19 answers

22 Month Old Climbing Out of Crib

My daughter has started climbing out of her crib. So far I have tried putting her back in every time she gets out, which works sometimes, but mostly she just thinks it is a game and giggles like crazy. I have also super-child-proofed her room and put a safety gate on her door, and she has very peacefully fallen asleep on the floor in front of the gate a few times, at which point I put her back in the crib. This method has worked the most quickly, like in as little as 5 minutes, but it just doesn't seem ideal to let her fall asleep on the floor. Once she is down for the night, she stays down until morning, so I don't have any middle-of-the-night issues (knock on wood). The method that was most recommended by both books and friends was putting her back every time she gets up, but I don't know how to prevent it from becoming a game. I try to be boring and calm, but my daughter thinks it is hilarious to climb out of her crib and have mommy put her back in. She can climb back in on her own, but she won't. So... that is about everything... I would love to hear ideas or encouragement! How long does this phase last, anyway? Thank you!

1 mom found this helpful

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So What Happened?™

Thanks to everyone for all the advice! We converted her crib to a day bed, which she seems to really like. We are still working on getting her to go to sleep in it though...perhaps that will be my next question posted!

Featured Answers

Crib tent or switching to a toddler bed. I know a child who broke an arm falling out of a crib the very first time he climbed out.

Sounds like it is time for a "Big Girl" with a side rail only. My son did the same thing (but at 15 months! We converted his crib into a daybed with a side rail when he was 18months. Super baby proofed and gated the doors. For safety sake it may be that time. Otherwise I do know a few people who have put the crib net on their cribs...I was never quite comfortable with that, but you gotta do what works for you. Good luck!

More Answers

Crib tent or switching to a toddler bed. I know a child who broke an arm falling out of a crib the very first time he climbed out.

try a crib tent. we converted to a toddler bed and I still can't get my son to sleep in it (he sleeps on the floor by the door and insists that we lock him in). I don't know if I would go the put her back in every time route. We tried that for about 3 rounds with my son and every time he got out it was with more force and he was landing on his arms. I was really worried that one time he would break something.

Sounds like it is time for a "Big Girl" with a side rail only. My son did the same thing (but at 15 months! We converted his crib into a daybed with a side rail when he was 18months. Super baby proofed and gated the doors. For safety sake it may be that time. Otherwise I do know a few people who have put the crib net on their cribs...I was never quite comfortable with that, but you gotta do what works for you. Good luck!

sounds like she is ready for a bed.

We've been using a crib tent for my son for the last 6 months and it's worked great! We were concerned that he'd feel trapped in his crib (he honestly was just not ready for a big boy bed yet) but the opposite was true. He LOVES the tent and happily gets in his crib for nap and nighttime. My only concern now is that he's going to want a tent on his big boy bed when we switch him to that :) If you do end up going with a tent, message me and I'll give you some tips on how to rig the velcro so she can't undo it from the inside of her crib.

Have you ever read Dr. Weissbluth's book, Healthy Sleep, Happy Child? If not, you may want to check it out. It has been so helpful to me. I only have an 11 month old, so we aren't as far down the path of climbing out of the crib yet, so I can't offer any personal advice. However, he did recommend, that when children start to do that, that you can attach one of those screen like canopies on top where they can't get out. I can't remember what you call them. Someone is borrowing my book right now. It is the same thing that you use if you have cats and don't want them jumping into the crib. He also said that some children start to figure out how to unzip or remove them. He then recommends putting duck tape over those areas so they can't. Again, I am not speaking from experience, and have never seen one of these products, so I am unsure as to how they work. But, I am sure I would be willing to try it if climbing out of the crib was becoming a game for your little one. Hope this helps!

It may be time to get her a toddler bed. That seems like a better solution than letting her climb out of the crib and maybe falling and hurting herself. This way with a toddler bed, u can let her pick out her own bedding; my son picked out elmo and we called his room elmo's world. He was more compelled to stay in his room and his bed. Good luck.

Hi - my kids are both teens but both went through this - the younger one actually climbed from the crib on to the top of her dresser and slept there! We finally put the crib mattress on the floor and let her sleep there for a week or so and she was very happy. We then got a toddler bed, which worked just fine. This was my first lesson in picking my battles - if she wants to sleep on the floor, let her - it does no harm and gives her a sense of control and choice. She will grow out of it and you'll on to something new! Good luck. Mother of two well-adjusted teen girls.

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