HELP YOUR BABY FALL BACK TO SLEEP ON HIS OWN AND MOVE HIM OUT OF YOUR BED AND INTO HIS OWN (No-Cry Sleep Solution)

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These ideas, of course, are only for those who want to move baby/toddler out of their bed. Some people are content with having their child sleep with them for as long as their child wants to.

I suggest having your child play in his crib (and possibly room) beforehand so that he gets used to it and has a good association with it. You can start by
playing with baby in his crib and then move a little farther away every few days as he gets used to this new place.

Staying Close But Not Too Close
Have baby sleep on a mattress right next to yours (or vice-versa). If baby wakes and needs comfort or wants to eat, go to baby and offer this. After several days you can try moving baby and mattress to baby's room.

Create A Miniature Family Bed
For older children (usually at least 10 months old), move a mattress into their new room and go to sleep with them on it. You may want to stay next to them all night for a few nights. After this, leave once your child falls asleep and go to them quickly when you hear them wake up.

The Traveling Crib
This idea is for those who would like baby to sleep in his own room in a crib, not just on a mattress like above. Pantley suggests a 4 step approach. Work on each step for around 2-7 days before moving onto the next one.

1) Place baby in a crib right next to your bed making sure there are no dangerous gaps present. You can either put the rail that faces you to the lowest setting, remove it, or buy a crib like these ones. If your baby is used to sleeping by you, you might want to consider putting something near her that smells or feels like you.
2) When baby is comfortable with step 1, put the 4th side of the crib up and move maybe a short distance from your bed.
3) When baby is comfortable with step 2, move baby to a far side of your bedroom.
4) When baby is comfortable with step 3, move baby to her own bedroom. Be sure to respond quickly to baby when she wakes so she knows you are still there if she needs you. Pantley says that if you respond quickly to baby, she will begin to sleep longer stretches since she will feel confident that you will come if needed.

The Sneaky Way
Once baby falls asleep in your bed, move her to her crib. When she wakes up, have her fall asleep in your bed again like usual, and then move her back to her crib. Repeat as needed.

For your Walking, Talking Toddler that Sleeps in a "Big Kid" Bed
Put your child to sleep in her own room and let her know that if she wakes up she can come into your room and go to sleep in her "sleeping spot". Her "sleeping spot" is an area set up in your room, near your bed, with some kind of mattress for her. Remind her that when she comes into your room to sleep she needs to be as quiet as possible since you are sleeping and don't want to be woken up.

Make sure to praise your child for her efforts and possibly do some kind of reward system. Also, you may want to make a big deal about her moving to a big kid bed/room to make her more excited and accepting of it.

Create a Sibling Bed (for babies over 18 months old)
Move your child from your bed to his siblings bed. For safety, make sure all children are at least 18 months old. You can even have siblings choose whose bed they want to sleep in each night. Pantley says that as kids get older they often slowly start to sleep in their own beds by themselves.


Related Post:
No-Cry Sleep Solution, The: Sleep Solutions for Older Babies (4 months to 2 years)