It is common for new parents to wonder how long they can have their baby sleep in the same room with them. There are differing opinions on the ideal age for a baby to transition to their own room. Some experts recommend moving the baby to their own room by 6 months old, while others say it is fine to keep babies in the parental bedroom for up to one year or longer. Ultimately, the decision on when to move the baby to their own room depends on each family’s preferences and circumstances.
Benefits of Room Sharing
There are several potential benefits associated with having a baby sleep in the same room as the parents during the first 6-12 months of life:
- Easier for nighttime breastfeeding: Having the baby nearby makes middle of the night breastfeeding sessions easier. The mom can simply pick the baby up for feeding without having to get up and walk to a different room.
- Monitoring baby: Room sharing allows parents to more easily monitor their baby’s breathing, movement, and sounds during sleep. This can provide peace of mind and allow parents to intervene more quickly if any issue arises.
- Bonding: Keeping the baby’s crib or bassinet in the parental bedroom can promote bonding as parents spend more time in close proximity to their baby.
- Easier to soothe: Parents find it easier to soothe and comfort a fussy baby when they don’t have to go to another room. The baby may fall back asleep more quickly when comforted in the same room.
- Reduced SIDS risk: Research shows that room sharing decreases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Experts think this is because the proximity makes it easier for parents to check on baby and intervene if breathing patterns change.
Recommended Duration of Room Sharing
Health organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Institutes of Health recommend room sharing for 6-12 months, if possible. Here are their specific guidelines:
- AAP: Recommends room sharing for at least the first 6 months of life and ideally for the first year.
- NIH: Recommends room sharing for the first 6 months of life and states it should be considered for the first year.
Room sharing beyond one year may reduce infant sleep quality and parental sleep. But some families may still choose to room share longer based on personal preference, sleeping arrangements, cultural practices, and needs of the baby.
Transition Timing Considerations
Here are some factors parents may want to consider when deciding when to transition the baby to their own room:
- Sleep habits: If the baby is sleeping soundly most nights, they may be ready for their own room earlier. Frequent night waking or difficulty settling may mean a later transition.
- Room size: Smaller bedrooms may require an earlier move to give parents and baby more space.
- Nursing needs: Babies who still wake frequently to breastfeed may benefit from staying longer.
- Parent sleep: Room sharing can disrupt parent sleep, especially as the baby gets more mobile. Moving baby to their own room may allow parents to sleep better.
- Safety: Once baby can roll over, pull up, and move around the crib, their own room is safer.
Setting Up the Nursery
When preparing a nursery for the baby to move into, keep these tips in mind:
- Use a crib or bassinet that meets current safety standards. Follow guidelines on mattress firmness and avoiding soft bedding, bumpers, and toys.
- Place crib against a wall for easier access. Make sure at least two sides are open.
- Keep nursery decor simple. Avoid items that could overstimulate baby.
- Install room darkening shades to help baby sleep. Blackout curtains are ideal.
- Use a white noise machine to continue the womb-like soothing sounds.
- Maintain room temperature between 68-72°F for optimal sleep.
- Set up a rocking chair for nursing and rocking baby to sleep.
- Consider a baby monitor so you can hear baby from afar. Video monitors provide extra visibility.
Crib Safety Tips
It’s critical to make sure baby’s crib meets the latest safety standards. Here are some key crib safety guidelines from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
| Crib Safety Recommendations |
|---|
| Use a crib manufactured after June 2011 that meets new standards. |
| Assemble crib properly by following all instructions. |
| Ensure crib has no missing or loose parts. |
| Do not use a crib if any components are broken or missing. |
| Check that mattress fits snugly with no more than two finger widths between edge and crib side. |
| Only use fitted crib sheets. Avoid blankets, pillows, bumpers and other soft bedding. |
| Do not place crib near window blinds, drapes, wall hangings or electrical cords. |
| Drop side cribs should not be used. |
| Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. |
| Check regularly that all hardware is tightened and secure. |
Begin Transition with Naps
Moving the baby’s sleep location overnight can be an abrupt change. To ease the transition, start by having baby nap in the crib in their new room during the day first. Here are some tips for this process:
- Place familiar sheets from bassinet/crib in parents’ room on the new crib mattress to offer a recognizable scent.
- Try putting baby down drowsy but awake so they can learn to self-soothe to sleep in the new space.
- Utilize white noise, swaddling, pacifiers or other preferred sleep associations in the nursery.
