Why a child does not want to sleep in his own crib and what to do?

It can be difficult for many parents to get their kids to sleep in their own cribs. Children frequently object to sleeping alone, for a variety of reasons, including fear, habit, or a simple desire to be near their parents. The whole family may experience difficulty going to bed and restless nights as a result of this.

The first step in resolving a child’s crib avoidance behavior is to understand why it is happening. It might have to do with discomfort, separation anxiety, or the need for validation. Parents can choose the best strategy to gradually promote independent sleep by understanding the underlying cause.

We’ll look at doable tactics in this post to assist your child in feeling safe and at ease in their own bedroom. You can establish a healthy bedtime routine that benefits your child’s growth and the wellbeing of your family with persistence and patience.

Reason What to Do
Separation anxiety Gradually help the child get used to sleeping alone by staying nearby at first, then slowly moving further away over time.
Fear of the dark Use a nightlight to make the room feel safer and cozier.
Uncomfortable mattress or bedding Ensure the crib is comfortable with a soft mattress and familiar blankets or toys.
Too quiet or noisy Create a calming atmosphere with white noise or soft music to help them relax.
Inconsistent bedtime routine Establish a consistent, calming bedtime routine that the child can expect each night.

For a variety of reasons, including separation anxiety, a fear of the dark, or just a sense of security in being close to their parents, many kids resist sleeping in their own cribs. Parents can support their child in this transition by setting up a cozy bedtime ritual, providing a favorite blanket or toy, and gradually easing them into sleeping on their own by initially remaining close and providing comfort. To create a feeling of safety and security in the crib, persistence and patience are essential.

Reasons

  • uneven mattress;
  • hard or rough bed linen;
  • violation of the temperature regime – it is hot in bed;
  • location of the crib in the room – something scares the baby, there is an excess or lack of light and others.

Apart from experiencing physical discomfort, the child can express his true nature. The child’s protest will only be related to psychological discomfort if they tried to force him to sleep in a separate crib after he was used to co-sleeping.

Eliminating physical reasons is much simpler. However, instances where a child refuses to sleep in a crib "out of principle" can take a while to resolve and will test a parent’s patience greatly.

Should you allow the choice of sleeping place?

Some parents do not find co-sleeping strange or abnormal, so they accept their child’s refusal of a crib with grace. A child will undoubtedly lie down with his parents if he is permitted to choose where to go to sleep. It will be very challenging to retrain a newborn who has grown up sleeping in his parents’ bed from the very beginning. There are benefits and drawbacks to sleeping with your parents.

The advantages are in terms of relative ease. The infant will be close to the mother if it wakes up in the middle of the night to eat, saving the mother from having to get up. Psychologists claim that a newborn’s closeness to its mother is important, but sadly, these theories are not supported by any solid data.

There are additional drawbacks. The inability to quickly wean a child off of sleeping in the parents’ bed is the primary one. Inadvertent injuries by adults to children while they sleep also occur, as does suffocation. Sharing a bed not only violates hygienic regulations but also essentially prevents women from getting enough sleep, depriving both parents of the chance to enjoy a regular intimate life.

Everyone can see what this can lead to: children growing up in single-parent households, families dissolving, and divorces. Though it might seem like a simple question of where to sleep, there could be grave and unfavorable repercussions if you give the wrong answer.

What to do?

You must first determine the causes of the child’s distaste for their own bedroom. If the infant used to sleep in his own crib but recently started to object, you may want to reevaluate the convenience concerns. You must purchase a fairly firm and even mattress to prevent the child’s back from sagging. The baby should wear natural fabrics for his sleeping clothes and bed linens. You must select linen that is pleasant to the touch and soft.

The baby’s crib should be kept at a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius in the designated room. Elevated temperatures may cause the baby to perspire more, which could result in overheating. Additionally, you should ventilate the room before turning in for the night because "stale" air makes it difficult to fall asleep normally and sleep soundly. Mirrors should not be in a child’s room because they terrify them when they’re not seen in the dark. Additionally, avoid placing the crib in a draft. Making a comfortable space with the baby’s favorite toys is not that hard.

Once the baby has become accustomed to sharing a bed, it is far more challenging to acclimate them to a crib. The choice to permanently remove the child from the parents’ bed is made. The process of getting used to the crib will take a long time and require a lot of courage and strength from everyone involved if mom and dad hesitate or decide to change their minds. Placing the child’s crib next to the parents is advised.

It is advisable to take out one of the crib’s sides for ease of access, enabling the mother to comfort her crying child at any time during the night. You still cannot put the child in your bed, though, even in this scenario. Although there’s no need to take him under mom’s warm embrace, he should feel that they are somewhat close.

At this point, parents must firmly see the end result and move toward it in spite of the child’s objections. And he will undoubtedly object. In the beginning, it’s critical to maintain your composure and steadfastly thwart the child’s attempts to climb out of his crib and join his parents. It may take the child several hours to fall asleep and start crying miserably. The child’s physiological need for rest will eventually cause them to nod off, though.

Gradually, the crib is moved a short distance from the parent’s bed, and the falling asleep itself will be shorter and shorter. It is difficult to say how long it may take to accustom. Everything depends on the child, his character, and the persistence of the parents. One manages to complete the accustoming in a few days, the other requires a few weeks. A common parental mistake is hidden in the indulgences that are suddenly made if the baby suddenly gets sick or another tooth begins to cut through painfully. They immediately take him back to themselves, to calm him down and ease his condition. After this, you will have to start all over again, but this time the baby will react to the eviction even more emotionally, the protest will become longer in time.

It can be difficult to assist a child in getting used to sleeping in their own crib, but this is a natural stage of growing up. The transition can go more smoothly for the child and the parents if there is patience, understanding, and consistency in routines.

Good bedtime routines and a cozy, secure sleeping environment can help your child feel safe and secure in their own space. Since every child is unique, it might take some time for them to get used to it, but perseverance will be rewarded.

Above all, keep in mind that this stage is just transitory. Your child will eventually become independent and learn to sleep in their own bed with your help and gentle guidance.

Video on the topic

How to teach a child to sleep in his own crib? Independent falling asleep

CHILD"S SLEEP | Why the child does not want to sleep in his own crib and what to do

The child does not want to sleep separately | Dr. Komarovsky

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Svetlana Kozlova

Family consultant and family relationship specialist. I help parents build trusting relationships with their children and each other. I believe that a healthy atmosphere in the home is the key to happiness and harmony, which I share in articles and recommendations.

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