As a new parent, chances are you already know (or will soon discover) how important it is to develop a sleep schedule for your baby. Because when your baby sleeps better, your entire family gets more rest.

While some parents introduce their baby to Cradlewise right after bringing them home from the hospital, other families make the transition when their little one is slightly older.

Whether you’re making the move because your baby wasn’t sleeping well in their first crib or bassinet, or you recently discovered Cradlewise, it’s common to have questions about how to transition your baby to Cradlewise.

So here we are with the answers!

How much time does it typically take to transition to Cradlewise?

Depending on the age at which your baby is introduced to their Cradlewise convertible smart crib, fully transitioning can take anywhere from a week to a month or so (see specific transition ranges by age below). But remember, each baby is unique, and some babies might transition to Cradlewise faster or slower than others. Take heart—introducing any new change to your baby requires patience and consistency.

How should I start transitioning my baby to the Cradlewise crib?

Here are some tips to make the transition easier:

• Start with afternoon naps at first.
• Be with your baby; you can initially place your hand on their chest to help them feel secure.
• The goal is to make your little one feel comfortable and safe during the introductory phase.

Tip: Introduce Cradlewise for nighttime sleep only after your baby feels comfortable sleeping in it during their daytime nap.

Cradlewise transition guide for 1 month to 3 months old

Transition time: 1 week to 10 days

Between their first and third months, your little one’s sleep schedule is just beginning to take shape. Newborns sleep 16 to 17 hours per day, with fairly short windows of wakefulness.

Your baby’s sleep cycles haven’t fully matured yet; that’s why it’s easiest to transition to Cradlewise during this period.

Your baby’s sleep recipe:

When babies from one to three months first start in Cradlewise, the benefits (less crying, more sleep!) become apparent within the first week. 

• Bring the crib into your room (or the baby’s nursery) and allow them to get used to it during their awake times without the noise or bounce. This will help them familiarize themselves with the crib and its environment.
  
  Try using Cradlewise when your baby is in a good mood. That’s a good way to introduce not only Cradlewise but any other baby gear like a new stroller, car seat, and high chair.

• Once you’re ready to begin, use Cradlewise for naps and at night. We suggest starting in auto mode, with the bounce intensity at 25-50% and sensitivity set at 75%. Crib Sensitivity determines how quickly and how often your Cradlewise bounces. It controls the point at which the crib auto-soothes based on the baby’s activity level.
  
  This will allow the crib to respond quickly to their movements and get them back to sleep.

• Since babies are light sleepers around this age, they can be easily disturbed by ambient noise. Consider introducing our white/pink/brown noise feature to help them fall asleep. You can also use auto sound mode, which automatically adjusts the volume of the tracks as your baby cries.

• By month 3, your baby’s tummy grows in size. Now they can go for longer stretches of sleep without feeding. Sometimes at night, they can go with 4 to 5 hours of continuous sleep, and once their stomach has grown in size since birth, they will require less frequent feedings.
  
  You can help your baby start to understand that daytime is for eating and nighttime is for sleeping by making sure that they get most of their calories from feedings during the daytime.
  

Cradlewise transition guide for 3 months to 5 months old

Transition time: 1 to 2 weeks

Your baby’s sleep cycles will start maturing, becoming longer and more predictable, around month 4.  But they may also experience the 4-month sleep regression, a period of difficulty in falling or staying asleep, unpredictable naps, and frequent night wakings.

Tip: During sleep regressions, you can also use “always on” bounce mode. It can help keep your baby asleep during rough patches.

If you introduce your baby to Cradlewise during this time, it will take them a few weeks to transition. To ease this process, we have multiple settings that will help your baby sleep better.

Your baby’s sleep recipe:

By 4 months, your baby has become much more social, as at this time, the world is far more exciting for your baby than sleep.

• For this age group, a stronger bounce can help.
• Start by setting the crib in auto mode at 75% intensity and sensitivity at 50%. If your baby is responding well to the bounce, increase the sensitivity to allow the crib to respond faster to their movements.
• After 6-8 weeks, you can slowly decrease the sensitivity to encourage your baby to learn how to self-soothe.
• Growth spurts may wake a baby due to hunger, so try boosting feedings to prevent frequent wake-ups, and make sure they’re not getting too much daytime sleep.
• If your baby is transitioning out of a swaddle at this time, a transitional suit like the Baby Merlin suit can be a good option.

