crib escapee

Joanne - posted on 04/22/2009

OMG my 18 month old boy climbed out of his cot and landed with a sickening thud today! I had just sat down to have a cuppa and then it happened. How do they do it as the cot rail looks too high! He screamed and cried and I was so scared he'd landed on his head or something........looks like it might be time for a toddler bed. It'll be a futon next... I'm losing my baby! Waaaaa :'(

Jennifer - posted on 04/21/2009

You made it to 2 at least! My son started at 17m!!! :-) We had a toddler bed (given to us) and so we put that directly in front of the crib for a couple of weeks. We would put him to bed in the crib and then if/when he climbed out he had the toddler bed. Soon we were putting him to bed in the toddler bed and he was staying there fine. Then we moved him bed and all to his "big boy room" at two, we needed the crib and nursery for forthcoming siblings. He never tried to leave the room though, until he was about 26m. Then we used the door knob cover on the inside of the door. It worked great until he figured it out around 30m, but by that time he had the language to be taught to stay in his room for the night/nap. He'll be three next month and I actually wish he'd just get up in the mornings and come get me, instead of yelling across the house!!! LOL!!!

Stacey - posted on 04/21/2009

I too think it may be time for a toddler bed. Luckily for me my daughter transitioned easily at 21 months. One side of her bed is against the wall and the other has a safety arm so she doesn't roll out. (It is actually just a single bed). I talked to her about being a big girl and having a big girl bed, we kept her crib in the room at first and she didn't want to try the "big girl bed" until the second or third night, but after that she never went back. I think it would be safer for them to crawl out of bed than possibly taking a fall from a crib. You could also try putting one of those plastic childproof knob covers over your door knob so she cant open it. If you have a monitor you can still easily hear your daughter when she wants out of bed.

Joy - posted on 04/21/2009

Toddler bed time is what it sounds like. My son is 18 months and hasn't yet ventured out of his crib but he's climbing on everything else so it's just a matter of time. Every day during nap time I listen to the monitor for the dreaded "thud" of his first escape attempt. My cousin suggested that when we do go to a toddler bed to put one of those door knob safety covers on the knob inside his room. That way, if he gets out of bed he's safe and not wandering around the house. I bought a 3 pack of Safety 1st door knob covers at Target for $3.

Megan - posted on 04/21/2009

Time for a toddler bed! That helped my daughter when she started escaping, and also just keep the door shut. My pediatrician also told me it was ok to lock the door. My daughter did spent a few afternoons sleeping on her bedroom floor because she wouldn't stay in her crib, but eventually they get over it for a certain amount of time until the can reach the light switch! That one I'm still having a problem with.

Monica - posted on 04/21/2009

put a baby gate up so if she gets out then you know she cant get out of her bed room. Thtats what I did and at least I knew my son was safe if he got up, especially during the night.