How to Transition Your Baby to Sleeping in Their Own Room

When can my baby start sleeping in their own room?

Generally, it’s recommended to keep babies in the same room as you for the first six months, ideally up to a year,as this has been shown to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

But, as with so many other aspects of parenting, what works for someone else’s family might not necessarily work for yours. Space, noise levels, and individual milestone development can all play a part. You know your baby better than anyone else, so take things at a pace that suits your family — and trust us: babies can’t be rushed!

Use the table below as a rough guide:

Signs your baby is ready to sleep on their own

Moving to their own room can be a big change for you and your little one, so it’s crucial not to rush the process. Aside from the broad guidelines above, there are a few key signs that your little one might be ready for the transition:

They’re waking frequently

It might seem counterintuitive, but if your tot’s struggling to stay asleep, this could be the first sign that they’d be more comfortable in a room of their own. Research shows that frequent wakings are normal (and usually no cause for concern) throughout the first year. However, if they’re waking up a lot — not just because they’re hungry or fussy — and they need your help to settle down again, transitioning to independent sleep might be best for both of you. 

They’re outgrowing their bassinet

If your baby’s starting to feel a little cramped in their bassinet, or if they’re constantly rolling over and seem fussy, this may signal that their sleeping space needs an upgrade. A crib is a must, but it could also be beneficial to move their bed into a separate room if you feel they’re ready — by the time most babies outgrow the bassinet, they may be at an age where it’s possible to transition them to independent sleeping. 

They’re 6 months or older

As we touched on in the table above, at 6 months of age you may consider moving your baby into their own room. This doesn’t mean you have to start the transition, of course — and many experts advise ideally waiting up to a year — but if your tot is reaching this age and showing signs they’re capable of self-soothing, it may be a good time to at least experiment with putting them to sleep in a separate room.

They seem sensitive to noise or movements

Babies are surprisingly light sleepers, and every creak of the bed or tiny snore can disrupt their rest. If you notice that your baby wakes up easily from your nighttime noise, a room of their own could help everyone sleep more soundly. If they’re not old enough to sleep independently though, you could always try using white noise to drown out disturbances.

How do I transition away from room sharing with my baby?

So, you’re ready to transition your tot from your bedside to a room all of their own — what’s the best way to do it?

Gradually.

A successful transition won’t happen overnight — literally — and just like every other aspect of parenting, a few bumps in the road are to be expected. We can’t promise it’ll be easy, but here are a few tips to make things run as smoothly as possible:

Stay with them in their room

Spending time with your tot in their new sleeping space, especially during those first few nights, can make their adjustment feel less sudden (and scary!). 

Start by sitting quietly beside their bassinet or crib until they drift off, then sneak away into your own room. Each night, increase the distance between you and the crib as your tot’s trying to fall asleep. 

After a few nights, try placing them down and leaving the room completely, and (keeping your fingers crossed) head back to your bedroom. If all goes to plan, they should eventually settle down completely unaided.

What if this doesn’t work?

If they’re really struggling, you can try a temporary “camp-out” in their room, where you sleep on a nearby mattress or bed for a few nights. This way, they’ll have the comfort of your presence as they adapt to the new surroundings, without needing to be in your room.

Establish a routine

Babies are suckers for a solid routine because it creates a sense of security and predictability, which is particularly helpful when they’re experiencing a change in their environment.

A simple bedtime routine like a gentle bubble bath, a lullaby or two, or a nicerelaxing massage is a great way to help your tot get into the slumber zone. Just try to keep the order and timing of these sleep cues the same each night to reinforce the associations with bedtime. 

You can even use a comforting phrase like “goodnight, sleep tight” or “sweet dreams” each night before you leave. This will work as a bookend to your bedtime routine, strengthening the associations even further. 

Build familiarity with the new room

Making your baby’s room a place that feels familiar and comforting can make it far less intimidating when it’s time for sleep.

When you first move them, for example, keeping them in the crib they were sleeping in before can ease the transition, as their surroundings won’t feel quite so unfamiliar. Don’t feel the need to wait until they’ve outgrown their current crib before making the move.

Keeping the same bedding and sleepwear can help too, as can positioning their crib in roughly the same position (room layout allowing) as it was in your room. 

Moreover, try to spend time with your tot in their new room even when it’s not bedtime, and link the space with positive emotions by using it as a venue for their favorite activities, such as tummy time or even a game of peek-a-boo!

There’s plenty to be said for creating the perfect sleep environment for your little one, too. In short: try to keep things dim (or pitch-black) and remember to keep the room at a comfortable temperature (usually around 68–72°F or 20–22°C).

Don’t rush!

Every family’s rhythm is different. If a quicker adjustment sounds good, you can start putting your baby in their new room for all sleep times — bedtime, throughout the night, and naps. Younger babies often adapt well to a faster transition like this.

For older infants (around 8-9 months), adjusting to a new space can sometimes be a little more challenging, as they’re more aware of their surroundings. They might resist the change, waking frequently or becoming fussier than usual. In these cases, slow and steady is the best approach.

Try starting with the first nap of the day in the new room. From there, you can slowly add more naps, or begin with just bedtime in the new room, bringing them back to your room after the first wake-up. This can work well if they’re already used to different sleeping spots, like a bassinet in your room and a crib in theirs.

Do babies sleep better in their own room?

It depends.

Every tot is unique, and while one baby might take to sleeping independently like a duckling to water, another might stage nightly protests. In most cases, it’s a roll of the dice!

According to research, babies over 4 months of age tend to sleep more soundly away from their parents. Why? Well, the extra quiet and fewer distractions — particularly if you or your partner snores (no judgment here!) or gets up very early for work — can make a huge difference in how quickly they’re able to settle down. And for older babies, sleeping away from you might also reduce their temptation to wake you up for a midnight feed. 

So while there are plenty of exceptions to the rule, the evidence certainly suggests that transitioning your tot to their own room might help them sleep better.

Does room sharing help reduce the risk of SIDS?

Yes, room sharing is indeed recommended to help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Research from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that room sharing for at least the first six months, ideally up to one year, minimizes the risk of SIDS.

Why is this? Room sharing allows you to stay close enough to respond quickly if your baby needs you. It’s thought that having you nearby might also help regulate your baby’s breathing and heart rate, which may reduce the risk of SIDS.

The key here is room sharing, not bed sharing. While it’s tempting to cuddle up and drift off together, co-sleeping can raise the risk of accidental suffocation or entrapment, especially in the newborn stage. 

Whether you decide to move your little one into their own room as soon as they reach 6 months or you’d prefer to wait a little longer to introduce a more autonomous sleeping arrangement, the key is taking your time — a little resistance from your baby is to be expected, but with patience and persistence you’ll soon get them used to snoozing in their own dedicated space.

Reviewed by Rosey Davidson, Sleep Consultant, founder & CEO, in November 2024.