18 Month Old Getting Out of Crib

Updated on March 19, 2008
L.H. asks from Rancho Cordova, CA
21 answers

i dont know how she does it but everytime when we put her to bed not everytime but at least 7 timesout of ten iworry when she wakes up or when we put her in her crib,i hear thru the monitor shes playing with her toys and/or messing with things of ours.how do we prevent that?

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C.C.

answers from Fresno on

My girls both did that around that age. I bought a toddler bed and put a baby gate at the door to contain her. Problem solved!

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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

My son started jumping out of his crib at 18mos old too! I think he saw his older sister in and out of her bed and wanted out too. You can either bye a crib tent that covers the top and zips closed or put her in a toddler bed which is what we did. My son LOVED it, it was a little work getting him to stay there but I much rather deal with him staying in a toddler bed than worrying about him jumping out of the crib. Gl~

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E.D.

answers from San Francisco on

A crib tent would solve this problem. It may take your daughter a couple nights to accept it, but then you will all feel much safer.

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K.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Crib tent crib tent crib tent! I love mine, and it has successfully kept my climber (who has been climbing out of her crib since 12 months) safely and happily in her crib. Despite what many other mothers may suggest, it does not make sense to put a 1 1/2 year old in a toddler bed - if she gets out of her crib and plays with her toys during sleep time now, imagine how it would be if she were in a toddler bed!!
Get a crib tent - well worth the money. My 2 year old has now "forgotten" that she can climb out of the crib, so we dont even need to keep it closed anymore.

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S.K.

answers from Bakersfield on

You could buy a crib tent to prevent her climbing out, or you could move her to a toddler bed and make sure the room is safe for her to play in. Either way it's better than her climbing out of the crib and harming herself.

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M.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Like the other moms said, definitely the crib tent! This was a life saver for us with our 14 year old. No sooner than when we put him in his crib, was he running behind us laughing. He'd get up in the middle of the night and play in the dark in the living room. Our bed room was on a different floor than his,and baby monitors only picked up phone conversations in those days, so we didn't use one. We were so worried he was going to get hurt.

After using the crib tent for about 4 months, we moved him into a big boy bed, and he stayed put through out the night. It was a huge relief to know he was safe in the tent at night.

Good luck,
M.

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K.E.

answers from Fresno on

I had the same problem and through the advice of all the moms here I purchased a crib tent. (I felt that at his age, he was about the age of your daughter, he was too little for a todddler bed) My son loves it and now he is 2 years 4 months and still wants it zipped up every night! Here's a link to show you what I'm talking about. I highly recommend it! Hope this helps!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404625

p.s. you might be able to find one cheaper and a consignment store or online at craigslist. That's what I did.

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D.Z.

answers from Yuba City on

It took my daughter all of 2 days to get out of the tent too. Yes, at 19 months she figured out how to manipulate the zipper. Waste of $$$$ for us, others have different story. We put her in a toddler bed and a gate on the door (until she learned that one too!) and she was fine. we also keep all the doors in the hall closed, it helps. She gets bored and goes back to her room, or comes in ours! Good luck!!!

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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi L.,

That is so wonderful that you have a green house effect. That is so important for your baby and family. Can you send me your website so I may take a look at it also? I also have a green house and if you would like to check out my web site feel free to do so. I am always looking for ways to make my home a safe haven. It is the only environment we have control over. My site is www.nikken.com/ninamarie I show people how to shop wholesale also if they are interested.
Look forward to your response.
Happy ST. Patricks Day.
N.

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P.S.

answers from San Francisco on

One Step Ahead offers a baby tent for $80; it's soft netting that fastens under the mattress, allows air flow, but keeps your child in the crib. It unzips at the top for baby removal: http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId.... If that's not an option for you, it may be time to move her to a junior bed (close to floor, takes a crib mattress) only to prevent any injuries from either falling when climbing out of the crib or falling and catching a limb between the rails. However, you will have to toally baby-proof her room --- electrical socket plugs and/or locks that fit over plugs when things are plugged in, secure bookcases and dressers to stud in wall to prevent tip-over accidents, place any dangerous items WELL out of reach or remove them entirely. Make sure she cannot get OUT of her room. It's okay that she's up and playing; it's a new adventure for her and she'll play until she's tired or the novelty of getting up wears off. You may have to return her to her bed a few nights when/if she falls asleep on the floor.
If you move her to a junior bed, it won't be as much of an adventure to step out of that bed as opposed to escaping from her crib. Most important is to keep her safe.

