Are you convinced your baby hates the crib? See why your baby might be protesting their crib and how you can help them sleep in it.
If it seems like your baby hates their crib, you aren’t the first parent I’ve heard say this.
I promise you that your baby doesn’t hate the crib that you so lovingly picked out and assembled for them.
More than likely, something else is happening within your baby’s day that is making them scream when you try to put them in their crib for sleep time.
I’m here to help you troubleshoot why your baby seems like they hate their crib and what you can do about it.
Why Does My Baby Hate the Crib?
It’s not that your baby hates the crib model or type that you purchased.
Getting a different crib won’t solve your problems.
It’s more likely that your baby hates the crib due to them being unfamiliar with it or something else being off with their sleep schedule, sleep environment, or wake windows.
Let’s troubleshoot what to do if your baby hates the crib.
How Do I Get My Baby to Like their Crib?
I’m sharing the most common reasons I’ve experienced for babies hating their cribs and what you can do to get your baby to settle in their crib.
1. Your Baby Hates the Crib Because It’s Unfamiliar
If your baby is used to sleeping in your room in a bassinet, then the crib (and their bedroom) can be a big, scary place for them.
I never sleep well the first night in a new hotel room either.
If your baby isn’t used to their crib, then it’s an unfamiliar space to them and that can cause a bit of distress for your baby, making it seem like they hate it
Solution
When you’re getting ready to transition your baby to a crib, start by having your baby spend awake time in the crib first.
You can play peek-a-boo with your baby while he is laying in his crib, do tummy time in there, or read them a story while they lay in the crib.
Help them get familiar with the crib first before trying to put them to sleep in it.
2. Your Newborn Doesn’t Know How to Sleep in their Crib
If your newborn baby is used to falling asleep in other places (like a baby carrier, carseat, or even on you for contact naps), being set down flat on their back for long stretches might feel pretty foreign to them.
And it might seem like they hate their crib.
It might also be the case that your young baby has outgrown their bassinet, and you’re starting to make the transition to a crib from a bedside bassinet.
That transition can be bewildering, especially if their bassinet had all sort of built-in soothing tools (like white noise and movement).
Losing those bells and whistles and transitioning from a high-tech bassinet like the SNOO to a crib means your baby has to start relying on their own independent sleep techniques and self-soothing.
Solution
Use a technique such as The Soothing Ladder to help soothe your baby while he is lying in his crib.
Going through the steps of The Soothing Ladder allows you to be present and comforting to your baby, while still giving them the opportunity to fall asleep in their crib.
It may take some time to find what soothes them, but keep at it.
3. Your Baby is Overtired
Newborns can only stay awake for so long before they need sleep again. This is known as their newborn wake window and is only about 30–90 minutes.
Once your baby reaches that overtired phase, it’s going to be much harder to get them to sleep anywhere, let alone a crib.
Solution
Pay attention to your newborn’s wake windows as well as their sleep cues.
When you see the signs that your baby is sleepy, or the time on the clock is getting close, go ahead and get them ready for sleep time.
If they go down for a nap or bed at the optimal time, they’re less likely to fight sleep.
4. You’re Baby Hates the Crib Because they Aren’t Swaddled
The crib can be an awfully big space for your tiny human!
It may feel too big to them, especially since they are used to being curled up in your womb.
Without a swaddle, it might seem like your baby hates the crib.
Solution
Swaddle your newborn before putting them down to sleep to make sure they stay warm and that their startle reflex (also known as the Moro Reflex) isn’t waking them up.
These are some of the best swaddles if you need recommendations.
If you have an older baby who has transitioned out of the swaddle, consider using a sleeping bag like a sleep sack to help keep your baby warm enough at night and keep a similar feeling of security that a swaddle can provide.
5. Your Baby Senses Your Anxiety Around the Crib
Babies can sense and mirror our emotions and stress as parents.
If you have anxiety about how your baby might react when you put them in their crib, it could become a self-fulfilling propehcy.
