Help, Help, Help!!!! - Clearwater,FL

It sounds like she is ready for a toddler bed. I know parents who's child has gotten injured falling out of a crib. So, whether you are ready or not - she is... The way you get a child to sleep on a toddler bed is putting a mattress next to her bed and pretending to go to sleep yourself. Then, when she falls asleep on the toddler bed, you can sneak out and listen to her via monitor. It only takes about a week to get her used to the new routine. Just make sure the room is child safe where you leave her to sleep. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

My son started doing that before he was even 2. We didn't want him to hurt himself falling out, so we bought him a diego toddler bed. He sounds just like your little girl. He is a spaz! So it was hard work and took some time to get him to actually stay in bed. I found sitting with him the first week then moving to the hallway the next worked. It is safer to deal with it than take the chance that they fall out and hurt themselves because if they want out, they will get out! Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

Once they start climbing out you have really address it because she could get hurt if she fell while climbing. When my son climbed out we were not ready to put him in a big bed because we needed rails and didn't know if he was going to be comfortable in it and obviously if he was going to stay there so I bought a crib tent. They sell them at Bennett's on Bee Ridge and I think I just saw it at Babies R Us. We gave my son the option of sleeping in his tent or in his new bed once that was ready to go and he made the transition smoothly within about a month or so. First he slept naps in the bed and gradually ended up sleeping through the night. He did get out sometimes but he would come straight to our room anyway. Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

Evidently putting her in the crib to go to bed is not a way of putting her somewhere that she can't get out. Sounds to me that it's time for a toddler beg with rails. She's 2 years old...she's ready. We had to put our daughter in a bed when she was 9 months old because she'd wake up every time she would move on the crinkly crib mattress. Wouldn't you rather be able to sleep better at night knowing she's not going to try to climb out of the crib and get hurt? I know she hasn't attempted this yet, in the night, but it's only a matter of time. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I hope it helps.

1 mom found this helpful

In my opinion, when they're starting to climb out of the crib, then it's time for a BIG GIRL bed!!! I know that's probably not what you're wanting to hear, but we have to let our kids grow up sometime! Trust me...I'm in the same boat with my 2 1/2 year old son. He is still in his crib (thank goodness) but I know as soon as he starts to make his "escape", we're ready with the BIG BOY bed! Good Luck! :)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi R.,

The same happen to me with my daugther before she turned 2 but she did climb out the crib twice. She did in the afternoon. I went to babes r us and I bought a crib tent but I couldn't use it because of the design of the crib.
When she was trying to climb out of the crib it was before taking her nap so I sat next to her bed(couple minutes) for a few days and explain that we don't climb out the bed and if she was going to do she was going to get hurt, that she was a big girl and she wasn't supossed to do that, I just talk to her. Also I remember telling her twice that she was going to get a time out if she would do that.
Never gave up because I wasn't ready to put her in a regular bed and she never try it again.
She is 2 1/2 now and she still sleeping in her crib.

1 mom found this helpful

My son started climbing out at 15 months. We put a matress on the floor, and got a gate for his door. There are extra tall pressure mounted gates that swing, so you don't have to try and climb over them. The bars go up and down, so your child can't climb them. You just have to be sure there is nothing she can push over to the gate and stand on...no little chairs, etc. Burlington and Babies R Us both carry gates like this. Hope this helps get you a moment's peace, and helps to keep your daughter safe. :)

1 mom found this helpful

My son did the same thing. We bought one of those things that goes over the crib and it zips shut. It's like a big dome. I was a little hesitant at first, but it was so great. It just kept him from crawling out. The zipper was on the outside. He could still stand up in the crib and jump around, etc. We also did put a gate at his door just incase. I can't remember what their called but boy did it work.

1 mom found this helpful

I know you have gotten many responses, but I just wanted to say I think kids do things at thier pace not when we are ready. I think putting a tent over her crib is only delaying the inevitable. It happened to me as well. Just one day my son deidied he didn't want to be in the crib anymore. So whatever your choice may be, she will eventually have to learn to use the bed. If you still want her to nap, it will probably take a little more work than bedtime, but you can just tell her ok its nap time, and read to her or whatever your routine is at nap time. You may even have to sleep with her a few times before she gets it. My son goes to daycare and naps there, but when he is at home, he doesn't nap. So get ready momma cause I think your daughter is ready for the toddler bed!! Good Luck!!

