How to Ease Your Baby's Transition From Crib To Cot

Change is strange, and transitioning your baby from their crib to a cot can understandably feel a little daunting. It’s a big step for your baby and you, for sure!

Babies are often more adaptable than we think they are, and whilst it’s natural there may be a little apprehension - again from you both - given a bit of time, it’s usually a smoother transition than you’re expecting!

Here are 5 of my sleep suggestions to help your crib to cot transition go smoothly.

Accept it’s going to take time

Understand that there may be some sleep disruption. Your baby’s crib is familiar, and a new cot (even if it’s still in the same room) is unfamiliar. It’s natural that your baby may take a little longer to settle at sleep time whilst they check out and explore their new sleep surroundings. Change is strange!

It’s normal that your baby may wake or move around their cot a lot more whilst settling to sleep and overnight. They’ve got more room to do this now!

The above can be frustrating for you both, but it’s usually only temporary and likely to settle on its own with a bit of practice.

It’s worth noting that crib to cot bed is just one of many sleep transitions your little one will make. This is why Snuz designs their cot beds to grow with your child. Whether you’re opting for their original SnuzKot Cot Bed, or their new SnuzFino Cot Bed, both of these options convert into toddler beds to help ease future transitions as your little one grows.

Opting for adaptable nursery furniture like this can help make those sleep milestones easier for you both, and reduce the stress that comes with change.

Get them familiar with the cot

I’m not a massive fan of encouraging your baby to play in their cot. It’s best to keep their sleep space for sleep! However, setting up their new cot and letting them see and explore it together for short amounts of time can help it feel more familiar to them. If your little one sleeps in a SnuzPod, why not try placing their bassinet in their new cot for short naps to help ease them in.

Put the scent of sleep on the cot sheet

Your baby has a very keen sense of smell, and a familiar scent can help them to settle in an unfamiliar sleep surrounding. My sleep suggestion would be to pop their new cot sheet in the bottom of your bed for a few nights before placing it on their new cot. I know, it sounds bonkers! But it helps their new cot smell familiar, which can help this transition go a bit more smoothly.

Use pink noise

I’m a big fan of using pink noise, especially for young babies. When we’re making a change, pink noise can help to settle and soothe your baby to sleep. Also, great to help things feel a little more familiar!

If you don’t already use white noise, I suggest using it for all sleep times for at least 3-4 days before making the change from crib to cot. Try pairing the SnuzCloud baby sleep aid with your little one’s new cot for a range of sound effects, along with night light options for feeding and naptime.

Be cot consistent!

Because change is strange and can be a bit unsettling, my approach is to make one change at a time, and give it some time. I generally suggest starting with where they’re going to be sleeping first.

Whilst you and your baby are transitioning from crib to cot, try to be as consistent as possible with their usual bedtime routine and how you normally settle them to sleep. Once they’ve transitioned to their new cot, you can make another change IF you need or want to.

Care it Out

There is always bedtime biology behind your little one's sleep struggle, whether during a transition from crib to cot or otherwise. For every bedtime bugbear, I believe there's a caring and logical way to a settled night’s sleep.

To find out more about the Care It Out approach, visit my website here.

Remember, you're not alone! You are enough, and you are amazing. Try not to compare yourself to other mums or parents, who could be better for your baby than you?