. And, as always, there’s a number of things to try to make the transition easier for both you and your baby.
1. Place baby's bed in the cot (if possible)
If your baby has been sleeping in a moses basket, Purflo Sleep Tight Baby Bed or similar portable baby bed, then a good way to start is by placing the baby bed in the cot and then place your baby in their bed as you normally would. For example place the moses basket in the cot and place the baby to sleep in their moses basket. This will help your baby get used to their new surroundings whilst still having the familiar, safe environment of their first bed.Once baby has had a few nights sleep this way, simply remove the moses basket (or other first bed) and place baby to sleep straight into their bed.
2. Keep Consistent
Keep as much the same as you possibly can. For example, if your baby has been sleeping in a sleeping bag, use the same sleeping bag when they move to the cot. If they’ve had white noise on, keep using it. By keeping consistent with as much as possible, baby still knows the cues for bedtime, it’s just in a different bed.
3. Day naps in the cot
It can be helpful to introduce your baby to their cot during the day. If you need to do something in your baby’s room, place your baby in their cot whilst you do your task, so they get used to the space during the day. You could also try baby’s day sleeps in the cot so help them get used to the space.
4. Introduce a bedtime routing
If you don’t already have a bedtime routine, now is the time to start. By going through a sequence of activities at a similar time each evening means baby will know that bedtime is coming. And for you and baby, a relaxing bath, time reading a story or giving baby a massage is a great way to bond at the end of the day, especially if dad’s are involved.
Remember the same safe sleep guidelines apply for when your baby is in their cot:
Always place your baby to sleep on their back. If your baby has started rolling and rolls to their tummy when they’re asleep this is ok as they have the strength to move themselves. As long as you place baby to sleep on their back at the start of the night, you can rest assured that baby will move into a comfortable position for them.
Always keep the cot free of toys, padded bumpers, pillows, loose bedding & similar items which can be a suffocation hazard
Position the cot in a safe place: Ensure the cot is away from electrical wires and blind cords to prevent strangulation
Ensure the mattress is tight fitting and any gaps are less than 20mm on each side when the mattress is centered.
Use a firm mattress without any wool underlays until your baby is at least 6 months old.
Stop swaddling if your baby is showing signs of rolling. A sleeping bag is recommended as there will be no loose bedding.
