6 Top Tips to Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib – from a Baby Sleep Expert
Overview
In today’s article we will be pulling back the curtain on the bassinet to crib transfer.
You will learn:
When to transfer your baby from a bassinet to a crib
6 Top tricks for transferring baby from bassinet to crib as smoothly as possible from a baby sleep expert
Baby Expo
A couple weekends ago, I was giving a presentation on baby sleep in the first year at the Babies and Bumps expo in Cleveland, Ohio.
It was a blast – I was blessed to meet moms and dads from all over the area – both brand new as well as seasoned parents.
Sleep is a hot topic when it comes to babies, because it really can be so tricky.
As I was wrapping up my baby sleep seminar, I asked what questions the attending parents had, and one mom raised her hand.
“We’re transferring our baby to her crib from the bassinet, and tonight’s the night. What tricks do you have for this transition?” she asked.
Oof. Big, loaded question. Excellent question. And also big. And loaded.
I started by asking some questions to get the context around the move – how old is baby, has baby started rolling, is the crib in the same room as the parents’ bed or in a separate room, etc.
Because all of these things matter.
I was able to give her a few pointers, but I realized I wish I could have had a full-on conversation with her around the shift, because sometimes it can be quite tricky.
Now don’t get me wrong, sometimes it’s a piece of cake… And other times it’s not.
When to Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib
The big question around transferring baby from her bassinet next to your bed to a crib is “when?” When do I transfer my baby from bassinet to crib?
Bassinets are wonderful. They’re so handy, able to be kept right next to your own bed and usually a similar height, making transfer of baby in and out of the bassinet easy for nighttime feeds and diaper changes.
My personal favorite bassinet is the Halo BassiNest. Now, I want to be transparent – I’ve never had the pleasure of using one myself because the price point was too high when we first became parents. But the design is extremely appealing to me, and here’s why -
It has mesh sides for those babies who like to scooch themselves over to the side during sleep and smash their face against the side of the bassinet, to ensure baby can still breathe as freely as possible. It also has easy lowering sides to make transfer of baby as easy and pain-free as possible, which is especially helpful for those first few weeks when you’re healing from birth and especially if you’re a c-section mama. And finally, it has a perched, swivel design that allows baby to be close by without actually co-sleeping. In my humble opinion, its ingenious design was developed with both mom AND baby in mind.
A good quality bassinet can be invaluable in those first couple of months.
And then, often around the 3-month mark, it becomes time for baby to be transferred into her crib. There are two big reasons to transfer baby to a crib.
Reason #1 to Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib: Baby is Too Big for Bassinet
The first common reason to transfer baby from her bassinet to her crib is – she’s grown too big for the bassinet!
All bassinets should have a clearly defined size and weight limit. A quick Google search reports that the Halo BassiNest Lux has a weight limit of 20 pounds, and that its “Nest” is 33.5” x 22”.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization) growth charts for weight development, the 50th percentile range for boys reaching 20 pounds is around 10 months of age, and the 50th percentile for girls reaching 20 pounds is around 11 months of age.
According to the WHO growth charts for length development, the 50th percentile range for boys reaching 25” in length – which is a length I chose based merely on the assumption that a baby should have at minimum 4” from the top of their head to the bassinet and 4” from the bottom of their feet to the foot of the bassinet – is around 3.5 months, and the 50th percentile for girls reaching 25” in length is around 5 months.
Which is pretty substantial. That pretty far along in baby’s first year.
That being said, the American Academy of Pediatrics provides a blanket statement on their Healthy Children website that says, “In general, your baby should move to a crib around the end of the first month of life or by the time he weighs 10 pounds.” They don’t state much reasoning behind this recommendation.
They do provide some logical guidance around which bassinet to choose, however, in that same article – with recommendations like making sure the bassinet has a wide base so it doesn’t tip over especially in case someone bumps it and making certain that any and all folding legs are locked in place.
