Climbing out of the crib!

Nikki - posted on 12/29/2009

As far as an update, right around the time I posted this we were opening up our Christmas Kiosk in a mall, so DD was with my sister 6 days/week (which she's used to being with me and my DH every day), I had read that it's best not to have any big changes going on when switching to a toddler bed... so we moved the changing table, which was assisting her in getting out of the crib, and crossed our fingers that she wouldn't try and climb out again until January when things were back to normal. Thank god that has worked, she has not climbed out since and today is the first day that she is with me full time again. We have another one on the way, arriving in May, so I know that the time for a toddler bed is right around the corner, especially since we'll need the crib for the baby. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated and will be put to use soon. Thanks!

Renee - posted on 12/27/2009

The halo sleep sack wouldn't work for my son. He has learned to unzip his PJs and would just unzip the sleep sack and crawl out of it. Many of mornings I go in and he is just in his onsey and diaper. If it wasn't for his onsey he would be naked in the morning. I put up a crib tent for my son, and it works wonders. He can no longer get a foot hold to climb out.

Caren - posted on 12/26/2009

I have to agree with the Halo sleepsack comments. We still have my oldest son in one because he is in the crib and has tried to crawl out. We have in the early walker sacks so he has foot holes and can walk and not be constricted...but he still can't get his legs far enough apart to get one leg up over the side of the crib. A friend suggested this to me and she was spot on!

Deidre - posted on 12/25/2009

Nikki - any update?



Transitioning to a toddler bed wasn't nearly as awful as I would have imagined. We switched my daughter at 15mo (now 19mo) and it has been amazing! She does super well and bedtime has become a breeze for us. Just make sure her bedroom is as toddler-proofed as possible in case she gets out of bed (which, if she's climbing out of the crib, you need to do anyway). It is much safer and if they are climbing out of bed anyway I don't see a huge difference in switching them, other than they won't hurt themselves when getting out of a toddler-bed unlike a crib.



I say, go ahead and try it for a few nights. Put the crib away (hide in a closet maybe) and put a mattress on the floor and see how she does! Also, if she can open doors, I suggest putting a lock on the outside of her door to keep her from opening it. Luckily my daughter can't open doors yet but I'm awaiting the day b/c you betcha a lock is going on that door to keep her contained lol. Oh, and my daughter sometimes wakes up around 4am and will put herself back to sleep (in her bed) by 5am.

Dorraine - posted on 12/23/2009

One item to buy: the Halo Sleep Sack! My daughter has always slept in one except for naps and then she started trying to climb out so on when the sleepsack for naptime too...She can't hoist her leg up over...so far so good! Good Luck...remember to anchor her furniture if she will be mobile and unattended in her room!

Traci - posted on 12/22/2009

We are encountering the same problem with our 18 month old. We moved the change table, but he wasn't actually using that so all he did was climb out of the crib then climb up on the change table and accross to the dresser where he had a lotion fiesta! He now sleeps in his playpen for his afternoon nap as he cannot get out of that, but it still staying in his crib at night tme! I am definately not ready for the toddler bed scenario!!!! Good luck!

Kirsten - posted on 12/20/2009

I've always put my daughter in a Halo Sleepsack for sleeping. It doesn't allow her little legs to get far enough apart to be able to get up over the crib. If she's in there without the sleepsack on she's out of the crib in a matter of minutes. It's worked really well for us, since I don't think she's ready for a toddler bed.

Jessica - posted on 12/19/2009

I would suggest a toddler bed or a regular bed. My son has been out of the crib since his first birthday (when he started to climb up the crib). He does very well climbs in and out of his bed on his own, his bed has a trundle bed so I pull it out and if he rolls he lands on the trundle. but he has not fallen out of bed ever since we moved him to his own bed. We have a baby gate at the door that way stays in his room and plays with his toys untill we get him out.

Alicia - posted on 11/27/2009

My son has been in a bed for a couple of months. he LOVES his bed. Really it was not a bad transition at all. I have him on a mattress on the floor with a bedrail and most of the time I just put him down and he stays there. I do have the pack n play in his room for the times when he just won't give in and go to sleep. If he is overtired he just keeps getting up so then he goes in the pack n play. He also knows how to open his bedroom door so he just gets out. It is great in the mornings...he just comes to find us! It is not so great when it is bed time! But really, it was so much easier than I ever imagined.

Elena - posted on 11/26/2009

yeah wish crib tent would work for me
I have a stokke crib (its oval) luckily Vic's not much of a climber...yet but I dred the day.

Josie - posted on 11/26/2009

Crib tents work great. have u tried putting the mattress all the way on the floor, but still in the crib. i have a little monkey also and we just put the mattress all the way on the floor but still in side the crib and its worked....for now

Elena - posted on 11/26/2009

crib tent

Nikki - posted on 11/26/2009

Thanks for all of the replies. I knew that a tot bed was probably what everyone was going to say, but I was really hoping for something else! I suppose I was delusional! I spoke to the Ped and she too said that we need to move her into a tot bed. I'm just not ready for my little baby to grow up!

Renee - posted on 11/24/2009

My son is just starting to hook his leg over the crib rail. We have the crib at the lowest level and the bumpers have been out for at least the past 7 months. I am debating at this point for a tot bed or a crib tent. He is such a busy little guy and gets into everything I am almost afraid to put him in a tot bed at this point in time. I am afraid to see what he will do to his room. He still gets up on a daily basis around 4:30am and plays in his crib for about 30-45min then goes back to bed.

Susan - posted on 11/23/2009

My daughter started climbing out of her crib just before she turned 18 months. The only solution that worked for us, was putting her in a toddler bed. It was a rough start getting her used to it, but its the safest solution.

Amy - posted on 11/23/2009

I also think she's ready for a toddler bed, if your child can climb out, then it's better to have her in a toddler bed so she doesn't hurt herself falling out. The crib we have converts into a toddler bed, he's been in one since 14 months. The first two days were a little rough, she'll probably want to just climb in and out, but after that I'm sure she'll be fine! Just make sure you can see/hear if she gets out of her room.

Alicia - posted on 11/22/2009

A "crib tent" would be a good way to keep her safely in the crib. They are pricey but work.

Caroline - posted on 11/22/2009

Shes ready for a toddler bed, lowest settings on the crib wont help, my son still manages to climb out of the crib. He is now sleeping on the main bed with me as he is a bad sleeper and leaving him on a toddler bed wont work for now.

Kerry - posted on 11/21/2009

I would say she is ready for a toddler bed! I put my son in a bed a few weeks ago because his older brother taught him how to climb out of it. I am using the Safety 1st guard rail which makes it feel like a cot and stops them rolling out. This one is really good and sturdy. She will probably hurt herself more by trying to climb out of her cot than if she was in a bed.