Ok, my son climbed out of his crib at naptime today. My question, for all you moms that have been there and done that, did you continue to put your kid back in the crib? Or put him in a toddler bed? Obviously I don't want him to get hurt.
He's 22months old. We have a toddler bed waiting for him. We switched my daughter out around this age (22months), and it was a nightmare. She didnt' stay in her bed, many sleepless nights, etc. Ended up having her sleep in our room next to our bed for months, just so everyone could get some sleep.
Thank you for your help. We tried the toddler bed for a few days, but he would not stay in. A special thanks to the mom who suggested putting the mattress on the floor of the crib. The baby isn't here yet, so stacking both mattresses (toddler bed and crib) on the floor allowed us a few more inches. Enough to prevent him from climbing out. At 22months, he's not ready for a toddler bed. The freedom comes with a lot of resonsibility, and our 22month old was not ready for that (just too exciting for him). I didn't appreciate the comment about crib tents. Some child may need these, and who are you to judge?
My daughter did this. We have a video monitor - so I stood outside her door with the monitor in hand and everytime she started to climb out I opened the door and told her "no" and put her back down in her crib. It took about 30 minutes the first time, 15 minutes the second time, and since then she has not climbed out of her crib!!
We moved our son at about that age. His pediatrician actually recommended we move him at 18 months because of the risk of falling if he tried to climb out of the crib. Once he can climb out I don't think there is any point in keeping him in the crib, it's just a safety hazard.
We didn't have a terrible time transitioning him. Two or three nights of consistently moving him back to his bed and he seemed fine (knock on wood!)
If you don't want him able to be loose at nap and night times, keep him in the crib. You can put him down for sleep, and then close the door with just a slight crack so you can watch from the dark hallway. As soon as you see him stick that leg over ther railing, you swing the door open and firmly say "NO". I know it will startle him a bit, it has to to work, but he will hit the mattress as if he's been shot, and you can go over and pat his back and say "you stay in your bed, nite nite". And walk out and watch to see if he tries it again. It only took a couple times with my son and a couple day care kids. I just don't think under 2 is ready to be out of the crib yet.
My daughter was out of her crib at 14 months. We just put a twin mattress on the floor. It wasn't a problem.
I've typed this story so many times for these questions about crib climbers but here goes again....
Friend's child climbed out at 18 months. FIRST time she'd tried to get out. Fell and broke her arm.
Here's how I look at it: Put up the side of the crib. Look at the distance from the top of the raised rail to the floor. Now picture your child falling that distance. Pretty far for a small person.
Now picture him falling that distance onto his head. He could be injured -- at best. At worst? Can you even bear to think about it?
Keeping them in the crib once they can climb out is asking for injury. Parents want to keep them in the crib to keep them corraled. Crib tents are just a way for parents to try to get a few more months of avoiding the inevitable. Once kids can get out it's time to move them right away to a toddler bed or mattress on the floor or whatever. Their safety is more imporant than parents' temporary sanity and sleep.
You will have to work with him, possibly for months, as he learns to stay in his bed, not to roam, or at least not to come out and get you. Go ahead and switch him and be ready to walk him to his bed over and over. Do not talk to him or interact when you do; that makes it interesting for him. I know you had a bad experience with your daughter but this transition has to happen sometime. If he's climbing out, making the transition and dealing with walking him back to bed sure beats explaining to the emergency room doctor how he fell on his head while climbing out of his crib.
My son was in his crib, LOVED it and slept WELL in it, until he was 3 years old. Then HE said he wanted to be in a bed, so we did. Then he slept well there too.
When he was 2, he climb out. Once, he climbed and FELL out. He didn't get hurt per say... but it scared him enough to the point where he NEVER did that again. Then he believed me when I used to tell him that climbing was dangerous.
well sons and daughter and every child for that facts different. If hes climbing than he needs out. Plus hes old enough I did mine way before 22 months so i say hes ready to be a big boy and maybe even wait another 4 months try potty training. Have fun!!
I was lucky with my second. He moved at 3 years old. However, I say anytime they figure out how to climb out - it's time to move them. I had a friend who had her daughter try to climb out at about 14 mos - fell and broke her arm... not worth it. For what it's worth, my daughter was a nightmare to get to sleep from about 2years to 4.... the second one has been much easier (in comparison). Good luck and I say, put up the toddler bed today.
I would say he is totally ready to switch to a toddler bed. Here is what we did, keep the crib assembled but move it to a corner in the room and then put the toddler bed with crib mattress in the place of the crib. Both of my boys did excellent with the move when we did it this way. Mine were 22 months and 18 months when we moved them. Oh and a weekend is a perfect time to do this.
My son climbed out for the first time at 14 months. We put him back in hoping it was a fluke, and it was. Then, at 22 months he and his twin brother repeatedly climbed out and wouldn't stay. That's when we changed them over to big beds. Put him back in and hope it was a one time thing.
Also, if you haven't tried it already, get rid of the trundle/spring part of the crib and put his mattress directly on the floor but still in the crib. That buys a few inches and maybe a few months.
Since he can now get out, it is dangerous. When mine were little and didn't want to be in the crib anymore, I put them all in bed together. Eventually I had all three sleeping the short way in a double bed. They slept like kittens! It helped everyone get the much needed sleep...rather than trying to keep everyone in their own bed. It seems there is alot "out there" about who should sleep where and when...who cares as long as everyone gets the sleep they need?
I think for his safety he should be moved into a toddler bed. It's a ruff transition but stick to it and make sure he stays in him own room so you can get some sleep too.
We went through a fun stage shortly after we move my daughter to her own toddler bed. She'd stay in her own room but she'd always end up falling asleep on the floor, and sometimes partly under her bed. We'd just let her fall asleep and when we were sure that she was totally out we'd just move her to her bed and she'd stay their all night. It took several months of doing this. But now she loves her bed.
If you know your child is going to continue to climb out, it is time for the toddler bed.
It is a safety issue. A childs head is the heaviest part of their body and tends to be what they land on if they flip over the rail.
Our daughter could climb over right before 12 months. She was like a Monkey, she could just kind of fling herself out.. The sound was awful.
She was in a bed very early and it did take effort, but there was no other safe choice.