I used to get so nervous putting my newborn daughter to bed. In my experience as a sleep consultant, I’ve worked with so many mothers who really dread bedtime.
Solution
Know that you aren’t alone. Bedtime anxiety is real.
If you can, have your partner do bedtime while you go for a walk. Take care of yourself during the day leading up to bedtime, so you aren’t starting bedtime from a frazzled state.
6. Your Baby Has Reflux
One situation where you may frequently have a crying baby on your hands when you set them down in their crib is when your baby suffers from acid reflux.
Reflux babies tend to be more comfortable sleeping in a more upright position because it eases their reflux symptoms. Hence the crying when they lay down in the crib.
Keep in mind that crying when laying down flat is only one of many symptoms of reflux. Check out my post on baby reflux to learn more about other signs, and whether or not to get your healthcare providers involved.
Solution
Talk to your baby’s pediatrician if you suspect your baby has reflux.
Separating feeds from sleep by at least 30 minutes and keeping your baby upright after feeds can also help your reflux baby sleep better.
Get Your Newborn to Sleep
Learn how to get your newborn to fall asleep and stay asleep with the Newborn Sleep Course. You’ll learn expert sleep tips for soothing your baby to sleep, establishing easy routines, and how to start reducing night feeds when your newborn is ready. Learn more here.
7. Your Baby is Uncomfortable
Before you fully attribute your baby’s crying to some sort of crib aversion, it’s important to determine whether their physical needs are fully met and figure out if they’re in any physical discomfort.
Your baby won’t be able to relax and slip into deep sleep unless they are fully fed, have had a diaper change, and aren’t already overtired.
Solution
Make sure you adjust your feeding schedule so that you’re putting your baby down to sleep with a full tummy. A hungry baby isn’t going to fall asleep easily or stay asleep long.
Being in their own room and their own bed also means your baby is potentially experiencing a different temperature climate than you are.
To avoid temperature discomfort, make sure you are dressing your baby for sleep appropriately in a swaddle (for young babies) or sleep sack (for older babies).
8. They Need A Little Help
Perhaps your baby doesn’t hate the crib, they just need a little help getting to sleep. Newborn sleep is tough, especially nap time.
If your newborn seems to hate their crib and is struggling to sleep in it crib, there could be so many different factors at play. But the most obvious one is simply that they are new to this world and need a little help getting to sleep in their crib.
Solution
Don’t stress if your newborn won’t sleep in their crib right off the bat. You can use the 5 S’s to help soothe your baby and then transfer them.
Alternatively, you can provide some crib-side comfort or reassurance.
If your baby is too young for sleep training, try the Shush Pat or Pick Up/Put Down method instead.
9. You’re Expecting Too Much
It’s not realistic to expect your newborn to take every single nap in their crib.
Naps can be really challenging and 30-minute naps are super common for babies under 7 months.
If you’re expecting your baby to take every nap in their crib, you’re probably going to be in for a world of disappointment.
Solution
Start by getting your baby to sleep in their crib at night time. If that’s going well, you can also try to get the first nap of the day in the crib.
The morning nap is usually the easiest one to get babies to sleep in their crib. If you want to try for a nap in the crib, you’re most likely to have success with this nap.
10. They’re Going through A Sleep Regression
If your baby previously did fairly well in the crib, but now your baby hates the crib all of the sudden, it’s very possible that you could be dealing with a sleep regression.
There are plenty of common sleep regressions that can result in your baby protesting sleep. That includes a growth spurt fueled 6 month sleep regression, which often corresponds with the timing of the transition into your baby’s crib and own room.
Solution
Become familiar with the most common sleep regressions and why they happen.
Sometimes you can prevent a regression by teaching your baby good sleep and giving them plenty of time during the day to practice their new skills.
Newborn sleep can be tricky and getting a baby to sleep in a crib takes practice and patience. If you have any questions about why your baby hates the crib, leave them in the comments below and we’ll help you troubleshoot.
My goal is to help tired parents get sleep, so the whole family can thrive!
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