23 Month Old Jumping from Crib

Updated on January 26, 2008
B.S. asks from Saint Louis, MO
27 answers

I was wondering if anyone has some advice about what to do with my son. He will not stay in his crib and is not ready for a toddler bed. (in my opinion) I can't let him stay in the crip because I am scared he is going to break his neck and He seems so young for the toddler bed. He would just get out of it as soon as I put him in. Last night I put a pack n play in his 4 year old sister's room and he did fine. That was after about 1 1/2 trying to get him down in his own room. This just started about 2 days ago!!! What should we do????

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So What Happened?

A HUGE thanks for everyone who emailed me. We decided to try the Crib Tent II and it has been wonderful. It was a little pricey (75.00) but works great. We are going to order his Big Boy bed, but this is working out for the time being. No way our little guy is getting out of his crib now!!! Thanks again!!!

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A.R.

answers from Springfield on

maybe you should try the toddler bed...my daughter went into one at 15 months. I would close her door so if she got up she couldn't get out of her room. There were nights we had to pick her up and put her back in bed (she fell asleep on the floor).She is now 2 1/2 and rarely gets up or fights us at bedtime.

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B.S.

answers from Rockford on

If he is climbing out he is ready for a toddler bed. You can put a side rail on it if needed and a baby gate in the doorway and he may fall asleep on the floor a few timmes, but if you get him excited about being a big boy he will get use to it in a week or 2. :)

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B.O.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi B.! All i can tell you is that he's not too young for a toddler bed or a big boy bed. My girls have bunk beds and the 6 year old sleeps on the top and my now 2 year old sleeps on the bottom and has been sleeping there since March. When they start to climb out, it's time to move them up! You can try it for a few nights, let him know he's a bbig boy and gets a big big boy bed, if he's like mine, he'll be excited and want to sleep there. Good luck! =)

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M.G.

answers from St. Louis on

I agree he is ready to be moved from the crib. My 22 month old is in a bed now. We just had to make sure there is nothing she could get into in her room (100% child proof) including strapping furniture to walls. We were also afraid of her getting out of her room in the middle of the night so we put a door knob guard on the inside of her room. She is still in diapers so she does not need to leave for any reason. It is hard to adjust them to actually laying down to sleep, but once the newness wears off, he will get used to it. It may take a while however. One nice thing (other than not having to worry about him falling) is in the morning he will most likely get up and play with his toys as opposed to screaming for you to get him up. Good luck!

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M.

answers from St. Louis on

He is sure ready for a toddler bed or a bigger bed with side rails. I moved my son to a big boy bed right around his 1 year birthday. He was already climbing his crib. My other son was able to stay in a crib until he was about 16 months(he wasn't a climber like my first).

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B.F.

answers from Oklahoma City on

We moved our daughter to a toddler bed when she was about 20 months old. She loved it and still does (she will be 3 at the end of the year.) Most of them have railings part of the way down and they are so low to the ground that if they do fall (or jump!!) out they will not get hurt. She looked so tiny in her big girl bed that it made me want to cry, but she was happier and loves the independence. If you need help with the transition, there is an Elmo book about moving to a big kid bed. Letting your child pick his own sheets might help as well. By the way, you might try a children's resale shop for your toddler bed. A friend of mine got hers for about $30. We paid about $100 new. Good luck!

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J.S.

answers from Springfield on

Yup, once they can climb out of the crib, it's more of a hazard than anything. Move him to a big boy bed, and you'll probably be surprised at how well he transitions. Yes, you'll probably find him asleep on the floor at times, but he'll be safer, and you won't have to worry about broken necks. We put a baby gate in the doorway to keep our 2-yr-old in his room, and he's fine with that. If he wakes up first, he just hangs out in his room, playing and chatting to himself.
It's hard to see them grow up, tho!!
J.

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J.T.

answers from Topeka on

He is almost 2 i think he would be ready for it specially if he is climbing out. I had my first one in a todler bed because of that reason at 1 yr old. my second one i waited a bit longer because she wasnt climbing out but she was 16 months when she went to the toddler bed.

Good luck

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D.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Hi B.,

I can sympathize. My son fell out of his crib at around 19 months and I thought it was WAY too early for a toddler bed. But I was scared to leave him in the crib because it seemed so dangerous. I put the toddler bed in his room and explained to him that babies sleep in the crib and big boys sleep in the "big boy bed". To my COMPLETE surprise, he has done absolutely wonderful!! When it's time for night-night, he goes straight into his bed and sleeps there all night. My husband and I dreaded this transition because we thought it would be so difficult. He even took a day off work so we would have a long weekend to work on it. Again, to our surprise, he didn't have a problem at all. I hope this helps. I just read your story and it sounded similar to mine, so I thought I'd share! Good luck!!
-D.

