4 tips on getting your baby to sleep in a cot

Having trouble putting your little one to sleep? Find out how to handle a baby when one won’t sleep in their cot or crib.

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Your eyes are bloodshot red and you can’t remember the last time you had enough sleep to even see a dream. As much as you love your baby, your child just won’t sleep in their own cot and it’s really taking a toll on your health. Babies crave security. This craving sometimes results in their not wanting to sleep in their cot or crib. What’s a mum to do? How do you handle a baby who won’t sleep in their cot or crib? ‘Why’ is the first question you need to ask yourself. Will your baby not sleep in their cot because they are used to sleeping in your room? Or maybe it’s because the nursery is too light, too cold, too dark, too warm or too lonely? Whatever the reason, you need to approach it with an end result in mind, which consists of your baby sleeping in the nursery, in their cot and alone.

Just do it

Some of you may be mumbling under your breath that this is easier said than done. That may be so, but very few things that are worthwhile end up being easy. And I think we will all agree that having your child sleep in their cot is worthwhile. So to help make that happen, you need to do the following: The cot needs to be positioned so that it isn’t near the door or against a wall that has a lot of activity going on outside of. Put your baby to bed in their cot while they are drowsy but not fully asleep. Most babies wake up or at least become semi-awake during the night. By putting them in the cot while they are drowsy instead of sleeping, they will know where they are when they stir and be less likely to get scared and not want to stay in their cot. Allow babies that can easily roll form side to side and sit up on their own to sleep with a favourite blanket and/or soft toy. The dangers of SIDS and suffocation are all but gone for babies who can control these activities. Having these comforting objects will reduce the chances of their not wanting to stay in their cot. Make going to bed a pleasant routine. Don’t use the cot as a time-out station or to put them in there to free yourself up to do something.

Don’t cave

If your baby fusses and cries to get out of their cot during the night, you need to go in once to reassure them that you love them and that you will be together in the morning. Then, be done. It might be miserable for a few nights, but by persevering, you will send the message that the cot is where the baby and it belong.

Written by

Darla Noble

Parenting Woesbaby sleep