1Yr Old Climbing Out of Crib

Hi K.,
Sorry I am just responding, and I know you probably have received enough responses by now but here goes. I would first lower the mattress to see if that works. If she is still able to climb out I would convert the crib to a toddlers bed. I did this with my son after I saw him run across the living room after putting him in his crib one night. ;0) I converted his crib to the toddler bed, and because I was concerned with him falling out I started tying the bumper pads around the bed to cover the opening until I was confortable that he wouldn't fall out. Now he just climbs over the pad at the opening to get in and out of the bed.

My son and all 4 of my cousin's children did the same thing. We went to toddler beds at 1 yr, and the kids all cried when they were ready to be picked up. None of them got out of their bed by themselves at first. When my son started to, I simply put a baby gate in his doorway (which he never tried to climb over) and when he was ready he'd play in his room, which was fine with me. I had a moniter on so I could hear him, and we never had a problem.

I would change the mattress to the lowest level and see how she does with that. My son at about a yr and half jumped out if his crib once but never did it again after that (I think it really scared him and he also sensed how scared we were)!! We just recently converted him to a toddler bed and he is 2 1/2 yrs old!

If she continues trying to climb out of the crib even on the lowest level and you still aren't ready to convert her out of the crib then I would look into the crib tents. GOOD LUCK! :)

My daughter is a huge climber but with the crib at the lowest level she isn't able to climb out (although she certainly tries to.) It seems like it is early to convert her to the toddler bed, and I am guessing the lowest level of the crib will solve your problem.

Hi,
I would keep her in the crib and try the lower mattress. I wouldn't suggest the day bed yet because she could fall out and you don't want her out while you are sleeping. I actually have never used a crib because my two just didn't like them. I have my two year old in a queen bed and she's started when she was about a year and a half. She now knows how to get in and out of the bed and she sleeps in the middle so I don't worry about her falling off. If she did she would land on a lot of stuffed animals. I would at least wait for the day bed until she is walking pretty good but I would shut the door only if you are worried about her getting in to things or whatever while you are sleeping. Whatever you decide I am sure will be good. Good Luck
S.
Have a Merry Christmas

At Babies R Us you can get a crib tent. It goes under the mattress and comes up over the top, making a dome. It is mesh and totally see through. It zips shut so the little ones can't crawl out.

On another note my son has been in a double bed since he was 11 months. Never slept more than 2 hours in a crib, hated them. Since he started so young in the big bed we don't have problems with him popping out of bed.

put her crib mattress on the floor (carpet is best) or a twin mattress so that she can get in and out of it easily

You need a crib tent! I know Babies R Us used to have them and sometimes you can find one at Kid 2 Kid or other consignment stores. We've used one with both children, and we sleep much better now knowing our daughter is not going to land head-first on the floor in the middle of the night :)

My daughter did the same thing close to her first birthday. We just did what you are going to do-we lowered her crib mattress to the lowest setting and haven't had a problem since. I was hesitant to transfer her to a big girl bed (as her crib converts as well) because her bedroom is on the top floor and ours is on the main floor. She will be two in four months and we will probably convert her to the bed at that time.

With a baby that age, I would try a crib tent to keep her in a little longer. If she's anything like my daughter even when you think you've baby proofed a room they still find trouble.

If you don't use a crib tent, please be sure you take care of the cords on the blinds in her room. (Assuming you have them.) A friend of a friend had a three year old die during what was supposed to be her nap time, because she got tangled in them.

Good luck with your little climber!

My now 17 m/o boy did the same thing around 14 months. I heard different opinions about putting him in a toddler bed but just felt he was too young to be left alone. Between my own gut feeling and the suggestion of a pediatric nurse we just kept putting him back in- without making a big deal- and eventually he stopped. Now on occasion, when he's been cutting a new tooth, he will escape again but it is short lived. I would say keep her in the crib as long as possible, it may take a few nights to get her to stop climbing out but she'll evetually getting tired of it. Good luck!!!

