Room Transition – How Did We Do It?

Moving your baby into their own room is a huge step for you and for them. It’s a whole new sleep world they have to get used to. Here’s what I did when we made the move and how it went for us.

My son slept in his SnüzPod next to me in our room until he was 6 months old. Research suggests that babies should sleep in the same room as their parents until at least 6 months, so once we reached that milestone, we felt ready to make the move. Of course, every family is different and timing will always come down to personal preference and circumstance.

Before he was even born, we had his bedroom decorated and ready to go, with his cot all made up and comfy. From just a few weeks old, I started laying him in his cot for a few minutes a day while I stayed in the room with him. This helped him get used to being in his own room so it wasn’t unfamiliar when the time came to sleep there full-time.

At around 5 months, I started introducing daytime naps in his room. This felt like a gentle way to ease him into the transition. Over time, he began to nap there consistently, so by the time we moved him into his room overnight at 6 months, it wasn’t a big shock to the system.

While he was napping in his room, I’d always use a video monitor and stay nearby, usually in the next room. I also started doing his bedtime milk feed in his room but still put him down to sleep in his SnüzPod next to me. This helped build the association between bedtime and his bedroom without changing too much all at once.

When we finally made the transition, it actually went relatively smoothly. He was still waking for night feeds (which is totally normal at that age). Sometimes he just needed a quick cuddle or a hand on his chest for comfort. Other times, we’d have to rock him for a while. At the time, those moments felt never-ending but looking back, they were just short-term phases.

We always tried to encourage him to settle back to sleep before offering a feed. If he woke before the 3-hour mark, we’d try a cuddle or some reassurance first. If nothing worked, we’d offer milk but that wasn’t needed too often.

By 10 months, he started sleeping through the night with only the occasional wake-up. At that point, he wasn’t waking for feeds, just for a bit of comfort.

We always kept his room dark with blackout blinds and curtains, even for night feeds. From birth, we used Ewan the Dream Sheep, which plays soothing sounds and a heartbeat noise. He’s still a part of our routine. And then there’s his beloved Jellycat koala, which became his comforter completely on his own. We never pushed it, he just took to it and now I honestly don’t think he’d settle well without it.

He slept in a sleeping bag for a long time, and now at 2.5 years old, he’s in a pillow and duvet, which he took really well.

It’s important to remember that every baby is different as well as every family’s routine. What worked for us might not be the same for you, and that’s okay. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to sleep. If you're feeling unsure or would like support with making a smooth room transition, please get in touch. I’d love to chat with you and see how I can help.

Nikki x