Many parents find that their newborns prefer the snug sleeping quarters of a bassinet over a roomy crib. There’s a lot of bonuses to having your baby sleeping in a bassinet next to you. It’s more convenient for night time feeds and changing since newborns are prone to wake more frequently.
Plus, since they’re smaller and more portable than a crib, bassinets allow parents to room-share with their baby, which is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for their first 6 months to a year. With bassinets like the BassiNest® Twin Sleeper, even parents of twins can take advantage!
As much as parents want to keep their babies little forever, there does come a time when your baby will start to outgrow the bassinet. If that’s the case, keep reading to learn the signs that your baby is ready to be done with the bassinet and tips for transitioning from bassinet to crib.
When is Baby Too Big for Bassinet?
While bassinets and bedside sleepers work great for newborns, they only work for a short amount of time. Many come with a weight limit that can range anywhere from 10 pounds to 20 pounds. For example, the Halo BassiNest® weight limit is 20 pounds.
While most bassinet don’t have a “height” limit, you’ll want to make sure your baby is not getting too confined. Take a look when you lay your little one down, are they touching the edges when they stretch out? If so, it could be time to transition from bassinet to crib.
When to Stop Using Bassinet?
While your baby’s size is one indicator it is time to transition from bassinet to crib, there are other signs to look for when deciding when to stop using Halo BassiNest®. You’ll also want to watch your baby’s mobility. The more mobile an infant gets, the more unsafe a bassinet becomes.
Hitting milestones like rolling over and pulling up are huge reasons to celebrate! However, if you notice a baby rolling over in bassinet, that means it is time to transition to the crib. The reason for this is that bassinets are more shallow. In a crib, you have the option of lowering the mattress, but that is not always the case with a bassinet. That’s why a baby rolling in bassinet means it’s time to start looking at the crib as soon as possible to keep baby safe.
What Age Should a Baby Stop Sleeping in a Bassinet?
Taking into account your baby’s weight, height, and mobility level, you’ll be able to determine what age is best to stop sleeping in the bassinet. This will vary by child, but it will most likely occur around 4 months.
You’ll want to check to see if the manufacture of your specific bassinet has an age limit. For example, BassiNest® Swivel Sleeper is not recommended for babies beyond 5 months. However, depending on your baby, the bassinet might become unsafe prior to that age.
Here are some suggestions for how to transition baby from bassinet to crib:
- Establish a bedtime routine. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to develop a consistent bedtime routine. This could include bath, books, cuddling. Babies thrive on routine and repeating these activities will start to signal to your little one that it is time to sleep. Before you transition baby to crib, do the bedtime routine in the nursery to help them associate the room with sleep as well.
- Make the nursery comfortable. For the first year, your baby should sleep on a firm mattress with a fitted sheet and no loose blankets or toys. Just because you can’t put comfort items into the crib (in order to ensure a safe sleep) does not mean you can’t make an effort to make the nursery itself comfortable for your baby. Try dimming the lights or playing some white noise, and be sure to keep the room at comfortable temperature.
- Transition gradually. Transferring from a co-sleeper to a crib is a big transition! Many suggest making the transition more gradual by starting with putting your little one to sleep in the crib for either nap time or nighttime sleep. Once they have gotten the hang of sleeping there, you can add in the other sleep time.
- Move the crib into your room temporarily. For some babies, two big changes at once is too much! If so, it might make it easier to do just one change at a time. Consider placing the crib (if there is space) in your room for a few nights.
- Sleep in the baby's room temporarily. For many little ones, this transition also means sleeping in a different room than mom or dad for the first time. One way to make their transition easier is by sleeping in the nursery with them the first few nights. This does NOT mean getting into the crib (that will go against many crib’s weight limits and puts everyone at risk.) Instead, we suggest sleeping on an available couch, bed, or air mattress.
- Use a swaddle or sleep sack. Even if they are developmentally ready or size-wise ready for transitioning to the crib, for many babies, the crib is a big space! Utilizing a swaddle like the Halo SleepSack® Swaddle can help them feel snug and cozy in their new bed. If you’re transitioning baby to crib because they are starting to roll over, you also want to transition from the swaddle as well. To help little ones still feel secure, we recommend using a sleep sack like the Halo SleepSack® Wearable Blanket.
How to Transition Baby to Crib?
There are several approaches you can take to transition baby from bassinet to crib. Remember, for some little ones this will be no big deal! For others, it will take time and will be a process. You will need to be prepared for there to be hiccups and be prepared to try to different things to help things go more smoothly.
Room sharing is a special time between parents and a new baby, but it is also exciting to move to the next phase of life! Transitioning your baby from the bassinet to the crib might take some adjustment (for everyone!), but this change is what’s ultimately best for your family.