When is The Best Time to Move a Baby into their Own Room?
This parenting decision can feel emotionally loaded.
Moving your baby into their own room can feel monumental. Equal parts “I need sleep or I might cry in the cereal aisle” and “Why does this feel like I’m abandoning my tiny human?”
Moving your baby to their own room can spark many emotions
Most of the time, it is short lived
If you’re staring at the baby monitor at 2:47 a.m. wondering whether tonight is the night , you’re not alone. Let’s talk honestly about recommendations, reality, emotions, and why this decision is far less black-and-white than the internet makes it seem.
What the Official Recommendations Say (and Why)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies room-share (but not bed-share) with parents for at least the first 6 months, and ideally up to 12 months, as this has been associated with a reduced risk of SIDS.
This recommendation is based on population-level data, not on what happens in every single home, family, or sleep setup.
And that distinction matters.
Because guidelines are written to protect all families, not to account for:
Parents who wake up at every baby sigh
Babies who sound like tiny farm animals all night
Or parents who are running on fumes and genuinely not sleeping at all which can greatly effect the mental health or one of both parents.
The Part No One Says Quietly Enough: Babies Are LOUD
Newborns and young babies are shockingly noisy sleepers.
Grunting. Snorting. Squeaking. Slamming their legs down like they’re practicing for CrossFit at 3 a.m.
Many parents come to me convinced their baby is “waking constantly,” when in reality, the baby is cycling and snorting their way through normal sleep cycles, and the parents are wide awake listening to every peep. For many Mums, they are on edge, getting ready to spring up and feed the baby.
And here’s the honest truth I’ve seen again and again over 20 years:
Many parents sleep better when their baby is in their own room.
Many babies also sleep better when parents stop responding to every micro-noise.
Better sleep doesn’t mean less love. It means more regulated nervous systems for everyone involved.
Room Size Matters (More Than You Think)
Here’s something I don’t hear talked about nearly enough.
When I used to do in-home consultations, I’ve been in some very large homes, I’m talking primary bedrooms well over 1,000 square feet ( crazy right!). In those cases, the baby might technically be “room-sharing,” but practically speaking?
That baby could be several condos away if you live in downtown Vancouver.
Compare that to a small apartment or condo where the crib is two feet from your bed and every inhale is broadcast live.
Same recommendation. Completely different reality.
So when parents ask, “Am I doing something wrong if I move my baby earlier?”
My answer is always: context matters.
So… When Is the Best Time?
The best time to move your baby into their own room is when:
Your baby is developmentally ready (often between 4–6 months), I personally moved mine at 8 weeks, but that is not going to work for everyone. I am a wreck if I don’t sleep resulting in me not being the best parent in the day.
Safe sleep guidelines are followed (alone, on their back, in a crib)
You are not sleeping well, even when your baby is
The current setup is increasing anxiety rather than reducing it
You’re constantly waking your baby, or they’re constantly waking you
For many families, that sweet spot lands somewhere between 4–6 months, which is also when sleep patterns start to mature and longer stretches become possible.
This isn’t about rushing independence.
It’s about creating an environment where everyone can rest.
The Emotional Side (Because Yes, It’s Real)
Even when it’s the right move, it can still feel heavy.
You might:
Sit on the edge of the bed staring at the monitor
Miss the little noises you swore were ruining your life last week
Wonder if you’ve made a terrible mistake (you haven’t)
This transition is often harder on parents than babies.
Babies adapt quickly when sleep is supported well. Parents need a bit more reassurance and that’s okay.
Let’s Normalize the Conversation
Parents don’t get to talk about this enough and I’d love to change that.
I’d love for you to share your story with me:
When did you move your baby into their own room?
How did it feel emotionally?
And what changed with sleep afterward?
You can reply to this post or send me a message, your story might be exactly what another exhausted parent needs to hear.
You’re not behind.
You’re not doing it “wrong.”
And you’re allowed to want sleep and closeness.
Both can exist
