DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

DD is 3 months.

We tried transitioning her to the crib last month from her FP Rock N Sleeper and it was a disaster, she was waking up all the time I think because she was so used to being tight and cozy in her sleeper.

So, as a compromise with myself , I do naps in the crib to get her used to it.

She'll wake up from a nap and roll around and play in there for up to an hour by herself <I tested her yesterday to see how long she'd go! I watch on the video monitor>. I thought "great! this is like extra naptime for Mommy to get stuff done!"

But.. I read in the baby week-by-week book that you shouldn't let them play in the crib because then they won't associate it with sleep?

She goes down easily in the crib, falls asleep right away, so far that doesn't seem to be an issue...

Am I shooting myself in the foot if I let her play in there?

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

I would probably let her play in her crib for awhile, maybe not an hour. Maybe get her after 15-20 minutes. Also, ask your ped. they might have a better answer for you!

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

I have always let my kids play in their cribs as long as they want. They sleep great for the most part

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

absolutely not -
If your baby is content to wake up and entertain herself count your blessings !! You have an independent baby who doesn't need you 24/7 - it's not a bad thing -

And I might understand your concern if you threw the entire toychest into the crib with her - but that's not the case.
She's just entertaining herself and content to chill out there on her own ..........

Awesome for you !!

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Independent play is so important for them! Once DS passed the "wake up and scream my head off until Mommy gives me her boob" phase and started waking calmly and playing by himself, I let him! Sometimes up to an hour! I'd watch him, of course, sometimes I'd turn on the mobile so that he had something to watch (he was fascinated with it), but I let him play.

Now he's a good sleeper and can play by himself on his play mat for a while. Not all day, not hours, but enough that someone doesn't have to entertain him every minute of the day.

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

WOW, your lucky! My DD cries when she wakes up from a nap, then once I walk over to the crib she smiles LOL. SHe hates to be in there unless she is sleeping.

If she is content I would leave her in there for 15 mins or so so you could get things done/relax.

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

thats my dd. Hse wakes up and talks to herself and the mobile and rolls around. I will let it go on as I have extra time on my hands. Of course I get her is she screams. Alot of the time she wakes up and goes back down

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

I'm so JEALOUS! my kids start screaming before eyes are even open , so annoying I have to leap up to get them!!!! Count your blessings and let her play

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

This is how I trained DS to like his crib. Now he wakes up in the morning and plays until we get him. Its a blessing. Especially after I keep hearing moms with babies that wake up too early. DS wakes up early too, but he keeps himself amused, and will only really cry for me if he has poop.

Playing in the crib, is all right with me! Safest place for them to be.

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

LEAVE HER!

DD has gone up to an hour too! That is how I get extra sleep in the morning!

Since I let her play in the morning like that, if she wakes up at a ridiculous time like 4AM, she will PLAY for over an hour and then drift off to sleep. She still wakes us up with her babbling but we love to lay in bed and listen to her! It's hysterical.

Is she rolling over? DD rolls side to side but doesn't go all the way over yet - sometimes I just push her over so maybe she will get it

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Posted by Tilde
Is she rolling over? DD rolls side to side but doesn't go all the way over yet - sometimes I just push her over so maybe she will get it

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Posted by LoveyQ

Posted by Tilde
Is she rolling over? DD rolls side to side but doesn't go all the way over yet - sometimes I just push her over so maybe she will get it

I used to do the same thing to DS I think it helped him learn, but what do I know.

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Let her be. DS will play in his crib for up to an hour in the morning. Not quietly though. He likes to squeal and make himself laugh loud. I leave him until I have to go in and get him.

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by LoveyQ

Posted by Tilde
Is she rolling over? DD rolls side to side but doesn't go all the way over yet - sometimes I just push her over so maybe she will get it

I used to do the same thing to DS I think it helped him learn, but what do I know.

I did this! And it worked.
I think she finally gets it now on her own!

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Leave her!!! It turns into a 16m old that sleeps til 9am and stays quiet in his crib til 10am on the weekends!!!

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Posted by Tilde

LEAVE HER!

DD has gone up to an hour too! That is how I get extra sleep in the morning!

Since I let her play in the morning like that, if she wakes up at a ridiculous time like 4AM, she will PLAY for over an hour and then drift off to sleep. She still wakes us up with her babbling but we love to lay in bed and listen to her! It's hysterical.

Is she rolling over? DD rolls side to side but doesn't go all the way over yet - sometimes I just push her over so maybe she will get it

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Posted by Shorty

Leave her!!! It turns into a 16m old that sleeps til 9am and stays quiet in his crib til 10am on the weekends!!!

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

DD will just wake up and play as well. I leave her for a little while, but I always try to get her before she decides it's time to cry. I don't want her to think she has to cry for me to get her.......i don't know what is right, but this is just what I do. DS always cried immediately upon waking so this is a nice change. Now that she is older I have a few soft blocks and a soft book at the foot end of her crib and she makes her way over there and plays or just plays with her fingers for a while.

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?

Posted by Tilde

Is she rolling over? DD rolls side to side but doesn't go all the way over yet - sometimes I just push her over so maybe she will get it

Re: DD could play in her crib forever after waking up from a nap.. do I let her?