Crib Tent? - Halethorpe, MD

In my personal opinion crib tents are not safe. I've heard a couple of stories where there have been housefires and crib tents have actually been a hindrance to safety. I think that if it is working to put the safety gate up then I would go with that. I think she probably has this new found freedom and doesn't get that she will still have it in the morning. I don't know if I have a really helpful answer but in my opinion a crib tent is not a good idea.

Falling asleep on the floor isn't going to do her any damage. If she's uncomfortable then eventually she'll crawl back in bed. My son has been in a toddler bed since he was 18mo (he's almost 23mo now) and he's doing just fine now. I mounted a permanent gate on his door and we just have to close it when it's bed time. It took some getting used to and yes a few instances of him sleeping on the floor and a few of me sleeping on the floor in there so he'd stay in his bed, but it got worked out. Now I just take him in there, shut the gate, give him his nite-nite loves, he climbs in bed, one more kiss and I leave the room. Sometimes he comes to the gate to whine, but I just tell him to get back in bed since mommy has work to do and he takes himself back to bed.

Anways, the point is, she'll get used to it. I personally think that 23mo is a little long to have a child in a crib anyways.

If she was already climbing out of her crib, why would you go back to a crib even with a tent? She's too old and too big. Please heed the people who posted with safety concerns about crib tents. Also, if she were to get out of the tent and fall while climbing out of a crib, she could be hurt (my friend's child broke an arm while climbing out of her crib and think of it -- she could have fallen on her head, not her arm!). The sleeping on the floor is a phase, it will pass, and chill out -- it won't hurt her and lot of kids do this. Bed rails are also a great alternative. And be SURE than when you return her to her bed again and again that you and your husband do not talk to her, engage her, etc. The first time you can say "Now it's time to sleep in your big girl bed" but after that, just walk her back to her bed in silence and depart silently-- many kids think of returning to bed as a game where they get lots of attention from mom and dad, so deny her the attention by just returning her silently after the initial time. Think of this: You are actually fortunate that she just plays in her room until falling asleep; many families endure screaming and tantrums when the child discovers that safety gate is shut and she can't wander. Be aware that the "returning to bed" phase will go on for a while-- could be weeks, could be longer -- but if you don't make a big deal out of it and don't give her attention for it, it will pass. But please don't backslide to a crib!

Bed rails are definitely the "answer". But do not assume a child understands what the rail is or visually appreciates its function, so be sure to add words like: "now we have a rail and it will keep you safe IN bed." Or "with this rail YOU can stay in bed all safe." or even give the rail properties of its own: "This rail will watch you and help YOU stay in bed and make sure you do not fall out." And if she gets out anyway, she can get back in--further, sleeping is sleeping and a few nights on the floor of a childproof room won't hurt her at all. Put up the safety gate or consider the doorknob covers. She will stop. If she continues a bit too long for YOU, then the next step could be shopping for cool sheets/comforter SHE chooses so, (you will tell her), she NOW can always be in her bed with the new pretty sheets.

Does she not like her new bed or is she liking the freedom? If it is she does not like her new bad maybe it is because she does not feel secure without the sides. I would try getting her a real bed with bed rails. Some one posted that maybe she does not realize the freedom will be there in the morning if that is the case after she falls asleep on the floor I would put her in her bed that way she wakes up in bed & sees that she will still have the freedom in the morning & that it is okay to sleep in the bed.

We had the same problem with all 3 of our kids. They just like to explore and it is a transition to get them to sleep on their own when they can get out. All of our kids were out of the crib around 18 months (because of new ones coming along) but I definitely wouldn't put her back in. She can still escape and get hurt by falling. Maybe explain to her about a big girl bed and let her pick out sheets and all for it, then it may be a place she wants to be more. But be persistant!!

Neither of my kids would stay in a toddler bed (we had one of those cribs that converted to both a toddler bed and a regular bed). But they did stay in the regular bed with a bed rail. Maybe it's the same for you. If it's not too much trouble, you might try her in a regular bed with a rail and see if that works. I think the toddler bed was too close to the floor and seemed like a place to play, not to sleep. I moved my daughter at 17 months (she was a climber) and my son closer to 2 yrs, straight from crib to regular bed. Good luck!

We love our crib tent. My son climbed out of his crib one day, and it was a mess. We had no choice but the mattress on the floor, which led to hours of screaming when we tried to leave him alone. He is a little younger though, currently 22 months. But I think he'll be in the crib tent for at least a few more months.