I have a little monkey too. LOL He would get out of anything at that age. Our bedrooms are upstairs and I too was afraid he'd get up and wander around at night. I simply put him in a regular bed and put a gate at his door. That along with a monitor in his room so I could hear if he was up at night seemed to have worked. He took right to his 'big boy bed.' I look at it as better safe than sorry.

Keep up the good work mom!

Take Care,
N. :) SAHM homeschooling 3 boys 13, 8 & 2 yrs old and married to my Mr. Wonderful for 15 yrs. I love to help other moms, who want to become SAHMs, reach that goal!

K.,

Most doctors will tell you that if your child is climbing out of the crib, it is their way of showing you they are ready for the big bed (or day bed for the crib). Although my kids didn't do that until they were 18 months - 2 years, I have heard of some kids do it earlier than that. My nephew had to be moved to the toddler or big bed because of his size. He's now 2 and is as big as my 4 year old. You can try putting the crib on the lowest setting, but it will probably not last long and he'll be climbing out again. Hope this helps, God Bless.

There is NO way I would put a 1 yr old into a toddler bed. Mine didn't try to get out til 2. Therefore, I never used one , but I have seen tops made of netting that kind of look like a dome that you can buy to put on top of the crib. Sorry that I don't have a name or brand but I'm sure you could google it and find out some info. Good Luck.

Hi K.,

Here's what we did. We also have a convertable crib and we actually put the mattress on the absolute lowest setting (ours has crib settings and then an even lower toddler bed setting). Our son is a very tall 15mo and a fantastic climber, but he doesn't stand a chance against his nautical themed "alcatraz". Also make sure that there is nothing in the crib she can climb on to assist with climbing out. Remove the crib bumper if it's still there as this is a very common culprit and anything firm, like large stuffed animals. She's old enough to sleep with plush stuffed animals and they're too soft to hold her weight.

If she is still attempting escape on the lowest setting (and I don't know how low your lowest setting is) with even minimal success like getting a foot over the top, then it's time to switch to a toddler bed, solidly baby proof the room if it's not already, and put up a strong baby gate in her door for bedtime (or two, some climbers need two baby gates, one above the other to prevent night time explorations.)

Good luck, this is the easy part. They get more difficult to out-think as they get older. ;)

BRU sells crib tents that you can put on top of your crib to contain the child. However, I bet once you move the mattress to the lowest level, she won't be able to.

My daughter is 25 months & hasn't even attempted it.

just convert it to a day bed.

baby proof the room, go to babies r us and pick up this wooden tension gate (two pack for about $35.00). you can put it across the doorway of her bed room and still be able to close the door. this way if she does wonder it is only in her room. this gate is good, you dont need brackets for it and you can put it up any where!

if she knows how to climb then she will climb out from any matress setting (sorry)

my son climbed out at nap time that afternoon we changed it to the day bed. it took him a little while to get used to it. we would have to come in the room and pick him up from the floor(still asleep) and put him back in bed. but the soon realize that the bed is far more cumfortable.

just becarefull when opening the door my son liked to sleep at the foot of the door when it was closed!

If she is still climbing out after you lower it, I would get a crib tent for the top. It works great at keeping them in. If you can keep her in it, the crib is a bit safer place than a bed.

I can tell you what I did when my 15 month old started climbing out of HER crib on a nightly basis. I put her in a regular bed, but just the boxspring and mattress on the floor (no bed frame, in case she fell out). Because I used the boxspring, I was able to push the mattresses into a corner and use a kiddie bed rail on the long side of the bed. That way, there was only one way to get in and out of the bed, and we blocked it with pillows. Complicated, huh?
I went through her room and made extra-sure that everything was baby safe and I ALWAYS had the baby monitor on, so if she woke up and started to wander, I could hear her immediately and go check on her!
I figure all this work was worth it if we could avoid a concussion or broken limb!!
I would lower your crib mattress and see if your little daredevil gets out again. If that does the trick, then I'd try to keep her in the crib as long as possible :)
Good luck!