The Key to Getting Your Newborn to Sleep in Their Bassinet

How do I transition from the bed to the bassinet?

Babies are too young for strict schedules, but there is one thing that can help you get your little one on a schedule: sleep cues. Start putting your baby down at the same time each day—so after eating and changing, that’s a good bet. If they wake up before you get back from work or whatever, just go ahead and put them down again (you might be surprised how quickly they learn). Gradually move their bassinet farther away from your bed. Eventually, when it’s totally separate, you can move them into their room without too much of a hassle. Don’t worry about crying—it’s normal! Just keep going.

When should I start using a swaddle?

Swaddling is great for newborns and works especially well at helping them sleep longer and better. As your baby gets older, though, he will eventually grow out of swaddling. When that happens, you’ll need to transition him to a new sleeping solution. Ideally, your little one would be able to transition from his bassinet into his crib before he starts breaking free from swaddling—but that isn’t always possible. If your baby has already moved past his swaddle-weaning phase, then simply follow these steps below 

1. Lay your baby down on his back in his bassinet or crib with a pacifier or bottle (depending on how old they are). Lay a blanket over them so it covers most of their body but doesn’t obstruct their face. This step helps make sure your baby feels secure and comfortable as he transitions to a new sleeping space. It also keeps them warm during what could be an otherwise uncomfortable process. 
2. Rock your baby gently until they fall asleep.
3. Once they're asleep, remove all blankets and other coverings except for a thin receiving blanket or light cotton sheet if needed. 
4. Place your hand on top of their head and very slowly move it toward their feet while making sure not to wake them up in any way. 
5. Keep moving until you feel resistance; then stop moving but keep holding onto your child's head 
6. Slowly slide your hand off their head, being careful not to jostle them awake 
7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 until your baby moves closer to where you started 
8. Eventually, they'll find themselves in a position where they can lay flat without waking up 
9. You can now lay them down flat on their back and let go 
10. Make sure they stay asleep by turning off any lights around them and leaving only night lights turned on 
11. Leave quietly 
12. Return after 20 minutes to check on them 
13. If they're still asleep, leave again 
14. If they're awake, repeat steps 12 through 14 until they finally fall asleep 
15. Check on them every hour to ensure that nothing went wrong 
16. Once your baby wakes up, pick them up and rock them again 
17. Continue repeating steps 4 through 16 until bedtime 
18. Once bedtime rolls around, place your baby in their crib 
19. Follow these same procedures when you put your child down for naps throughout the day
20. After a few days of following these procedures consistently, your baby should have no problem falling asleep in his bassinet or crib . 
21. If they do have trouble falling asleep, try rocking them or feeding them until they doze off 
22. Don't give up! Babies often take time to adjust to new things 
23. Be patient 
24. Good luck!

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