Climbing Out of Crib - Sun City,CA

Put a doorknob cover on the inside of his door so that he can't get out of his room. Then totally "toddler proof" his room and just let him fall asleep wherever. This worked for us!

If he can climb out, it's time to move to a bed. It can be a rough transition with the bed (our kids would challenge us by getting out repeatedly) but it's time.

Does he have his own room? If he does, shut the door, keep the lights off and let him fall asleep where he wants, just make sure he's wearing warm enough PJ's. He needs his sleep and you need him to get his sleep. It sounds like he's excited by his new skill and the reaction he gets from you; he thinks it's a game and a way to get more attention. My son did the same thing for about a month but once I stopped reacting to it, he returned to sleeping in his crib/bed just fine. Good luck!

My sister-in-law went through this with my nephew around the same age. She actually put a mattress on the floor so that he wouldn't get hurt each time he tried to climb out of bed. Each time he climbed out, she would put him right back in without any conversation or real interactions. Eventually he got the idea! It was sort of a novelty for him, but it evertually got boring and he was tired.

Hi K., I took my kids (3) out of the crib at 18 months. I put the crib mattress on the floor with their blankets and stuffed animals. and then at 2 went into a twin bed. I would never give a 20 month old a pacifier for any reason. if you are getting up all through the night and there is no discipline or consequences for not obeying and staying in his bed. my question is how does he use the potty at night if he needs to go if he's still in a crib? As far as not putting children into a toddler/twin bed till they are 3, is silly, how are they supposed to use the bathroom at night? my three were potty trained at 20 months old. Like everything else children need to be taught and trained in the rules of the home. I have been a mother for 26 years and i would not. use the pacifier, or move the crib, I would teach and train my child to obey the rules in our home. give children a chance to learn and set them up for success, I don't understand the boundaries, their in their own home, are children understood even as toddlers. that they did not come in mommy and daddy's room without knocking, and i never worried about them going into the kitchen cause it was dark, we kept a night light on in the hall and the bathroom, so they could get up and go potty if they needed, we never had a problem with are children roaming the house at night. Julia

Mattress on the floor is the best idea...maybe cheapest too. We sleep on Japanese futons in our house...it looks normal to us. Less injury risk. (have observed the "sleep flipping" like previous poster.)
If you want to keep your child away from you at night, there the double gate idea (on pressure gate installed above another) at his bedroom door. Little kids do not understand the invisible boundaries...they need something solid or at least visible. You can try to decorate or make up a story about the "rules" to make it fun. There will be other times you have to say "because I said so" but this situation, you have time to plan something more appealing.
Parents must have rules and enforce boundaries, but why make it a chore if you don't have to.

Stay with the toddler bed idea - my son did the exact same thing when he was even younger than you're guy. I had to get him to go to sleep elsewhere then put him in his "big boy" bed for a while, but he eventually caught on. He really got a kick out of playing with his favorite stuffed animals and hot wheel cars in his bed. Climbing out of the crib soon became baby stuff! Best wishes.

it might be time for a toddler bed. once he gets used to the idea of having the freedom to get out of bed he will get back into his sleep routine. i went through this with my first son at about 20 months too. eventually, i used the pacifier (yes) to teach the boundaries of bed. if he gets out of bed, the paci goes on the dresser. no pacifier unless he is in bed for sleep! luckily for me he loves his paci and it still works. good luck!

ps. i have heard that crib tents can be dangerous for dtermined climbers; and so is climbing out of the crib. he is safer in a toddler bed with sleep rails.

Crib tents are pricey, but for your child's safety you really need to get one. I got mine off Craigslist for $20. Try Craigslist or Ebay. You can also try a kids resale shop, like Once Again Kids or something like that. Google children's resale and see whats in your area. Good luck!

check out the site below. its a site for mommies selling/buying things. or maybe try craigs list and other venues because if you can find one, it may keep him in his crib for another year. My son crawled out of his crib at 2 and we ended up buying him a twin bed. it was a rough two weeks until he settled in and got used to it. we had to put pillows on the floor because he did fall out two or three times but was never hurt or anything. Good luck!
http://www.handmedowns.com/los-angeles

I know crib tents can be pricey but they are well worth it. I have a friend who's baby did the same thing. The tent was the only thing that helped. Have you tried looking on craigslist or children's consignment stores for one? Maybe you'll get lucky and find a used one. Good luck keeping your little one in bed!

I would get the crib tent! I got mine from a friend but as someone else suggested, perhaps you could buy one off cragis list? We literally just went through the exact same thing with my daughter who turned two in December, and after a week of Hell, my friend came over and installed the crib tent. We made a big deal out of it, calling it her new princess tent, etc and she loves it and is right back to her old sleeping habits. Good Luck!

Sounds like it is time for a toddler bed to me. If he gets out, then that is when stern disapline will have to take place to let him know that he is not allowed to get out and do as he pleases. You are the mom and it is up to you to teach that.