16 Month Old Climber

Updated on September 28, 2007
J.G. asks from Tallahassee, FL
10 answers

My little girl is 16 months old and just today we found out she can climb out of her crib. She has always been a climber. She pushes chairs around and climbs up on the table. But, I'm most concerned about her being able to climb out of her crib. It's a standard crib, with a high gate, but she wedges her self in the corner and pulls up and throws her leg up and climbs over. I'm really scared she will fall on her head trying to get out. Is she too young to start in a toddler bed? I'm just so worried about her safety. Is there any other options? I doubt she would stay in a bed but it might be safer then her falling.

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A.W.

answers from Tallahassee on

I think you are either supposed to lower the side of the crib or change into a toddler bed. You are right- she can't be climbing out of something so high up.

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A.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

I would start to transition to the toddler bed. I put my little boy into a toddler bed at about 14 months. He started to climb everything. He enjoyed climb in and out of his bed. I have had any trouble with him getting up to play instead but we do have night yet that he wouldn't lay in bed. What keeps in bed the most is his favorite character on his blankets and had his favorite stuff toy with him.
And don't forget to leave the crib in her room for a while when she starts to use the toddler bed. I let my son's toddler bed just sit in his room for a few weeks before we started to use it for naps and then bedtime.
Good luck.

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M.F.

answers from Sarasota on

My son did the same thing. We just put him on a mattress on the floor in his room. We then got a safety gate that opens and closes with bars going straight up and down only. He couldn't climb it, or open the latch so we didn't have to worry about him leaving his room at night. You do have to think a little more about what toys are in the room though...

Good luck.

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D.L.

answers from Pensacola on

This is about the age my daughter started climbing out of her crib, I got her a toddler bed and she's been great in it. The first few nights she did get out and play with stuff then fall asleep on the floor, but I figure that's better than her falling out of her crib and busting her head. Since she was about 20 months she gets into by herself and sleeps in it all night. I've never had a problem with it (until now because she can get up and bug her brother in the crib) but you may want to try a crib tent if you feel she'll be safer that way. Good luck. (and just wait until she learns how to open doors with the "child proof" knobs on them)

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S.A.

answers from Tallahassee on

Hi J.

I would definitely go a head and her that toddler bed!!!

If she can climb out of a crib at this age, she is very advance so I would say she could use the toddler bed. She might even enjoy it. For extra protection, get the bed that has the railing so she won't fall out of bed at night. You can even buy an extra one for the bottom-half of the bed. Wal-mart, toys'r us, target and babies 'r us have tons of beds to choose from.

If you have stairs, I would suggest closing her bedroom door while she is asleep (use the baby monitors to listen for her if she wakes up)

She's close to two and that is usually when a child gets their first toddle bed...for your daughter's safety - buy one NOW! Early Christmas present! Then for Christmas, buy her a fun comforter set!

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B.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

I just went through this with my daughter and she is 2. MY daughter is way too young for a toddler bed. She can open any door in the house, even unlock it so she could be gone in seconds without me even knowing. YOur daughter might be smart enough to push something next to the door and unlock it you will never know until it is too late, plus with a climber like my daughter there is way too much she can do to hurt herself even in the best child proofed home. The solution for us was a crib tent. It is amazing and she can't get out. It is a mesh tent that covers the crib adn zips up. The zipper is not accessible to the child in the crib so she wont be able to unzip it and it is totally safe and breathable. I would highly recommend it for a child that young. Good luck.

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A.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

You definately want to buy a crib tent. I had to get one for my daughter when she was 18mo old. She just turned 2 and still uses it. She still is not ready for a toddler bed and the security of the tent is great. When I finally got it in and put her in the crib with it on, she stopped the climbing in the crib and just laid down to sleep. It gave her the security she lost when she realized she could escape her crib by climbing out. Try ebay, but if you can't get one for under $45 then go to Walmart.com, they're the cheapest for new ones.

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T.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

I would buy a crib tent. I just checked and you can get one online at babies r us, wal mart and www.onestepahead.com.
My sister in law used one for her son and he was not able to get out. I think she is too young for a toddler bed. I have a 17 month old and i know she is. Mine is a climber too. So far not out of her crib.

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A.M.

answers from Jacksonville on

when my little girl was born we bought this tent thing to keep the cats from getting in bed with her. is might also help her to stay in bed. we found it at babies-r-us.

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D.

answers from Sarasota on

Time for a toddler bed. Nice side rails and you are good to go. It's too dangerous to keep a climbing child in a crib. We had to move our son at 18 months. In europe they have cribs with removable slats so that children can get out from the bottom without climbing over the top- don't know if they have those in the states.

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