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter started climbing out of her crib a month before she turned two. The first time I didn't see her actually do it- I just found her on the floor when I went to check on her. The second time I walked in as she was falling from the rail and landing on her head!!! I was panicked that she would really hurt herself and took the mattress out of the crib and put it on the floor that day. She slept this way with a baby gate in the doorway for a couple weeks until we got a twin bed for her. My daughter is also an "active" child but it was time to transition to a bed. Her safety out weighed my readiness.

1 mom found this helpful

They sell those mesh tent things that go over the crib at Babies R Us and other baby stores. I think I saw one at Once Upon a Child off of Dale Mabry the other day too. I don't have any experience with them or know how safe they are but I was under the impression that that's what they're made for.

1 mom found this helpful

R., I feel your frustration! I went through the SAME thing with my son AND daughter. The fact is, it is time to move her to a regular bed. If, and when, a child can easily climb out of their crib, for their own saftey, it is time to remove them from it and put them in their "BIG girl/boy" bed.
If I can offer some options for the switch -
Depending on the style of the crib, being convertable, and you want to use it for her toddler bed, you have to make the switch right away. If you are opting for a separate bed, being it toddler or a twin size mattress, keep the crib in her room, and set up the "BIG GIRL" bed on the oposite side of the room (you do not want to have the two seperate beds close together).
Take her shopping! Go look for toddler/twin size sheet sets that she would like. Get her involved! It could be fun! And it may also help with your anxiety through this process. :)
Have a talk with your daughter and explain to her that it is time for her to be a "big girl" now, and make the switch. Offer her the option of sleeping in her crib. If she trys to climb out of it, pick her up and tell her she must than sleep in the "big Girl" bed. She will possibly cry, whine, throw a temper tantrum (the change can be difficult), or, you MAY be surprised and watch her be very excited! She may want to sleep in her bed.
The next step, she will probably not stay in the bed all of the time. You would than have to explain to her that she needs to stay in her bed, just like YOU do. When it is bed time/nap time, you tuck her in, sing to her, etc. and say goodnight. It will not be easy! (That wole process of keeping her in her bed is another thing you have to conquer)
But it certainly sounds like the transformation NEEDS to happen.
And when you feel it is the right time, take down the crib, and remove it from her room, out of sight FOREVER. LOL
Again, this is ONLY my opinion. I did these steps and it worked for my children.
I do hope that my advise has been helpful!
And i do hope that other Mothers will respond to you as well, for listening to diffrent options is always a plus!
And, I would also speak to your pediatrician, just so that you could hear from an expert, someone you trust with the well fare of your child, and hear what they may have to say.
Good Luck!
~ A. T. ~

1 mom found this helpful

It may be time to consider a little youth bed which is close to the floor and can have a small railing to keep her from falling out of bed in her sleep but since it is so low, if she tries to climb out of it , She won't get hurt. Now that she has reached the stage of doing this, it is a severe accident waiting to happen. The only other choice I see and I used this on my daughter, especially if we were visiting somewhere with only adult beds and it was nap time. There used to be a harness you could buy that fastened to the bed and around the child's middle. It was designed so a child could roll over some to change possition while sleeping but they couldn't climb or fall out of bed. I am a grandma now so I don't know if they are still available but that would keep your baby safe from climbing out of the crib and falling if you still want to use the crib. I'd look into the little youth beds though.

Hi R.,

I have 2 children, a girl that is 5 1/2 and a son who is 2 1/2, both my children were in a toddler bed at a year and in a twin bed at 2. From past experience, once they have figured out something like climbing out of the crib, there is no return. Getting her out of the crib might not be as difficult as you think, even for a child on the go, go, go .. my 5 1/2 old is very strong willed and also on the go, go, go. With some consistancy (maybe a LONG full week, tops) she will stay in bed and nap if that's her normal routine. Your lucky, my children stopped napping altogether at about 2 with exception of maybe once a week. Try getting bedding in her favorite character to go with her new "big" girl bed. They make those bed rails to keep her from falling of the bed and they really do their job. Another thing that worked for us after "nap" time was not ok anymore and they figured what "nap" meant was to call it "quiet" time in there room.

A.

