Once you're ready to have your child fall asleep in her own bed, give all those stuffed animals in your house a real role to play. "Make a family of stuffed animals or dolls and act out what's in store regarding the new sleep routine. The mommy or daddy doll can put the child doll in his own crib or bed and say how proud she is," says Kira Ryan, co-author of The Dream Sleeper: A Three-Part Plan for Getting Your Baby to Love Sleep and co-founder of Dream Team Baby Sleep Consultation in New York City. "Use as few words as possible as not to confuse your child." Once you're ready to give it a go, says Ryan, use the animals at bedtime to remind your child that just like Kitty was ready to sleep in her own bed, your child is ready for her own bed, too. (Need help making the crib-to-bed-switch? Here are 17 ways to help make it a smooth transition.)