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L.M.

answers from St. Louis on

if he's getting out of the crib, it is time to move on to something else. You might try and put the mattress from the crib on the floor. And yes, he will probably keep getting in and out of the room. it may take him some time to get used to the change. Much better than risking a fall with a bad injury or worse.
good luck. you may not be ready, but he is! haha

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M.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Time for a toddler bed girl! Mine was out of the crib and in the big boy bed with a rail by 16 months or so cause he would not stay in his either....wanted him to stay safe. If you do not like that idea try getting him used to being out of the baby bed by making a pad on his floor or even yours in your room.....

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J.E.

answers from Kansas City on

My twins were out at 15mths-going to eachother cribs-my other son was 18mths-
I put them in toddler beds-they loved them! I just made sure we had a gate up in their rooms in case anyone woke up at night they didn't fall down the stairs

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M.H.

answers from Tulsa on

Your call....your child.....but my opinion is that if your child can potentially injure themselves jumping out of the crip it's time to move to a toddler bed or big boy bed. It wouldn't be worth the risk to me. Just make it a big deal for him and maybe he'll take to it.

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S.I.

answers from St. Louis on

I would definitely lose the crib. For his safety. If he can jump out of it then it is not safe...he could definitely get hurt if he falls wrong. I worked in childcare for 10 years. I know how hard it is for us parents to say goodbye to the crib. It's just another exciting stage for our little ones. Sometimes it might help if you lay on the floor next to his toddler bed until he goes to sleep. Just be willing to change your routine a little to make a smooth transition for you both.

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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

There are different companies that sell mesh tents for cribs. Moving my daughter to a toddler bed at 2 1/2 was difficult. It gave her a lot of freedom that we are still dealing with. It will be even more difficult if your child can't communicate very well, like most almost-2 year olds. I believe One Step Ahead sells the tents. I would check into it. Hope that helps!

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B.M.

answers from Tulsa on

Hey there!! Just wanted to tell you YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!! I am a handicap Mom of 2. My son is 8, daughter is 12 months.

My Lexi is challenge to me now. My friend who has 2 kids 2 and 3 yr old....well she needed me to babysit them for her ..When I was checking on the 2yr. old after putting lexi down for a nap in her crib..went down the hall only to see Lexi was lying on top of rail with each leg on the sides.as if the rail was a horse..she was about to fall out! My hubby told me she had been trying to climb out of her playpen, but didn't believe it, but she sure showed me and it terrified me! What if I hadn't been there at that minute? JEEZ LEXI GIRL. Guess thats a sign I need to get a toddler bed since she won't stay in her crib. Her naptime was all messed up cause she is type that needs to be left alone to get to sleep well when leaving her alone she is now busy trying to climb out!!! And doing a WELL JOB!!!! So we can't leave her alone...crib is much too tall, im afraid if she climbs out she will fall and severly hurt herself . We HAD to get a toddler bed, That way if she falls it won't be that far of a tumble like her crib. Can't believe I'm talking about getting my Lexi a toddler bed ALREADY. My friend Kristi who has a 2 yr. old said Lexi was rite on time that her baby has been in hers for almost a year now. WOW!!! Just didn't think this would happen so fast!!!!!
She was so adorable laying in that bed last nite, at first seems like she was a little freaked out, scared like it was a stranger cause we would put her on it and she crawled back up to me in a hurry. But once we layed her down with her cup like we did with her crib she was out! I got up to check on her around 430 wondering why I hadn't heard from her...she was still out. BUT....went to check back on her at 8am and she was on floor OUT again by door. We put a baby gate up so if she was to wake up she couldn't go thru house. But she was just sleeping on floor. I left her there cause if I had tried carrying her to her bed she definetly would have woken up.

So guess what I'm saying that I know 23 months sounds young, but try it at 12 months...it is a challenge, but she has been in her new bed now for 3 days and everyday is different, she does seem to like it cause she loves Elmo....make it a fun bed! She doesn't like beeing left alone, so I just lay her down with her cup or if need me I shhhh her to calm down and she does.

