Crib Rebel!

When my first was not even 14 mos she was doing the same as your 21 month old fighting agaisnt the nap. It was one of those days. I put her in bed she stood up screaming and was trying to climb out. I looked at her and said there is no way you can get out. Went out, shut the door, went downstairs, sat on the couch, put my face in my hands and THUDD! SHREEEK! I fly up the stair to be greeted by my screaming baby at the door. I scooped her up, ran down stairs and called my mom. I tried to get her to walk but she wouldn't. I called my ped. who said to bring her in and that he would wait to go to lunch. So we flew to the doctors office and thank goodness she was fine. (we think it was just the initial shock that she couldn't walk in the beginning because at the doctors office she was running.)But my doc said we were lucky. She had to be done with the crib. Thankfully we had bought the convertable crib so we just took the big side rail off and she was fine. If you do not have a convertable crib buy a single twin mattress and mattress rails. (if you get a set save the box spring for later when she is older.) she will be low to the floor but not on the floor. Doc said not to put the mattress on the floor because bugs would get in the mattress, yuck. I was worried about her falling out but she never did. Now I have a 21 month old as you do. She is still in the full crib and makes fake attempts to climb out but really is not close. I always used bumper pads but we took those out now that she tries to climb. (I think that is what helped #1) She seems so little to me to not be in the full crib, too. Even though she is 7 months older, SO I completely emphathize. I don't want to say move her but I would not want her to get hurt either. If she knows how to escape the pack and play I sure she will figure out the crib very soon. My first only used the "convertable crib toddler bed" for a year so I definately think that getting a toddler bed is a waste of money. Good luck with your little one.

My personal feeling is that toddler beds are a rip off...they're cute & all...but why on EARTH spend good money on them instead of buying a twin??? (We went with a full, so we could do cuddle/storytime/etc)...but there is NO difference in a toddler bed and a twin except that one will last a year or two (and is just enough smaller that you have to go out and buy special sized sheets/frames/etc for it) and the other lasts for 10. A crib lasts longer, and serves a durn good purpose. Toddler beds are just a marketing ploy. Putting just the twin/full mattress on the floor, and then the boxspring, or spending 10 bucks and buying a rail versus several hundred on the cute thing they'll outgrow in next to no time that serves no purpose. Anyhow.

While many people DO switch to a bed around 2ish (we waited until 3ish because it was such a convenient time out spot)...I would sooooooo not switch while she's in an I'm-Independant-I-Don't-Have-To-Listen-To-You-I'm-Going-To-Escape phase. In her crib she has a) a history of sleeping b) a history of having to stay in it. Take away the crib and *poof* nothing to even slow her down or that has a history of needing to stay in it. You'll have the toddler out of bed at all hours. Which means a whole 'nother set of issues.

Most kids go through this. It lasts a few weeks. This is a particular battle that I choose to fight (metaphorically...getting angry only prolongs the experience).

They want something. They can't have it. They're upset. But they gradually learn that they DO have to listen to you, even if it means that they don't get what they want. They learn to integrate those emotions. OR we give in and they learn that when they throw a fit, they get whatever it is that they want. This is a HUGE issue, from staying in bed, to holding hands crossing the street, to not throwing holy tantrums about a-z.

"Nope honey. I'm sorry, I know you don't want to go to bed. But it's bedtime. You need to lay down. NO you don't get to climb out. You don't have to sleep but you have to lie down. I love you, and it's time to lie down."

This is a hard age for them. They're transitioning from being a baby (who knows what they need) to being a kid (who knows what they want). In my experience; being nonchallant, and kind, but totally unyielding gets the best/fastest results. Not mad at you sweetheart...you just aren't allowed to do it. Period.

Anyhow...my suggestion would be to get through this rebellion, wait a month or two and then get a bed. Once she processes that she has to listen to you.

CAVEAT

If she's climbing out of the crib consistently...(dangerous)...I'd suggest taking the rail down or off and gating her in her room. BIG gates (like the kind for big dogs) so she can't climb over that. I'd put the spin on it though, that only big girls who stay in bed and listen to their mummy like they're supposed to, get the rail down. If she climbs out, the rail goes back up (this follows toddler logic, not real logic). That gives her independence and a reward...but keeps this battle on your ground.

