CLIMBING OUT OF CRIB - OMG!

Friday night Ethan decided he wanted to be Houdini and climbed out of his crib, managed to open his bedroom door (which wasn't closed fully) and came down the hall and knocked on our door. DH and I almost had a FREAKIN' HEART ATTACK when we heard a knock at the door at 4am.

Ethan has continued the saga and climbs out every night now!!! I now make sure to fully close his door so that he can't wander the hallway and play in the bathroom, etc, but this is getting ridiculous. It takes him FOREVER to get back to sleep (if at all) - last night it was 5am and he didn't go back to sleep. I can no longer just leave him in his crib to play when he wakes up at unreasonable hours b/c he is being an acrobat!

I don't think a toddler/twin bed is right for him at this pt. He is 21 months old and would just be all over the place.

ANY ADVICE? The crib is as low as it will go and the side rail is very high - I have no idea how he is doing this!

Re: CLIMBING OUT OF CRIB - OMG!

OMG is right what about a crib tent? I know they are a solution for climbers who are too young for toddller beds OR you could just use my solution and take him into bed with you only joking....

Re: CLIMBING OUT OF CRIB - OMG!

I put Jared in a full size bed at 20 months when he climbed/fell out of his crib. I put the guard on the side of his bed and some pillows at the foot of the bed. I also put a gate up at his door so he can't escape. Things really changed. It took me a long time to get him to bed...but now he sleeps like a big boy.

Re: CLIMBING OUT OF CRIB - OMG!

They sell a mesh crib tent that goes over the crib. It is very safe. If I knew how to post a picture of it I would. It doesnt even look too bad . Good luck

Re: CLIMBING OUT OF CRIB - OMG!

My 2 older ones both climbed out of their cribsfor the first time in the 15-18 month range and actively did it on a regular basis by 21 months. I remember it clearly bc each of my kids is 21-22 months apart. Both were in a bed by that time (DS #1 in a twin, DD in a toddler) Yes, they will be all over the place but the novelty wears off eventually. I had a gate on their doorways till they were about 2-2 1/4 yrs old for safety purposes. They can definitely get hurt climbing out, Ive heard of kids falling and breaking their arm or leg as a result so I'd definitely consider moving to a bed if he's doing it consistently.

Re: CLIMBING OUT OF CRIB - OMG!

If he's climbing out of his crib you don't have a choice but to get a junior bed...use it with a baby gate at his door so he can't get out.

My son climbed out of his crib once at just over a year...luckily we had carpeting and he didn't hurt himself too badly. The next day I bought a junior bed. It did change the dynamic, but with the baby gate I just had to child proof his room. And unfortunately, I had to become an early riser myself

But if he's climbing out daily, it's just luck that he hasn't hurt himself yet. IMO I would start looking online tonight

Re: CLIMBING OUT OF CRIB - OMG!

I agree with the other posters. Time for a bed. I would skip the toddler bed and go for the twin. No sense in wasting money on a bed for only 2-3 more years.

Also the babygate should keep him at bay for a while.

Re: CLIMBING OUT OF CRIB - OMG!

I put Aidan in his twin bed at 22 months, he just would not stay in his crib. I would find him sleeping on the floor!
He had done it a few times around 15 months, stopped, but by 21 he was out almost every day.

He adjusted really well, he loved it! I never found him on the floor again!

Message edited 7/10/2007 1:14:37 AM.