- Spend time playing with baby in the new room so it becomes familiar. Have consistent nap time routines.
- If baby struggles, stay in the room patting or rocking until drowsy. Gradually reduce support.
Once baby adjusts well to napping in the crib, then make the full overnight transition. For the first few nights, consider sleeping on a mattress or air mattress in the nursery to help baby adjust.
Sleep Training Techniques
If baby struggles adjusting to the new sleep environment, implementing a sleep training method may help. Here are some popular techniques parents can consider:
Gradual Checks Approach
- When baby cries, wait a brief interval like 2-5 minutes before going in.
- Offer brief reassurance like patting or shushing but avoid stimulating interaction.
- Leave again even if still crying and wait slightly longer before returning.
- Increase wait times between checks a few minutes each night as you gradually build baby’s self-soothing skills.
Cry It Out Method
- Put baby to bed awake at bedtime then leave the room.
- Do not return all night regardless of crying, checking on baby periodically.
- Can take 2-5 nights for baby to adjust and sleep through the night alone.
Fading Approach
- Sit in a chair next to the crib patting or soothing baby to sleep.
- Each night, move the chair farther away till out of the room.
- Continue normal bedtime routine but without the chair. Baby learns to self-soothe.
Discuss options with your pediatrician and choose an approach you feel comfortable with.
Handling Early Morning Wakings
It’s common for babies transitioning rooms to wake early. Here are some tips for handling early morning wakings:
- Use blackout curtains and white noise to create an environment for sleeping in.
- Go in quickly if baby cries before a set wake up time like 6 am. Offer reassurance and put back down drowsy.
- If baby wakes after desired wake time, don’t rush to get them or turn on lights. Allow some fussing before intervening.
- Avoid stimulating interaction. Keep visits boring and lights dim to encourage baby to fall back asleep.
- Try waiting longer intervals if baby has brief cries but seems likely to fall back asleep.
- Adjust schedule/bedtime if baby starts waking early. An earlier bedtime may help.
With consistency, early wakings often resolve within 1-2 weeks. Have patience during this adjustment period.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Parents may encounter some challenges when transitioning baby to their own room. Here are some common issues and how to handle them:
Refusing to Sleep Alone
- Stick to a consistent bedtime routine surrounding sleep cues like pajamas, story, song.
- Offer reassurance but keep it brief and boring when baby protests.
- Try sitting next to crib and gradually moving farther away.
- Let baby cry for progressively longer intervals before briefly checking.
- Keep intervening/checking if baby seems panicked versus just upset.
Frequent Night Waking
- First address any underlying issues like hunger, pain, illness.
- Try soothing techniques like back rubs and shushing to get back to sleep.
- Allow some fussing before intervening to encourage self-settling.
- Keep room dark, consistent temperature, white noise playing.
- Use bedtime routines and positive sleep associations to set good sleep habits.
Early Morning Waking
- Gradually adjust bedtime 15 minutes earlier if needed but cap day sleep.
- Use darkening shades and white noise.
- Go in quickly if before desired wake time. Avoid stimulation and prolonging visits.
- If after desired wake time, allow some fussing before intervening.
- Try to get baby back to sleep quickly – change diaper if needed.
Sneaking into Parent Bed
- Keep own room and bedtime routine desirable and consistent.
- Put crib next to parent bed as transitional step, then move apart.
- Use baby gates, alarms on doors to contain baby in own room if wandering at night.
- Walk baby calmly back to crib if they come to parent bed.
- Avoid reacting or stimulating baby at night to encourage staying in crib.
When to Call the Doctor
While some struggle adjusting is normal, contact baby’s doctor if the following issues emerge:
- Resistance continues longer than 2-3 weeks with no improvement.
- You feel extremely anxious, angry, depressed or overwhelmed.
- Baby seems fearful, panicked or inconsolable at bedtime.
- Sleep problems begin disrupting daily functioning and activities.
- You or your partner have feelings of anger or impulse to harm the baby.
Severe or ongoing sleep problems may signify an underlying issue requiring medical assessment.
Conclusion
Having a baby sleep in your room offers benefits like bonding, easier breastfeeding, and monitoring baby closely. Room sharing is recommended for 6-12 months, but some families choose to continue longer. When transitioning baby to their own room, make the nursery safe, start with naps, use sleep training techniques, and have patience. Seek medical advice if significant sleep troubles persist beyond 2-3 weeks. With time and consistency, baby can adjust to sleeping happily in their own bedroom.