You can, of course, ask your child’s pediatrician directly what their recommendation is around bassinets and at what weight and length your nugget should move to a crib.
Reason #2 to Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib: Baby is Rolling or Pushing Up
The second common reason to transfer baby from her bassinet to her crib is when she begins to roll or push up on hands and knees.
Once your baby is beginning to roll from back to front or front to back or push up on her hands and knees from her belly, it’s time to move her out of the bassinet and into a crib.
Because if she’s rolling, she could shift the weight balance in the bassinet and accidentally tip it over.
“But my baby is only just starting to roll from belly to back, and I always put her on her back to sleep!” you might be thinking.
If this is the case – excellent job always putting her on her back to sleep – you’re 100% right that that is the #1 safest position for baby to sleep in.
And secondly, even if this is the case, babies can learn new skills quickly and one related skill, can often turn into learning another related skill before we realize it.
What I mean by this is that if she’s beginning to roll from belly to back right now – it’s only a matter of time before she begins to roll from back to belly, too, and I’d rather be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to my baby’s safety.
Tricks of the Transfer: Top Tips When you Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib
So let’s say that now you’ve realized it’s time to transfer your baby from his bassinet to his crib.
What now??
Is it just a swap-out? A quick switch? Bing-bang-boom, and now baby’s sleeping in a different bed?
Sometimes, it can be this simple. And, likely, it will be simpler the sooner you switch – because the older your baby becomes, the more aware he will be of his sleep space. Meaning, he may be more jarred by a move at 4 months than he would potentially have been at 2 months.
And sometimes it’s not so simple.
It’s also important to keep in mind that moving to a crib is also a transition for you. Because chances are, at the age your baby is moving from bassinet to crib, he’ll still be needing middle of the night feeds and perhaps a middle of the night diaper change or two.
And when he moves to a full crib from a bassinet, chances are that those middle of the night feeds and diaper changes won’t be quite as convenient for you.
So let me let you in on a few tricks-of-the-trade.
Top Tips When you Transfer Your Baby from Bassinet to Crib #1: Keep the Crib in the Same Room
This first recommendation isn’t just a tip or trick – as of the date of this recording, it’s also highly recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that for at least the first 6 months – the first top tip when you transfer baby from bassinet to crib is for baby to still be sleeping in the same room as his parents. This means that when you set up the crib, you’ll first be setting it up in your bedroom.
Now, some parents I share this recommendation with have already set up the crib in the baby’s nursery. And to this suggestion, I sometimes get groans and eye rolls.
It get it, it’s annoying – it’s big and bulky and has about 100 screws. But here’s the thing I ask them: is your baby’s safety worth it?
The end.
I know that may sound blunt or harsh, but in my opinion, taking the crib apart, and re-setting it up in your bedroom may be a pain in the butt, but it’s a whole lot easier than birthing a baby. Or dealing with the grief heaven forbid something happen in those earliest months.
And in addition, your baby will still be close by for those middle of the night feeds and diaper changes, which can be necessary all the way up to 6 months for most otherwise healthy babies, and even beyond that for babies who were premature or those who have special feeding needs.
Top Tips When You Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib #2: Use a Mini Crib or Travel Crib
Now what if that big-ole crib won’t fit? Or there is absolutely no way your spouse is going to move it to your room?
You can use a mini crib or pack-n-play in your bedroom instead!
Don’t feel like the full-on crib itself is the only option. Some homes simply don’t have the space.
In that case, find a mini crib – not another bassinet but a crib that’s bigger than the bassinet but smaller than a full-size, meets all the safety requirements, is appropriate for your baby’s size and weight, and in which you can lower the mattress to a safe level.
Or simply use your travel crib sometimes referred to as a pack-n-play or portable play yard, until baby is older than 6 months and ready to transfer out of your bedroom.
