Crib-Sleepers

The Solo Sleep Strategies in the course can be adapted to work for kids who still sleep in a crib by making a few modifications. 

Remember, only keep your child in the crib if you can do so safely and they are not climbing out. If they are climbing out but they are under 3 years old, click this link for some ideas to keep them safely in the crib. I recommend keeping kids in the crib until 1) they are sleeping well and 2) they are at least 3 years old.

CAMPING IN:
This strategy can be modified fairly easily for crib sleepers. The chair placement & negative consequence is the same as described in the course. When it comes to the "head on bed" rule, you can decide what reaction will get you to leave the room. With younger kids, you may choose to use standing up in the crib as the reaction rather than just lifting their head up or sitting up. But some kids really like to test the boundaries and they may need a stricter response, like you leaving the room if they sit up in the crib. 

SILENT RETURN WITH LIMITS:
This strategy must be done a little differently with crib-sleepers since they can't get up and leave the. The concept behind SR with Limits is that you clearly explain to the child the expectation (stay in their room) along with the reward & consequence. When they are in a crib, they don't have a choice to leave the room; so, we need to change that initial expectation. There are a couple ways to do this:

1. Call Back Request
You give the child the option to call you back into the room using a word like "mama" or "come back". 

When you go back, all you do is say "shush" for a few seconds and leave the room. Be 'Sleepy Mommy/Daddy' when you do this. Avoid eye contact, avoid going all the way to the crib, just stand at the door frame. Do not answer any requests, do not give any reminders, do not re-tuck in or say "goodnight". Simply shush from the door and then leave.

You start with giving them 3 chances to call you back and then you reduce is down to 2, 1 and zero if necessary, just like the course describes. 

Rewards work the same way as the course describes.

With younger kids, using a visual to help count down their chances can be helpful. You could cut a few shapes out of construction paper and tape them to the inside of their door. This represents the number of chances they have. Each time you come in to "shush", remove one of the shapes.

2. Timed Interval Checks
This option is a bit different because it does not give the child as much control as the Call Back Request. And I think one thing that makes this program so successful is giving your child some control. But this option can be good especially with kids under 2.5 years old. 

If your child is crying after you leave the room, you come back and do a quick check at certain timed intervals. The interval I suggest is 3 minutes. Meaning, if they are still crying 3 minutes after you say goodnight and leave the room, go back in and do a quick check in.

When you go back for the check in, all you do is say "shush" for a few seconds and leave the room. Be 'Sleepy Mommy/Daddy' when you do this. Avoid eye contact, avoid going all the way to the crib, just stand at the door frame. Do not answer any requests, do not give any reminders, do not re-tuck in or say "goodnight". Simply shush from the door and then leave.

You start with doing 3 timed interval checks, then you reduce is down to 2, 1 and zero if necessary, just like the course describes.

Rewards work the same way as the course describes.

With younger kids, using a visual to help count down their chances can be helpful. You could cut a few shapes out of construction paper and tape them to the inside of their door. This represents the number of chances they have. Each time you come in to "shush", remove one of the shapes.