We recently did the same with my son at about 2 1/2. He does get out of his bed, but we have the baby gate in place from the start so he does not get out of his room. We have also child proofed and are not concerned. When we bought his toddler bed, we got the Disney Pixar Cars bed with Lightning McQueen and the bedset to match. It is not the one shaped like a car but it has paintings on it. We stressed to him from the beginning that it was his Lightning McQueen bed. We go through 2 stories each night before he goes to bed, and if he climbs out of his bed while we are reading, we stop and tell him he is to get back in bed if he wants a story or we tell him we will stop reading and turn out the lights and he can go to bed. He will usually return to bed though he may repeat this a couple times. The other thing we have had to do is shut his door or threaten to do so if he did not get back in bed. He would usually get back in after we did this. Our only other issue recently has been that he sometimes takes off his diaper while in bed and we have had to change his bedding before. My husband has started to warn him that if he does this he will get a spanking. He has got a spanking for this a couple times but now that he gets the warning ahead of time it seems, at least for now that he is keeping it on. The only other thing is when we put him to bed, even at naptime we try to make the rest of the house as dark and quiet as possible, so he thinks we are sleeping as well, which sometimes we are :) He does not sleep on the floor though, he just takes his time before he goes to bed. Hope some of this helps!

I have 3 daughters and I had the EXACT same problem with my middle daughter. I was forced to put her in the toddler bed when my youngest was born just 4 months ago because we needed the crib for the new baby. We did similar things as you - baby gate, closing the door, etc. We would go back in and check on her and find her in numerous places - everywhere but IN her bed. We would have to pick her up and put her back in her bed and often by morning she would be back on the floor. I feared that nap time and bedtime would continue to be nothing but a disaster. She was only 14 mos when we moved her. This was well before I thought she was ready, especially since we moved our oldest at 2 1/2. However, I must say the sleeping on the floor only lasted a few weeks, maybe even a month. It was difficult, as my husband and I felt guilty for allowing our daughter to sleep on the floor but we were determined to make it work. And it did. My suggestion would be to stick to what you are doing and she will learn what is expected of her. It may take some time but will be worth it in the long run. My middle child has become my BEST napper and easiest to go down at night (we leave her when she is awake). I think the early transition helped with this as well. Good luck and hang in there!!!

When my son transitioned to a big boy bed, this is what I did-
I hooked him up with a small bedside lamp and a box of books(that I let him pick out)and his Doodle-Pro(erasable magnetic drawing board)on the bedside table. I turned all the lights out except the small lamp and told him he did not have to go to sleep, but he did have to lay down(no playing off the bed. He was allowed to read or draw and IF he got tired he could turn off the light. This totally worked. The small light brings down the room to a more intimate, small, and quiet space. In the beginning, 9 times outta 10 he would fall asleep in the act of looking at pictures or drawing. Then, he would turn off the light when he was done. Now, years later- he's 6, he negotiates how many books he's allowed read before lights out.
When I started this, I made a big "big Boy" deal out of it. We set up the space and I prompted conversation to make it sound like it was really sorta 'his' idea when we were picking out his books from the bookshelf. The Doodle Pro was his idea at the time-the conversation was "Can I take this?, No. Can I take That? no, just quiet time books." When he got to the Doodle Pro, I couldn't think of a good reason to say no, so I let him.(if you don't have one of these- get one! So worth the $10-15 at toys r us.) Kids like a sense of control in changing circumstances- I say give it to them when you can make it work for you!

Our son starting climbing out at 16 months and it was just too young for him to be wandering around, even in his room. So, we got the crib tent & it worked out great. He actually loves it and feels very secure. Our Ped. said too keep him in the crib until he's 3 if we can. He's almost 30 months now and still asks to be zipped in. When he wakes up in the AM, he just calls us to come get him.

I would be relieved that she doesn't stand at the door and scream for you!!

I know you want he rin her bed, but if she is safe, I owuldn't worry too about it. Eventually, she will stay in bed.

I wouldn't tell her it's okay to sleep on the floor. I would encourage the bed - scold her as you see fit, tell her big girls sleep in bed, let her pick out some sheets, let her put a million toys in bed, tell her she can read a book in bed - whatever you can do to make the bed seem like the fun place ot be. It's a discipline issue, and you need to decide if it's a battle you want to fight right now and if so how you want to fight it.

But in general, she is probably a lot safer on the floor of a well childproofed room than up in a crib (tent or no tent). Odds are she would probably reject the crib now tha tshe has had a taste of freedom, and then you will have real sleep troubles. She is probably jus texcited by the new freedom and will get over it soon.