Anyhow...my experience.

Good Luck!

Ditto Riley.

My son, recently made 3. He still naps in his crib. He LOVES his crib. It is made all comfy and cozy for him... just the way he likes it. He has his lovey and stuffed toys in it and a Fisher Price Ocean Wonders crib music thingy.

My son, climbed out of his crib a couple of times. Once he fell and got minor hurt. He never did that again. If he climbs out, I make no fuss about it nor bring attention to it. I just put him back in. I tell him "nap time.... play after..." and he does. He will settle himself back down, and fall asleep on his own. He will even tell me he is tired and needs to nap. I don't force him to nap, but this is his rhythm.... and he still 'needs' a nap.

At this age, they go through this. Each age stage has variations of this "not wanting to" nap thing. But still have a nap time. They need it.

Just stay consistent. I never let my kids cry it out though. But I KEPT to a regular daily routine of nap/sleep. So my kids know it like auto-pilot.

Or try the things Riley mentioned... that's what lots of Moms do. Consistency is the main thing.

It will pass... it is a phase. They won't be like this forever.

AND... they escape from toddler beds or regular beds too. So keep that in mind. Toddlers are escape artists.

All the best,
Susan

Hi A.,
I have a 21 month old as well. Out of sleep deprivation I put my daughter in a full size "big girl" bed a few months ago. She had been sleeping in our bed for a few months and I just couldn't handle it anymore. Not only did we need our own space, but so did she. Anyway, the transition to her own bed was awesome. She slept has slept through the night since...and she has only gotten out once. She just calls for us when she is ready to get up. I can't say that it was the safest choice, but the bed has safety rails and I put pillows on the end so she won't roll off. She loves her bed and so do I :) I'm not sure if it is the right solution for you, but I have had great luck with the transition. Hope you find something that works for you all!!

I think she's ready for a bigger bed, since she's not staying in her crib anyway.

Hey A.,
Is your daughter sleeping in a pack and play at home or a crib? If she's in a crib, and she can get out of it, you may be able to lower the crib by taking it apart and putting the bottom of metal springs a few notches lower.
If your crib does not have this ability, perhaps you can purchase a used crib off of Craig's List that does have this ability. I think she is still a little young for a toddler bed yet.

Move to toddler bed. Better you to know she's out of bed, than for her to hurt herself trying to jump out of the crib and once she knows she can escape pack and play don't think the crib isn't next on her list. When my youngest was 2 I'd let her fall asleep on the floor if she wanted -- she never stayed in bed anyway. I used the door knob grip things so she couldn't get out of her room and I was sure there wasn't anything in her room to pull down or jump off.

My daghter is 21 months and she slept just fine in her crib until we went on vacation, when she was 17 months, and she spent 4 nights in her pack-n-play in our room and when we got back....it was disaster! She wanted nothing to do with her crib! She would wake up crying and we had to have her fall asleep in our arms and try to put her in her crib, and after 4 of the longest sleepless miserable nights we decided to try putting the matress on the ground. We did that as a test to see if it was the crib that she hated...and sure enough she slept really well that night! So, out of neccessity we moved her to the matress on the floor and than a toddler bed and she's been sleeping wonderfully! So...perhaps your baby outgrew her crib...and maybe it's time for you to put her on the matress on the floor and eventually put her in a toddler bed ( I prefer the matress on the floor because even if she rolls off she's safe...but make sure that you put lots of pillows around for protection). You may experience a few more sleepless nights because you'll worry about her...but if it works she'll be sleeping better! Your baby is growing up!!!!

We ditched the crib when DD started doing the same thing when she was about 1 yr old. We didn't bother with a toddler bed. Instead, she sleeps on a twin mattress on the floor. As soon as we made the switch, she started sleeping much, much better. When I asked our ped about it, she explained that being confined in the crib gave DD and feeling of being out of control of the situation and that was frightening to her. Without the bars confining her, she's much happier. She'll sit up in bed and call for us to get her out of bed, though, even though she could hop right out if she wanted!