Visualization Technique for Easing Crib Side Detachment for both Mom and Baby

It's time to put baby down in its crib for a nap. You pick baby up off of the floor that you've been playing on, hold baby close and slowly make your way into the baby's room. The shades are drawn and the crib is ready with whatever gives your baby comfort while sleeping. Standing next to the crib, still holding baby, you're trying to feel that perfect moment to detach. There it is. Slowly, trying not to make any sudden movements that would startle the baby from its drowsy state, you lower the sleepy baby into the crib until finally you can feel the mattress under your hands. Smoothly, you slide your hands out from under the baby. Success is so close you can taste it, but as soon as you turn your back to the crib to leave the room, it happens. Baby is screaming! What do you do?

You could simply walk out of the room, shut the door behind you and wait patiently right outside the door listening to each and every sound the baby makes knowing that soon sleep will take over. More often than not this works, at least it did in my case. However I did feel a great sense of detachment from my baby and wished that I could be closer to sooth and calm rather than standing outside of the closed door. I decided that there must be a better way, a way that mom and baby could detach and yet still feel connected enough to ease any anxiety.

Going with what felt right at the time, I stumbled upon a method that proved to make the transition from my arms to the crib an easier one for both of us time and time again. It involves mostly a visualization technique and requires mom to be calm and relaxed knowing that this will work.

The first step is to determine when baby is sleepy and ready for a nap. Such signs to be on the lookout for are glazed eyes, yawning, sucking on fingers or thumb, red cheeks and crying. When baby is tired it will look for a way to comfort itself, which is where the sucking on fingers or thumb come in. Baby may prefer a pacifier instead. If baby is unable to comfort itself, or simply has not realized how yet, crying is the next best thing. By crying, baby will get comfort from you.

Follow normal routine before nap. This may include feeding or simply singing a favorite lullaby. Also make sure that baby has a clean diaper. If baby prefers to be swaddled in a blanket, do that as well.

Now you're on your way to the baby's room. Have the room ready for sleep so that there is nothing more to be done besides putting the baby in the crib and walking out. There is nothing more distracting than trying to get shades drawn or a mobile playing while you're trying to get baby into sleep mode.

Standing at crib's side, hold baby close to you. With your eyes closed, feel and see a warm blanket embracing both you and baby in a soft soothing color. Continue to hold baby close until this visualization is so strong you can almost feel the fibers of the blanket. Slowly visualize the blanket separating from you but still embracing baby. Know firmly in your mind that this security blanket will keep baby feeling safe and close to you during sleep. Keep up the visualization as you put baby in the crib.

This method helped in giving me a sense of calm in putting my baby in for a nap knowing that my baby had our "security blanket" for comfort.