You may want to look into a crib tent. I was gonna get one, but my son seemed to be ok in the crib...However, 4 days after he turned two, he climbed out and broke his right elbow. That was just over a month ago. He NEVER attempted to climb out and then the one time he did...CRACK!!! Needless to say he is in a big boy bed. Now I wish I would have just bought the tent...:(

I would get her a toddler bed or single bed. It's not safe to keep her in the crib any longer. She is about the same age as I put my girls into a regular bed. Make sure her room is child safe and get a gate if needed. She can play until she is tired. She'll get the sleep she needs. Every child is different and not all children require the same amount of sleep. Whether your ready or not, she is.

yesterday my 21 month old fell out the crib. it is a phase just make sure there is a pillow on the floor just incase you can't catch her in time

Walmart.com and BabiesRUs.com both sell crib tents. They are great for the active toddler who is just not ready for the big-girl or boy bed (or for the parents that aren't ready. We bought one almost a year ago for both the crib and pack-n-play (for traveling) and it has been a life saver!

at 18 months my daughter started climbing out of her crib so we had to put her in a big girl bed. we tried a toddler bed but it was too small so she has slept in a queen size bed for the past year. it was tough at first, she got out of bed CONSTANTLY at bedtime and naptime, but eventually it worked itself out. sometimes i stayed with her until she fell asleep, sometimes she was so tired from a hard day at the park she fell asleep instantly, at one point i even put a baby gate in her doorway because she wouldn't stop coming out(seriously, 10-15 in a times night) If there is one consistancy with my girls it's that sleeping arrangements and sleep habit change all the time!

Have you thought about a big girl bed. Both my girld transitioned into toddler beds at about 2.

I have a daughter that is 5 now, but she went thru the same thing of trying to climb out of her crib. She is very tall, and we too, had the rail as high as it would go and the mattress as low as it could go. Our problem is that we had the crib along a wall, in the middle, and we had a bookcase that was in reach of the crib. She would constantly try to grab stuff animals and toys that she thought she could reach. We were always in fear that that she would reach too far and fall out. We too would catch her with her leg hanging over the edge. Our breaking point was one afternoon we heard alot of sounds on the monitor and then i big thumb. When we went in our worse fears did happen and she had tried to reach something on the bookcase and the came over the edge of her crib, the only thing that saved her was that we had moved the crib far enough away so that she didn't hit the bookcase and my husband had placed a huge "NY Giants" pillow between the crib and bookcase on the floor and she landed right on it. I think she truly scared herself, besides us! We ended up moving the crib even further away, but I also started calling a her "my big girl" and told her that if she wanted anything to just ask. with a lot of patience and speaking to her about all of the fun things we could do "after" her nap, the phase passed and we were able to keep her in the crib until after she was 3 years old!! Just after she turned 3 she was rewarded a "big girl's bed", which was a queen size bed with Disney prinesses on it! We were so scared to make that step, that we never put the bed on a frame, and to this day, we still make sure she sleeps in the middle of the bed. But yes, we lived thru that phase, and it is very frustrating and nerve-racking. Unfortunately, somethings they truly have to experiment to learn what is good and what isn't. Of course, it's our job to make sure they don't get hurt, but once they do learn, it's a battle won!!

I had this same problem. I would suggest a Cozy Crib Tent II, you can find it online at One Steap Ahead, on their web site. It is a bit pricey but believe me it works! My son loved it and felt safe inside, I used for over a year.

We had to move our daughter (5 yrs old now)out of her crib before she was 2 because she had a brother on the way. I was so nervous about her being able to get up and go around the house not knowing if I would hear her or not. I didn't want to close her door, because I wanted to be able to still hear her if she cried or anything. Our solution was to put a baby gate on her bedroom door. It was the soft kind (they can't climb it)and it rolls in, so it's not in the way. Of course everything in the room and house is tied to the walls so no fear of anything in her room falling on her. It worked great for naptime too. I would put her in her room for naptime and she couldn't come out of her room. So even is she didn't nap, she still had quiet time in her room. I think once she can climb out of her crib, it's time to take her out of it. Better safe than sorry.

I can totally relate. My daughter's alsmot 21 months and constantly going, climbing, etc. So far we've dodged the bullet on the crib but my plan for when we are forced to transition to a "big girl" bed is to remove all toys from her room and put a gate at the door. I figure if I keep her in there and don't leave her stuff to play with then *maybe* she'll sleep. Of course, I have visions of her pitching a fit and emptying her dresser drawers all over the floor, but I guess we'll just have to deal with that when the time comes. Sorry I have no actual advice - just wanted to let you know you're not alone and thank you for asking the question. I know my time's almost up on this one too. Good Luck.

We just went through this with our 2 year-old son. My husband ended up laying on the floor in my son's room for a few hours and every time my son tried to get out my husband either told him to stay or put him back in. After a few hours of this my son stopped and has yet to try again. Maybe it will work for you too?