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K.G.

answers from San Francisco on

Our twins girls were doing this recently. We put them in toddler beds so they could get back into bed. It's worked great. There were falling asleep on the floor before. We thought about the tent and didn't want to have to buy two. They love their big girl beds. They are 23 months now but started climbing out around 18. We also took the door knob off on their side of the door only so we can open it from the outside but they can't.

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E.E.

answers from San Francisco on

Tell her no firmly and put her back in there. Only tell her no the first time. The rest of the time just put her back in there without saying a word. Just because she can get out of her crib doesn't mean she is allowed to. 18 months is old enough to be able to learn boundaries. If you are concerned that she will hurt herself you could put her in a toddler bed but still don't allow her to get up whenever she wants. As soon as you hear her get up go right in there and plop her back in bed. Don't let her get away with it. You decide when she goes to bed. You decide when she wakes up. Be firm. Be serious. Be consistent.

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T.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I got my kids big boy bed(toddler beds) when they were 18 months old. yes, this means you have to make sure you have baby gates up , but the key thing is that they arent babys any more. they are toddlers, and need to have the opertunity to learn boundarys... when you keep them in the crib to long you are just tempting thier creativity. kids will always find a way. plus if shes climbing out , she could get hurt.

i am a foster mom and have gone to many parenting classes. They always stress the piont, teach kids that you trust them, so that they can learn to trust , and feel confident in themselves. so i have taken that to heart and encouraged my kids to make good choices and let them know its ok to make mistakes...

yes the first week was hell, in and out of bed. but in the long run i have well adjusted lil boys who sleep in thier own beds and stay in thier beds once they get tucked in.

good luck ,and i hope your lil one gets a good night time routine going and stays in bed:)

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L.L.

answers from San Francisco on

When my daughter, who is now 11, was about 18 months old, she started climbing out of her crib and falling on her head. We had to get her out of it! We put a futon on the floor and a gate on her door so she could not walk out of her room. Of course her room was totally safe so if she did wake up and play with her stuff she would be ok. She usually woke up and walked over to her gate and cried for us, anyway. It worked for us.
L.

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L.G.

answers from San Francisco on

crib tents are great.

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L.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi L.,
I recommend a crib tent to keep her in her crib. My pediatrician to me that most children can't understand imaginary boundaries at that age and to do what it takes to keep my daughter in her crib until at least three yrs old. I'm very lucky that my daughter LOVES her crib. In fact, I have a hard time getting her out sometimes and she does try to climb IN! The most important thing is to do whatever it takes to insure your daughter is getting the best sleep she can. Good luck!
L.

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A.E.

answers from Sacramento on

Babies R Us sells the tents to put on the crib to keep the baby in of you are concerned. My parents told me I was jumping out of the crib at 9 months and I was fine. (My daughter has not done this yet, but I am anticipating it starting soon and have planned to buy a tent for the top if she starts.).

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A.M.

answers from Stockton on

you should try a crib tent they sell them at babies r us. it worked great for me ,my son thought it was really cool.

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J.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi L.,
My son did the same thing at 20 months. We looked into a crib tent but my pediatrician said they aren't fool proof. He also said at this age they may not adjust well (cry) to the tent. I have also had friends try this and they weren't happy with it either. Some kids figured out how to get out anyway and then there is even more risk for injury. We ended up converting his crib to a toddler bed and he adjusted really well. Good luck!

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C.C.

answers from Bakersfield on

L.
I agree with Theresa...it is time for a toddler bed. My daughter was the same way. Put up a baby gate to the door of her room & let her go. She will tire herself out more safely (or you can continually put her back in her bed). Good luck!

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C.L.

answers from San Francisco on

It seems that a tent would be short lived and not worth the money. I would transfer her to a toddler bed - with a side rail so she doesn't fall out - and a gate at the door.

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