Unlikely, but is it possible, she actually likes the firmness of the mattress in the crib and disclikes a softer toddler mattress?

what's wrong with floors? they're nice and flat and safe and so maligned, nobody wants them.
my older boy went through a long phase, several months, after we got his big boy bed, when all he wanted was his 'bear bed', a big nest of stuffed animals and blankies next to his new bed. slept like a lamb in it. when he was done, he moved to his bed. still sleeps in one today at 22 (although he's versatile, he can still sleep on floors, in cars, and hanging upside down in closets.)
they really won't NOT learn to sleep in a bed.
i'd make her a nest and quit playing these extended games at bedtime. and i definitely would not put her back in a crib.
good luck!
:) khairete
S.

You just need to be more presistant. Post yourself outside the room door and when she gets out of bed march right in there pick her up, Say "Stay in bed" and put her back in bed. Don't yell or get mad. Walk back out and post again. Do this again and again until she stays. It might take an hour but after a while she will give up. Each evening she will take less time to stay in bed. She will literally give up. I mean gosh every time her foot hits the floor she's put back. She's getting no where. Most of the time if you don't get angry they don't get too upset about it. But not always. But if they get mad don't react unless they get really mad. In that case i would rock for a min or something like that but not too long. Don't make it a payment for getting mad... Good luck

if it takes her 30 minutes to fall asleep then put her to bed 30 minutes bfore you want her to fall asleep put the gate up when you put her to bed. soon she will realixe that sleeping in bed is more comfortable and will crawl in bed before drifting off. if she doesnt well maybe she doesnt mind the floor and you can move her to her bed yourself or just leave her. i doubt she cares where she sleeps at this age.

If she's climbing out she is definitely ready for a big girl bed! The last thing you want is for her to break an arm or something trying to climb out of bed. It will be an adjustment for everyone but you should take the rail off the crib on one side if you have that option. If not then I would suggest a twin size bed with bed rails for added security. It will take time but she will eventually get used to a bed. She won't likely fall asleep on the floor as often if she can crawl into bed herself when she gets tired.

Sounds like you have already baby proofed her room. The only thing I suggest is making sure the big furniture, dressers, nightstands etc are strapped to the wall with furniture straps. (You can buy them at the hardware store). Kids are often climbing at this stage and if she climbs on the furniture and knocks it over she could get severly hurt or possibly be crushed to death. (Sorry to be so blunt but it is true).

Good luck and be patient it is an adjustment for everyone.

I wouldn't do the crib tent because she will just end up tearing it apart. If she can climb out of the crib already she is truly ready for the toddler bed...but just needs to get used to the new rules. From experience of my now 11yr old daughter...when she was first put in the toddler bed, we too worried and used a baby gate to secure her in the room. She slept at the entrance way of the door each and every night..we would put her back in bed 2-3x per night and in the morning she was back at the door entrance way on the floor. When we talked to the Ped. DR he said it was just a phase and she would get over it in about 2wks..he said to make her comfortable. I kid you not, 1year later, she finally started to sleep in her bed. After 3weeks we bought rugs and then a sleeping bag for her (our floors were tile). Anyway, soon your daughter will realize what the expectations are. Give her a book to take to bed. Maybe she will play/read it while trying to fall asleep. Good luck! M.

T.,

Do NOT get a crib tent. I have a girlfriend whose 2nd child got tangled in the crib tent and suffocated. They revived him eventuallly, but he now has permanent brain damage and will never lead a normal life. Please do not use one.

L. M.
Mom of 2, Reston, VA

we had the same problem with my son, now 3, about 4 months ago. He still falls asleep right in front of the door. I tried moving him a couple of times, but he would wake up and be back on the floor as soon as I got to the door. I talked to his doc and she said if he is sleeping well on the floor just to leave him alone, eventually he will figure out that the bed is more comfortable. We went on vacation this weekend and put him in a regular bed to see if the regular bed was the trick, nope, he was back on the floor within minutes. Since you already have the crib down, you may want to just let her alone if she is sleeping.

We had the same problem. Every night for a couple of months we had to sit with our daughter until she went to sleep. Which was often an hour or more. Even then, she generally climbed out of her bed and slept on the floor, typically by the door. But we are finally to a place where we can put her down and she will fall asleep by herself. She even gets out sometimes to grab a toy or extra blanket but she gets back in. Stick with it. It's a huge change for them, but they will adjust.