Moving from Crib to Bed

When your child moves from crib to bed it’s a milestone in his life as well as yours. There is no precise time for making this move, though typically it’s between the first and third birthday. The key to success is to be patient and allow your child time to adjust to the change.

Why move a child from crib to bed?

If a child sleeps well in his crib, don’t rush the change. Switching to a bed gives a child freedom and brings new issues for parents, such as the yo-yo syndrome or early morning wanderings. The most common reasons to switch:

• Your child learns how to climb. –  Move your child out of the crib when the rail is up to the level of his nipples, since climbing out is more possible.
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• Your child outgrows the crib. –  Don’t assume it’s time! You may think that he’s uncomfortable, but he may be content in his little nest.
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• Your child asks for a bed. – If she’s old enough, then go ahead and take the leap.
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• Your child is learning how to use the toilet.— Even if your child uses the toilet during the day, it’s often a long while before bedtime dryness happens.
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• A new sibling is on the way. – If your little one loves his crib, then ousting him to make room for the newcomer may add stress. If you feel that the time is right then make the change two months or more before your newborn arrives.
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What kind of bed should my child move to?

There are a number of options for a child’s first bed:

• Toddler bed – These are small, low and child-sized. They have guard rails on all sides, and come in playful designs.
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• Regular bed – A common choice is a mattress, box springs and bed frame (with all sides protected from fall-outs). Consider a double or bigger size to accommodate the night-reading ritual.
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• Mattress on the floor – A popular choice is a mattress or futon on the floor. This provides your little one with a big-kid bed, but one that prevents any painful falls.
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• Bunk bed – ?Hold off on a bunk bed until your child is 6 years old, when it is considered safe.
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How do we make the change?

Which approach is best for you will depend on your reasons for making the change, your child’s personality, and the size of his room. Here are a few options:

• Big-kid bed hoopla:  Some children enjoy having an official Big Kid Day party. Set up the bed, decorate the room and add a few sleep-related gifts like books and stuffed animals.
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• One-step-at-a-time:  Take the mattress out of the crib and place it on the floor in the place as the crib was. This gives your child the same sleeping surface and view of the room as he’s accustomed to. Place guard rails around the sides to create a crib-like enclosure. Keep the same bedding and crib toys. This is a mid-step between the crib and a real bed.
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• The gradual introduction:  Set up the new bed in the same room with the crib. Allow your child to play on the bed and nap there. Do your bedtime reading in the new bed. This will help your child get used to the bed gradually.
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Patience and encouragement

No matter which path you choose – be patient. Big steps toward growth often happen in spurts, and your child may be excited to welcome the change one day, but wary of it the next. Maintain your nightly bedtime routine and help your child develop a positive association with his new bed, since he’ll be sleeping there for many years to come.

By Elizabeth Pantley

Causes of Fussy Baby at Night

Managing a baby is a very tough thing to do and those who have been through this experience even once, would prefer to keep it at that. Take a look at some common reasons for a fussy baby at night and how to take care of him/her.

When you have a baby at home who cries at night, it's quite tough to find out what exactly is bothering the baby in the commotion to quieten him/her. You try out many things like changing the diapers, feeding, singing or even taking him out for walks in the middle of the night. But it's not very easy to find out if there are any internal problems that are bothering the child. Since a baby cannot communicate or express the pain, the only way he can show something's wrong is by crying and making a fuss. Generally, in the first few months after birth, babies take time to adapt and adjust to the environment outside the mother's womb and thus they turn fussy at night. They may suffer from gas, rashes, acidity and many other metabolic issues which can be expressed by grown ups but not by babies. The only way you can take care of a fussy baby at night is to feed and keep him clean, as much as you can.

At Bedtime

A newborn, as mentioned above is very new to the atmosphere outside the mother's womb and takes at least some months to adjust. They sleep for as much as 16 hours a day and sometimes even more, stretching to about 3 to 4 hours continuously. They have different types of sleeps in these 16 hours like drowsiness, rapid eye movement, light sleep, deep sleep and very deep sleep. If the baby feels anything wrong in the first few stages of sleep, he may not be very fussy. But when there are disturbances which awakens the baby from the later stages of deep sleep, he gets quite fussy and it is very difficult to put him back to sleep.

Causes

The first and the most basic reason is the baby needs a diaper change and the wet one is making sleep uncomfortable.

Hunger is another reason, if you haven't fed the baby according to the daily schedule. If you have fed him, but he/she is still hungry and not full, you may just about have a fussy baby. They need to be fed every two hours in the first few months and thus need to take care of their little tummies.

If the baby is feeling hot or cold and can't sleep due to environment conditions. Usually babies need thick bedding around them but sometimes can sweat or get chills due to the weather.

Body rashes and boils in uncomfortable places can also make him cry and fuss about sleeping.

Gas or acidity inside the tummy can also make sleepimg difficult and unmanageable.

If he is suffering from chickenpox, fever, diarrhea or any other health issues, you are definitely going to stay up all night.

How to Comfort a Crying Baby

When you know that your baby is crying and can't get sleep, check if he has a dirty diaper and if yes, then change it.

If your baby is hungry, don't ignore him because you haven't slept and are tired. Instead feed him and he may sleep peacefully. You can then take a nap as well.

Taking care for the first few years till the baby is dependent on you is not an easy job. Make sure you've checked for rashes and other skin abnormalities before you put him off to sleep, as all the baby can do when things go wrong, is cry.

If the baby has an illness like a common cold or any of the above mentioned diseases, make sure you've given the proper medicines so he gets sound sleep and doesn't fuss at night.

After you have checked all the necessary things for the night, sing a lullaby and let him sleep on you.

The parent's touch or voice is a big comfort for children and gives them the assurance that they are protected and safe. Once he is asleep on your shoulder or arms, then gently lay him in the crib (don't forget to keep his favorite toy).

I am sure you love to play with the tiny fingers and watch the baby when he is asleep. Being a parent is a beautiful experience and sacrificing your sleep and health for those little ones is definitely worth

Author,

Aparna Jadhav