[Mama.Angie]

Just thought I'd share! Alexis has always slept with me in my bed, but unlike her big sister who had to be touching me constantly Alexis prefers to roll away and have her own space. So I decided now that she gets up and moves around a lot in the morning, sometimes too quietly for my liking, that it's time I introduce her to her crib.

So we went in last night, and seeing as how she's never spent much time in her room at all it was like a brand new experience. I showed her her walls, the lights, her window, her carpet, then put her in the crib. We played peek a boo behind the bars and played a little roll the ball around in the crib. She didn't want to lay down, so I stood in her room with her, rocked her, sang to her, and shushed her until she almost fell asleep. Then I put her down in her crib. She wasn't too thrilled, but I got her to stay laying down, and eventually she fell asleep. I made it out of her room, and then her daddy came plodding upstairs and she woke. She just sat up and looked at us through the bars, the stood up and demanded to be picked up.

I'm sick right now, so I got her, hung out in her room a bit longer, then took her back to my bed and went to sleep.

Anyhow, today we're going to spend more time in there, and I also have her big sister helping. She's bringing all the play food from the playroom up, and I put the play kitchen in Alexis' bedroom. So they can spend lots of fun times in there playing. Hopefully it will become a familiar place to her, and we'll be less distracted at night.


Any other ideas to get her comfy in there? I have no bumpers or toys in there... should I consider a toy?

[Admin-Rachel]

I try (I say try because sometimes I do it) to keep toys out of his bed. I want him to associate his bed with sleep, not play. On the rare occasion that I do put toys in there it's only because I need to contain him for a minute while I do something else. Our bedroom is not baby proofed so I can't leave him in there to even just pee.

[Aenyx]

I don't really put toys in her crib either. Yesterday was a rare occasion because she woke up from nap early and I needed to put her somewhere safe while I rinsed dye out of my hair.

I fought for weeks grtting her out of my bed and into her crib full time. We did rocking amd patting and singing her to sleep and she started kinda napping. after a few weeks she'd barely sleep in it but at least she was kinda used to it. I finally ended up doing CIO. Now she sleeps all night and every nap in there. I know that's not for everyone but it's what worked for me.

[petalfuzz]

If you want toys, I'd stick with soft cuddly ones.

I try to keep toys out of the bassinet because my girl will fight sleep like a professional boxer. If she finds a toy, she will concentrate on it so hard she will not go to sleep. like ever.

I tried to do the same with the highchair saying that meals were all about food, but that isn't working too well. I have to give her something small to bang or she grabs for the bowls/spoons and throws them around.

[Dixana]

Katelyns crib is like a playhouse. Bumper, stuffed critters, musical pull down, couple toys. BUT it is also in my room which is where she has slept since she was born.

[~Rae~]

I think what you've done so far is great! Good luck tonight.

[irishblessing]

That sounds like a great way to get her more used to things. Dominic has a fairly large stuffed dog in his crib (a flat type one so more like a pillow) and several blankets.

[Mama.Angie]

I guess I should have specified toys, I was meaning those crib specific toys, like the glowing fishy things, or a mobile, or whatever else might be out there.

I doubt I'm going to go buy one, so she'll just have to make do.

Her and her sister played in her room today, and she didn't complain at all. Hopefully tonight she does better. I won't force her, but I think I'll keep trying to get her down there every night. Also might start with some naps too.

[mandy5586]

Sounds like you're doing exactly what you should be doing! We do have soft cuddly stuffed animals in BB's crib. She cuddles them and wakes up early and chews on them, but doesn't wake me up and I like that, lol

GL!

[sweetgirl51305]

Maybe try to let her nap in there. That way she'll get used to it and sleep in there at night. That's how we did. At night we only put a crochet blanket on Lilli. Occasionally I'll put her in there with a few toys just to contain her while I vaccum. If there's a toy or anything in there at night she'll sit up and play.

[w292737]

bob has her blankets and her stuffed animals to cuddle with.