Changing Your Baby's Bedroom - Making The Transition Easier.

Change can be difficult for humans, even the youngest among us! While babies under six months are generally pretty adaptable, the older an infant gets, the more aware they are of subtle changes to their environment.

That’s why changing your baby’s bedroom can feel like such a big deal, especially the first move from your bedroom into their own space!

Sometimes the move is even bigger still, like when you move to an entirely new house.

But change doesn’t always have to be daunting. There are plenty of things you can do to help make the transition to a new bedroom easier – for you and baby!

General Tips To Help Baby Adjust To A New Bedroom

There are a number of things that you can do to help the transition be a smooth one. They are:

Take it slow

If you have the benefit of time, take advantage of it. Start spending time in the new space a few weeks before you plan on changing your baby’s bedroom. Hang out together there during the day, so your baby has a chance to get used to the look, feel, and smell of the room.

Do feeds and nappy changes in the new room well before the shift, and spend time playing and relaxing there too.

Pick the right time

Timing is key when trying to settle your little one into a new space. Try to avoid making this change if your baby is teething or feeling unwell. This is likely to affect their sleep and make it more difficult for them to settle into a new sleeping environment.

Change one thing at a time

Don’t try and force too many changes at once on your baby. A new crib/cot, blankets, decorations etc. all at the same time as a new room may be a little overwhelming! Keep the new bedroom as similar to the old one as you can at the beginning. Once your baby is settled, you can gradually introduce other changes if you want to.

Keep things familiar

The older your baby is, the more they become aware of their environment and pick up on subtle changes. Help them feel comfy by providing them with all their everyday items.

Favourite toys and blankets should move with your baby, as should any other items they are used to going to sleep with. Don’t forget to keep the room dark if that’s what they’re familiar with, and position the cot in a similar place in the room to where they usually sleep.

Stick to your routine

A standard sleep routine is essential for helping your baby wind down. Make sure you do all the same things in the new room that you did in the old one.

Take baby steps

When it comes to sleep, start with day naps in the new room until your baby is comfortable. Then, you can take the next step to overnighters. If you feel like you need a step in between, try doing the bedtime routine in the new room before putting your baby down to sleep in the old space as usual.

Moving Baby From Your Bedroom Into Their Own Room

If you’ve been sleeping in the same room as your baby since birth, the thought of shifting them to their own bedroom can be pretty daunting.

How do you know if the time is right (for you and baby), and how to ease the potential stress for your little one?

Most infant experts recommend sleeping in the same room with your baby for the first six months at least.

There’s no standard formula for when you should transition baby into their own room, but research does show that the longer you leave it, the trickier it is for baby to adjust to a new sleep space.

All the tips above apply to this room change, too.

However, if you’re feeling stressed about having your baby in a different room, you can take it as slow as you like.

Often, the transition can be tougher on the parents than babies! Acknowledge this, and give yourself time. You may even want to sleep on the floor in their new room for the first night or two until you feel confident heading back to your own bed.

Changing Your Baby’s Bedroom When Moving House

Changing your baby’s bedroom within your existing home is one thing, but what happens when you are moving to a new house?

It’s not possible to make the transition gradually, so how can you help the shift be less of a shock?

Try some of the following strategies:

●        Set up your baby’s room as soon as possible on moving day. If necessary use unwashed cot sheets that smell and feel familiar. Get everything sorted and ready so your little one has a comfortable, safe space to be in amongst the chaos of moving day.

●        If possible, space the move a little to give everyone time to settle in. Shift most things on the first day, and take your baby to their new room on the morning of the second day. That way, they have a whole day to adjust to the novel environment instead of suddenly finding themselves forced to sleep in a place they’ve only just arrived at.

●        Create a familiar environment. While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to replicate your baby’s old bedroom exactly, there are many ways to make the transition less of a shock to the system.

●        Try keeping the room setup similar to the old one. Bring along all the familiar toys, blankets, and decorations, and make good use of sleep tools like blackout curtains, night lights, or white noise machines (only if they’re already part of your existing sleep routine.)

●        Be consistent! Try to stick to your napping and feeding schedule during the move and avoid disrupting your baby’s regular routine, especially at bedtime. Consistency provides much-needed security and can help make changing your baby’s bedroom much less stressful.

There is always the opportunity to get some guidance and support when making big changes like moving your baby into their own room or moving house. Here at Serene Sleep, we have a range of sleep support packages to suit every need and budget.  If you need extra help book a FREE  no obligation call today to discuss how I can best support you on your journey to better sleep.