Setting up the nursery for the baby is a dreamy experience for the expecting parents. We all fall in love with the colorful baby sheets, furniture, and toys more than we should. After a shopping spree, you might have installed the crib that you found ideal for your little chipmunk to fall asleep in. Now he has arrived home wanting to sleep anywhere but in the crib, you have set for him. Maybe your baby was fine sleeping in the crib but suddenly turned into a rebellion when it comes to sleeping in his cozy place.
A baby who does not sleep in his crib is a challenge for busy and tired parents. Therefore, this problem needs a quick and proper solution so both the baby and the parents can sleep well. I will discuss why the babies refuse to sleep in their crib, why they suddenly change their mind about sleeping in the crib and how you can get them to sleep in the crib you prepared with a lot of love for them.
CONTENT
1.  Why does my baby refuse to sleep in the crib?
2.  Why does my baby suddenly hate to sleep in the crib?
3.  How do I get my baby to sleep in the crib?
1. Why does my baby refuse to sleep in the crib?
The most common reason why a baby will not sleep in his crib or the bassinet is that he is used to falling asleep comfortably in some other place. It can be in the parents’ arms, the parent’s chest, in a carrier, or a baby swing. When they know that there is a better alternative to the crib, they will not sleep in the crib which they believe to be less comfortable.
As soon as you try to transfer your baby from your arms or the place that he loves to fall asleep into the crib, they will make a big fuss and refuse to be in the crib. It is not easy to transfer a sleeping baby from a place to another. This is because they spend more of their sleep in REM than in deep sleep.
You might have noticed that your baby move their arms, legs, and roll around during their sleep and, it is a sign that they are in the REM stage. A slight change in the surrounding can wake up a baby who is in this active stage. Therefore, falling asleep somewhere else and moving to the crib later will not work for them.
2. Why does my baby suddenly hate to sleep in the crib?
The baby who loved to sleep in his crib before hates to be in it now. There can be several reasons for this and, most of them are likely to be temporary problems that will fade away in a week or two.
Teething pain
Your baby will start to get his teeth around the age of 3 to 4 months. As the first tooth erupts, his gums will be sore and swollen. You will also notice that your baby is fussy and has a slight fever. When the baby is in teething pain, he will prefer to be in the parents ‘arms rather than being alone in the crib.
Growth spurts
The babies are growing up fast and they may experience a growth spurt at any time. But they will typically experience 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months of age. During these growth spurts, they will be extra hungry and clingy making them hate the crib.
Sleep regression
Same as the growth spurts, sleep regressions will also appear as your baby grows up. They will typically happen at the age of 4 months, 6 months, between 8 and 10 months, and then again around 12 months. Sleep regressions will drive away your baby from their usual sleeping patterns and habits.
Physical discomforts
A cold, fever, stomachache, or ear infection can be bothering your baby. When he is in pain, he will like to be in your arms rather than being alone in the crib.
Developmental milestones
During the first year of a baby’s life, he learns many interesting new skills. As their body learn and adapt to these new skills, there will be many changes happening. Your baby will respond to those changes by becoming extra clingy or fussy.
3. How do I get my baby to sleep in the crib?
If you conclude that your baby is refusing to sleep in the crib suddenly due to any of the above reasons, do whatever you can to make their situation better. If he is going through a growth spurt, feed him frequently. Use soothing techniques to relieve the babies teething pain and teach self-soothing to survive sleep regressions.
There are a few steps you can follow if your baby still hates to sleep in the crib or has never been fine about sleeping in the crib.
Do not let your baby fall asleep in your arms, chest, or on your bed. You can rock him, sing to him, or dance with him until he is drowsy but not asleep. Put him in the crib when he is half asleep so he will fall asleep by himself in the crib.
Do not run to the baby as soon as they wake up and cry. Give them a minute or two to settle down by themselves. As the babies are light sleepers, they will wake up for the tiniest reason but will fall back asleep again.
Do not change the bedtime routine of the baby during a transition period like from the bassinet to the crib. The babies do not prefer big changes. When one thing changes it is good to have the other things not changed.
Do not let your baby fall asleep in your bed, the car seats, or the baby swings. They are not designed for babies to sleep safely. If they find it comfortable, they will refuse to sleep in the crib which is designed for safe sleep.
Do not take away the playtime of the baby for any reason. Let them practice their new skills during their playtime. Then, they will get used better to the changes happening in their body.
Do not be tempted to put soft toys, soft blankets, or pillows into the crib because it does not seem comfortable to your baby. Those are sleep hazards that you should not let your baby sleep with.
