Why does your baby hate the crib?
You walk into your child’s bedroom, settle in for a relaxing nap or bedtime routine with your child and as soon as you get close to the crib (or maybe as soon as you lay your drowsy baby down)…WAHHH! Your baby has decided the crib is the enemy, to be avoided at all costs! Why does your baby hate the crib? And what can you do to make your baby like the crib better? Read on, my friend…
4 Reasons Why Your Baby Seems to Hate the Crib
Discomfort
If your baby has reflux, laying him down too soon after a feed will be very uncomfortable for him and he’ll likely cry from the discomfort.Overtiredness
When a baby is overtired, it makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. If you put your child down past that optimal window, it’ll be much hard for her to settle into sleep. She’ll be so tired and out of sorts that she’ll cry because she just wants to be sleeping and it’s too hard to get herself to sleep when she’s overtired.Inconsistent expectations
Do you sometimes lay your baby in the crib to hang out and play while you take a shower? Pop him in the crib if you have to quickly sign for a delivery? You offer a few toys and know he’ll be fine while you do whatever you need to do? If so, when you need your baby to sleep in the crib, he’ll want to play…because sometimes he gets to do that - and that’s way more fun than sleeping! So he’ll cry because you picked the less fun option!Dependence on you
Your baby should be awake (fully, 100% awake!) when you lay her down. When you lay her down drowsy, she’s going to expect to be put down drowsy every. single. time. And if you missed that perfectly timed “drowsy window” where you can lay her down and she magically drifts into sleep, she’ll cry because she wants to be asleep, and you messed it all up by putting her down! And now she’s more awake and doesn’t want to do the work to go to sleep, so she cries to get you to pick her back up and get her drowsy. It’s a never-ending cycle!
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So what can you do if your baby hates the crib?
Make sure the room is comfortable and condusive to sleep
100% pitch black, 68-70 F, and your little one has a clean diaper and the sleep sack is the right weight for the season.Have a consistent routine before every sleep
The nap routine (without a feed) is under 5 minutes to put on the sleep sack, read a book and sing a song (that doesn’t get your baby drowsy!). If your baby’s next feed lands right before naptime, just make sure to feed in a well-lit room, no rocking, and keep her awake through the entire feed.The bedtime routine should be 30 minutes or less (including the feed) and again, keeping your baby awake during the entire routine. Children learn through repetition so having a consistent routine helps them understand what’s coming next and learn faster!
Make the crib smell like you!
If you’re transitioning to naps in the crib (from holding/babywearing for naps), it’ll be a big change for your baby! Try making the crib “smell like you” by leaving a shirt you’ve recently worn in the crib (make sure to take it out at naptime and bedtime - no blankets/loveys/moms shirts in the crib until your baby is 12 months old!) or hugging the sheets before you put them on.Upright for reflux
If your baby has suspected or confirmed reflux, move the feed to the beginning of the nap routine and keep upright for 10-15 minutes while you read a couple of books. Better yet, offer the feed before the nap routine starts so you can ensure there’s no feed-sleep association! (Side note: if you’re exclusively breastfeeding, you can also try an elimination diet to get to the root of the problem and help alleviate the issue.)Stick to these general awake window guidelines so your little one doesn’t get overtired:
😴 Newborns - 45-60 minutes
😴 4 month olds - 1.5 hours
😴 5 month olds - 2-2.5 hours
😴 6-7 month olds - start on a 2 nap set schedule!Toy-free zone
Remove any crib toys (like an aquarium) and the mobile (move it over the changing table for distraction during diaper changes!) and only lay your child in the crib when you expect him to sleep. Once your baby realizes that going into the crib isn’t a “choose your own adventure” and he’s always expected to fall asleep, it makes it so much easier for them!Give your baby the right skills
If your baby is 4 months or older and needs you to get her to sleep every time, the final step to take is to teach her how to fall asleep independently. As long as she thinks she needs you to get her drowsy (or asleep), every interaction with the crib will be iffy. She’ll cry if you put her down drowsy and she’s not quite ready to fall asleep. And she’ll cry when she wakes up in the middle of the night, early in the morning, from a short nap - because she can’t put herself back to sleep on her own because YOU always do that for her!
So many of my clients’ babies have gone from crying at the sight of the crib to giggling, pointing at and leaning in to get into the crib. 👏 Their babies no longer hate the crib because once they understand how to fall asleep, the crib is no longer the enemy - it’s a safe and friendly place they WANT to be. It’s life-changing when every sleep isn’t a fight - instead, it’s a simple process and your baby is ready and happy to go into the crib!Need help teaching your baby HOW to fall asleep without you doing the majority of the work for her? Grab a spot in my online class, Teach Your Baby to Sleep. Use this link for a limited-time discount!
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This post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you, your child and/or your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your child’s physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.