Toddler Fell Out of Crib

Updated on January 05, 2009
K.R. asks from Edmond, OK
20 answers

My toddler (2 weeks shy of turning 2 years old) fell out of his crib today. I'd really perfer not to put him in a toddler bed at this time. The crib mattress is on the lowest Any suggestions? Thanks!

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W.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Hi K.,
I've heard of mesh covers that you can buy (crib tent maybe?) that you can lock onto the top of the crib.
Good luck!

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L.H.

answers from Tulsa on

Same problems with my grand baby. NOt quite ready for a toddler buy gets out of crib. Get a crib tent they work great. They sell them at walmart.

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C.G.

answers from New Orleans on

You have two options. Either put the kid in a toddler bed and appropriately toddler-proof your house, or have the kid fall from the top of the crib railing every day when he's ready to get up and just hope he doesn't sustain any lasting injury. I suppose you could add a third option of putting chicken wire across the top of the crib to keep your climbing toddler from escaping, but I wouldn't go there.

Your kid is ready for more freedom, it's up to you to get yourself and your house ready.

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M.J.

answers from Birmingham on

Get a crib tent!! They are the best invention - my 2 year old has been in one for about 4 months now because he was climbing out at nap time. I got it at Babies R Us and my husband was mad at me because it was $70 and he didn't think it was worth that much money but he sure thinks it is now!! I thought my 2 year old would not like being zipped up in the tent but he loves it - now when we put him to bed he points at it and wants to be zipped in - I guess he likes his own litte "house" that he has!! Good luck and I would not switch him over to the other bed yet - I did that with my older son and he quit taking naps - would get in all sorts of mischief in his room when he was suppose to be napping or going to sleep at night - I learned my lesson from him not to switch them out too soon!!

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S.S.

answers from Mobile on

they sell nets now that goes over the top of baby cribs these are found at burlington coat factory and also toys r us also you may find one at babys r us

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J.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Both of my kids have been in Toddler beds since they were about 11 months old. Instead of them crawling out of the crib and hurting themself I transitioned them to "big beds" my kids are 6 years apart and if we ever have anymore I would do it again. If you dont want to put him in a toddler bed you may try one of the crib tents and see how that works for for you.

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J.M.

answers from Texarkana on

The only suggestion I have is a toddler bed with side rails. We put our now 22 mo old son in a toddler bed at 18 months because he was attempting to climb over. If you do go with a toddler bed my suggestion is keeping the crib up as well that way you can swap the mattress back and forth from the crib to the toddler bed until he get the hang of it. You will be surprised how quickly he gets the hang of it.
Also, if he has attempted to climb out once and was successful (ouch) he will continue to do it over and over.

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C.P.

answers from New Orleans on

we put our little boy in a toddler bed at 18 months. it took a while to teach him to stay in it, but worked fine.

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J.C.

answers from New Orleans on

They make nets to put over the crib so they can't climb out.

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A.L.

answers from Tulsa on

Sounds like you have a little escape artist! Our second boy was just like that and he can still climb anything he wants to at the age of 8! With him, I was actually able to take the springs out of the crib and actually lay the mattress on the floor inside of the crib. This worked for a while- but then he figured that out too! I finally took the side of the crib off and he did just fine and I didn't worry about him falling to far. He was somewhere around 22 months when I took the side of the crib off. Good luck! :)

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D.L.

answers from Tulsa on

I'm with you on the toddler bed. I prefer the crib as long as possible and I especially don't agree with dumping a baby out of their bed because another is coming, but that's another story.
They make a "crib Tent". I know lots of moms that use them. We never needed to. He flip over the tall end (trying to turn on the light) relatively early and it so scared him, he didn't try again for a LOOOOONNNNNG time.
You can get it at walmart, babiesrus etc. not expensive and very safe. they are white mesh. baby can see thru and most love it. very big boy, camping etc. you get the idea. it zips up from the outside. letting him roam free is not the choice! good luck

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A.B.

answers from Tulsa on

They make "crib tents" its a mesh tent that goes over the top of the crib. Your child can still see out and all that good stuff just can't climb out. They run about $70.00 or so
should be able to find them at babies r us.

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R.Y.

answers from Fayetteville on

My twins were using each other to try and climb out of the crib when it was one its lowest setting. We didn't want to move to toddler beds either, so we unfastened the mattress support and placed it and the mattress on the floor inside the crib frame. This may not work for your crib (if there are gaps, it would not be a good idea), but it did work for us. There are also "crib tents" that are like a little canopy that are supposed to help keep little monkey climbers inside cribs. Good luck!

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M.C.

answers from Shreveport on

Probably not the answer you want to hear...but a toddler bed is a must!! My daughter (now almost 3) fell from her crib at 2 years and broke her arm (both bones) It was not an easy transition to do with a cast, but that same night of the ER visit we put her in the toddler bed. In two weeks (first week the worst) she was fine. Hope this helps. ~M

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L.J.

answers from Birmingham on

For his safety and to save you from unnecessary dr/hosp. visits it appears that prefer or not, it's time to move him to a toddler bed with a rail on the side to stop him from rolling out. You can get the hide-a-rail at Walmart that goes up and down. It doesn't sound like the crib is keeping him in and at least the toddler bed wouldn't cause any injury with his new found and exciting ability to climb. He will certainly do it again. You definitely don't want any broken bones or head/neck injuries.

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B.L.

answers from Oklahoma City on

The fall may have been enough to discourage him for awhile. I kept in cribs as long as possible too, but if he goes over again - its probably time for a toddler bed. If he can escape the crib, then there really isn't much point to being in a crib. However noone is going to say it is "neglect" to keep your kid in a crib - cps has more important things to do than to go around looking for parents who's toddler fell out of a crib.

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K.E.

answers from New Orleans on

When my daughter climbed out we got a twin size air mattress and put it on the floor and out went the crib. She was I think 16 months, I understand wanting to keep them in the crib as long as possible. I believe that when they start climbing out is when they are ready to transition out. Good luck!!

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A.C.

answers from Oklahoma City on

maybe this is overly simplistic, but it always worked with our kids, even when they were younger than two. talk to him about it during the day. explain to him why he can't climb over the side, that he could get hurt. tell him that he has to stay in his bed, but that when he is ready to get out, to call you and you will come to get him. then do it. everytime, so that he knows that you will honor your word, and that he can trust you to come and get him. that way he won't climb out again.

or move him to a regular bed. two is kind of old for a crib anyway.

don't get anything to cage him into his crib. he isn't a dog.

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M.M.

answers from Huntsville on

Well, you have several choices:

let him continue to fall out of the crib after climbing up and over and one time you will come into the room and he will be on the floor unconcious. Head injuries are nasty to treat.

Let down the side of the crib and he can just get out of the crib like going down stairs. At least that way he will be hitting the floor first with his feet.

Take the mattress out of the crib and put it on the floor if you are reluctant to get a toddler bed. Pretty h*** o* your back leaning over but he can't fall too far that way;

Get the toddler bed.

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R.F.

answers from Fayetteville on

footie pajamas work great because their little feet can't get traction on the bars to climb out and they can't just pull them off like socks. If he fell out and it hurt, he may not try it again anyway. My little guy climbed out once and it scared him, and a year later he still hasn't tried again, but we are about to transition him to a toddler bed because he is 3 and I feel he is old enough for it.

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