Hope this works, let me know what you do!!!
Good luck to you...you can email me ANYTIME, K? ____@____.com .
B.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

it's time to move him, we moved our son at 15 mo after one climb out of the crib- he went right to a twin bed(matt and box sp) on the floor with a mesh saftey rail(got at babies r us) and a baby gate at his door- the first 2 nights he got up and played on his floor(I keep quiet & soft' toys and books )for a while but climbed back in bed when he was tired and slept fine- we've never had a problem, after about a month we took down the gate and would just shut the door until he was asleepand crack it when we were going to bed since he wakes up on his own and comes in our room(used to be early but after a couple months of that he now stays in bed until we come get him 'out'! We had a very easy transistion but also didn't let him get away with 'ruling the roost'! We had a routine at bedtime with dinner/bath/play time/reading/bed and its worked great! He's 23 mo this week and I am already looking forward to moving his 5 mo old brother out of his crib next fall so they can share a room!

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P.B.

answers from Peoria on

Honey let me tell you. Regardless of what you think, I'd rather him have a toddler bed than hit his head or break something for jumping out of the crib. I had a foster baby that wanted out that bad and we even put a barrier on top to keep him in. That's the only thing that kept him in, but we felt we caged him and gave into a toddler bed that even turned to a twin

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T.H.

answers from Bloomington on

My son got out of his crib early.. Me being the way I am.. He got a water bed.. and I just put a baby gate on his room so he was un able to get out.. he did great.. he is almost 15 now and still has that water bed... and Loved it!!!!! Now with this little one I plan on doing the same thing!!!! He is a monkey too!!!! good luck!!! Try a gate.. but do go to a toddler bed.. it is safer!!!

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D.T.

answers from Tulsa on

When they can climb out or jump out it's time to put the crib away. This can happen at any age from 14 months to 3 years.

We put up a baby gate in our younger boys rooms. DS#2 would wake up and play but DS#3 sleeps right through.

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M.S.

answers from Joplin on

Our son started that at 18 months and we moved him straight to a twin bed--skipped the toddler bed altogether, felt like it was a waste of money. Anyway, we put him in a twin bed, put one side up to the wall and a sleep guard on the other side. It took several nights of continuing to put him back in the bed after he got out, but he did fine. Another option is to remove one side of the crib if yours has that capability. It just takes some teaching, but better for him to climb out of a regular bed than jump out of a crib. Best of luck to you!

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S.P.

answers from St. Louis on

B., If you are not comfortable putting your child in a toddler bed... there is another solution( I can not remember the brand of the product but Babies R Us sells it) There is a mesh tent that velcros on the bed and has a zipper door to put the child in and out. It works great.. I had one on my daughters crib since she was born.. not because of climbing out but because of my son climbing in and it kept him out of a long time but he quickly learned how to unzip things because of his P.A.T.T(Parents As Teachers Teacher)if you go to babies r us and ask them they will know what your looking for it runs about 65 dollars.

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L.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I had the same problem with my oldest when he was that age. My father-in-law made a cover for the top of the crib. We lived in Arizona at the time and could buy screen for our windows and doors that is not metal. He used two dowl rods long enough to reach each end of the bed, attached the back one on permanently and made a loop type closure for the front. My son was able to sit up in bed, but could not stand or get out.

It was a life saver, since his room was next to the garage, and in-laws were working on yard, he climbed out of bed, walked into the garage and to the front door.

L.

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E.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I moved my kid to a big girl bed at about 23 months. It worked out wonderful. She liked feeling like a big girl, and she liked that she could climb in and out of her bed on her own. She has even started helping make her bed in the morning!
But if you are not ready for that, that is understandable. Every kid is different. You can go to Babies R Us and purchase a "crib tent". It is a mesh tent cover that goes over the crib so the child can not climb out. Hope it helps.

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C.D.

answers from Springfield on

I agree, it's time for a toddler bed. They are very safe these days with rails and very low to the floor. Our son moved to a toddler bed shortly before he was 2.

S.M.

answers from St. Louis on

My daughter moved to a toddler bed at 15 months. The mattress is the same from the crib, so it is not too big for them. You could just go straight to a twin and put rails around though. My daughter was not in the toddler bed for too long so it is kind of a waste of money. If the child gets up in the middle of the night, walk them to bed and tell them it is not time to get up. Eventaully they will realize that there is no reason for them to get up. Don't let them ask for anything because it will form habit. I am not sure why 22 months would not seem old enough for toddler bed...

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L.D.

answers from Kansas City on

I would try puttng him in a toddler bed. While he may seem too young to you, he is probably not comfortable in his crib. My son started waking up crying every night just before he turned two, so we put him in a regular twin bed with a guard rail and he did just fine. Because we were worried about open stairs, we told him that was not allowed to get up and if he needed anything to call for us. We put a gate up in his doorway for about a week until we knoew for sure that he would stay in bed. He is now four and has never attempted to get out of bed (other than to go to the bathroom after he was out of diapers)and he was so much happier once he had his big boy bed.

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