Cradlewise transition guide for 6 months and up

Transition time: Up to one full month

At 6 months, you’re halfway to your baby’s first birthday! It also means that a lot of their sleep habits and preferences are already set.

Any change in your baby’s sleep surroundings after 6 months will be slightly challenging.

But be assured that your Cradlewise comes with a range of settings that can help your baby smoothly transition to their new environment. With a little patience, you and your baby will both adjust, and enjoy better sleep. 

Your baby’s sleep recipe:

• If your baby hasn’t felt movement during sleep, it could be surprising at first. Start in auto mode for bounce at 25% intensity and 50% sensitivity.
• After a few weeks, once your baby is sleeping well, you can slowly begin to decrease the sensitivity. This will encourage them to learn how to self-soothe. 
• If you are transitioning your little one from a motion bassinet like SNOO, Cradlewise’s ‘always on bounce’ setting might help ease the transition, since your baby is already used to constant motion.
• When you’re ready to transition out of ‘always on bounce,’ start with the highest cradle sensitivity setting and gradually reduce it over a period of one month.

Transitioning from a SNOO to Cradlewise

Transition time: Up to one full month

If you are transitioning your little one from a motion bassinet like SNOO, Cradlewise’s ‘always on bounce’ setting might help ease the transition. This is because babies are already used to constant motion.

Your baby’s sleep recipe:

• When transitioning out of ‘always on bounce,’ start with the highest cradle sensitivity setting and gradually reduce it over a period of one month.

• Your baby might be used to being swaddled in SNOO. If your baby still likes being swaddled after transitioning to Cradlewise, go for it.

It’s best to follow AAP’s latest guidelines about swaddling — which states that swaddling is no longer appropriate when a baby exhibits signs of attempting to roll (which usually occurs at 3 to 4 months but may occur earlier), as it increases the risk of suffocation.

Transitioning from a static crib or bassinet to Cradlewise

Transition time: 1 to 3 weeks

If you’re transitioning your baby from a static bassinet or crib to Cradlewise, ensure that you gently ease them into the bouncing motion, which might be an adjustment at first.

Your baby’s sleep recipe:

• If your baby hasn’t felt movement during sleep, it could be surprising at first. Start in auto mode for bounce at 25% intensity and 50% sensitivity.

• After a few weeks, once your baby is sleeping well, you can slowly begin to decrease the sensitivity. This will encourage them to learn how to self-soothe. 

Helpful tips for transitioning your baby to Cradlewise

Any change in a baby’s sleep routine can be an adjustment, but small changes can get them back on track.

Here are some tips that you can follow to help your baby sleep better in Cradlewise:

• Ensure your baby is snugly swaddled. Your little one’s arms should be at their sides (remember: only swaddle your baby if they have not yet learned to roll over).
  

• Turn up the white noise. While you’re allowing them to self-soothe, turn up the white noise to meet the same volume as their cries.
  
• Increase feedings. A full tummy can help ensure longer stretches of sleep.
  
• Give them time to adjust. If your baby cries when you first put them in the crib, offer comfort without immediately picking them up by rubbing their tummy, singing, or gentle infant massage. Your loving presence can soothe your baby without sending the message that crying is the best way back into your comforting arms.
  

• Give your baby a few minutes to self-soothe. Self-soothing is a skill that babies can start learning early on that leads to a solid sleep foundation.
  
  Even if you transition your baby to the crib when they’re asleep, gently jostle them when you put them down, so they have a chance to settle down. It can also help, so they don’t wake up surprised that they’re no longer in your arms! Your Cradlewise will automatically shut off and notify you if your baby needs you.
  
  Keep in mind that whenever you introduce anything new to your baby, whether it’s a new bottle, stroller, or crib, they may initially resist the change.

Learn more about:

• Bassinet vs. crib? Here’s why you don’t have to choose