Again, when choosing a travel crib, make sure that it meets all the safety qualifications. For example, according to the AAP that means no inclines, only use the flat, firm mattress that came with the travel crib – absolutely no other pillows, cushions, etc., use a fitted sheet that’s intended for that size travel crib so that it won’t become loose or bunchy, which can put your baby in danger, etc.
And if you’re interested in checking out the federal regulations for safe infant sleep surfaces, tap this text to learn more.
Top Tips When You Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib #3: Take Turns Getting Up to Get Baby
This third tip is a relatively simple one – in theory, of course.
My third tip for when you transfer baby from bassinet to crib is to take turns getting up to get the baby in the middle of the night.
If you and your spouse or parenting partner are anything like my husband and me, it can sometimes feel like it’s impossible to get out of bed when the baby wakes in the middle of the night.
Sometimes, baby might simply fall back asleep, especially if baby has independent sleep skills, but other times – especially in those first several months – baby may very well need something, like a feed or a diaper change.
So take turns. If you as the mom are the only one who can feed the baby because you’re exclusively breastfeeding, your spouse or parenting partner can still take a turn to physically get up and get the baby for you.
Yes, they’re tired. But so are you.
And as long as you don’t fall asleep with baby in your bed, you can continue to do feeds and diaper changes while you sit up in bed. Then, as soon as you’re done feeding and diapering and burping, you can get baby right back into his crib.
Top Tips When You Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib #4: Use Mom (or Dad’s) Scent
I always recommend this fourth tip for when you transfer baby from bassinet to crib to my clients – use Mom (or Dad’s) scent.
So this can apply to either mom or dad – whomever has the most calming effect on baby.
And it’s not a competition try both. See which works. Maybe they both will!
What you’re going to do is take the fitted sheet off of baby’s crib, and for 10-15 minutes before putting baby to bed, and tuck it in your shirt. Yes, I know this sounds strange. Stick with me.
Then, when it’s time to put baby to bed, take the sheet out of your shirt and replace it snugly back around the crib mattress.
Your scent will now be on the crib sheet, and can act as a great soothing mechanism for your baby, making this new sleep environment feel more familiar to him.
Top Tips When You Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib #5: Practice During Naps
Our fifth tip for transferring baby from bassinet to crib is to practice.
If you’re noticing signs that it might be time to transfer from the bassinet to the crib soon, begin practicing having baby sleep in his crib space during naps. This can be especially successful if you begin practicing with the first nap of the day each day.
If you’ve already listened to the episode on 5 Key Reasons Why Your Baby is Taking Short Naps – Part 1, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.
And if you haven’t or want to give it another listen because – you know, mom-brain – then go ahead and give it a listen.
Top Tips When You Transfer Baby from Bassinet to Crib #6: Sleep Train If It’s Time
Sometimes, transferring baby out of the bassinet and into the crib can coincide right at the same time with when your baby reaches the 3-4 month mark, when your baby is ready to sleep train, as this may be when your baby reaches the max height or weight for their bassinet. Or they could begin rolling around this time. Or all of the above.
If this is the case, you can take this opportunity of shifting sleep spaces to sleep train your baby at the same time as when you transfer baby to her new crib.
And yes, it is 100% possible to sleep train your baby while they’re still sleeping in the same room as you.
Now, at the 3-4 month mark your baby may still need a night feed or two, and that is still conducive to sleep training.
So if this sounds like you, go ahead and listen to our episode on how to choose the right sleep method for your family.
Bassinet to Crib Transfer: Summary
And that’s it for today!
Today we discussed when to transfer baby from bassinet to crib and 6 top tips for the bassinet to crib transfer to make it as easy and pain-free as possible.
Remember, if you are struggling with your baby’s sleep and you can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong or you simply don’t want to do it alone – that’s what I’m here for.
I’m a mom of 3 and certified pediatric sleep consultant. If you need help, schedule your free 15-minute sleep evaluation with me at www.calendly.com/playsleepgrow.
