My 15 Month Old Is Climbing Out of His Crib!!

Time for a toddler bed. When mine started climbing out, it was time for a toddler bed for the big boy!

My son started climbing out of his crib at about 15 months too. We moved him to a toddler bed, and because we too were concerned with him wandering, we put a little hook lock on the outside of his door, and kept the baby moniter on. This kept him in, and safe. and gave us peace of mind. Good luck.

It may have been a fluke thing.

Make sure there is nothing he can climb on in the crib (bumper pads stuffed animals pillows etc) and make sure the crib platform is all the way down at it's lowest point and the crib rail is up all the way.

I had one climb out of the crib once and only once...he could never figure out how he had done it again G

My children (all 3 of them) were doing the same thing. I was NOT ready to put my children in a toddler bed for fear that they would get up in the middle of the night and I would not hear them. Then I would worry about them getting into things or climbing and getting hurt. We iventually put them into a toddler bed about the same age + a few months, also put a high gate in their doorway. The gate seems easy to climb, but they had a hard time with it. I will admit, they cried for being left in there and not being able to get out, but if they fell asleep on the floor I would put them back into bed. The next day, PRAISE how big a boy he is!!!!!! A sticker chart is too advanced, so get a big piece of paper and let him put any sticker any place on that "big boy chart" Maybe act out a camp out, pring some pillows and blankets in and you tell him you are going to sleep on the floor and he in his bed. When he falls asleep, you can go to your own bed. IT is worth a try.

We switched my son at about a year when he started climbing on things including his crib-although he never got close to out when we were watching, we didn't want him to hurt himself when we weren't. Find a toddler bed with sides, I got a step 2 firetruck through my local classifieds for $40 and we have never had a problem with him sleeping in it. We also have always had a locking swing gate (like a top of stairs gate) across his bedroom door that we lock when he is inside. His room is at the top of the stairs and we don't want him navigating them sleepy and fally down. He is fine with that and will just yell for me when he needs me.
They grow up fast don't they?
C.

Our youngest son began climbing out of his crib at 16 months. We bought a "Crib Tent" at Babies R Us and it worked like a charm. They run about $70, but it was well worth the cost.

I can't speak for others, but when my son started crawling out of his crib, I changed to a toddler bed. I had previously put the mattress at the deepest (lowest) point. Have you lowered the mattress? I was concerned that he would hurt himself while climbing out, so even though I hated to do it, I put DS into the big boy bed.

Hi D.,
I agree! The longer you can keep him in the crib the better.
My experience is with my oldest daughter now 6, and my youngest daughter now 2.5. My oldest was in the crib until she was 3. She was very comfortable in it, and never tried to climb out. I finially decided that because of our night time potty training it was time to switch to a toddler bed. The switch was very easy.
My youngest is a different story. She climbed out of her crib the first time at 17 months old. At that point, for her own safty, I started transtioning her to the toddler bed. Starting with nap times first. The earlier the child is taken out of the crib and put into the bed, the more challenging it can be. The crib gives them a sense of security. especially at night.
At one point I had to move the toddler bed into my bedroom for a couple weeks until she got used to it and felt safe in it.
She would wake in the night, get out of bed, and stand in the middle of the room and cry. Where before, she would sleep through the night with no problems.
If you are able to find a way to keep the crib longer, I vote for trying that before transitioning to a toddler bed. Best of luck to you.

When they start climbing out its time to get a toddler bed. They can get really hurt trying to climb out. I had actually bought my son a single size bed with rails around it and its very low to the ground like a toddler bed. Also, I put up a gate in the hall way so that if he does get up and I don't hear him right away the only place he can go is to my room. Good luck;0)

It is time for a toddler bed, his crib is not safe once he can climb out, as for the "tent" it doesn't fit every crib, and they tear. Instead of shutting his door, put up a gate, so he can still see out but is safe in his room, you will need to do this in a few months when he learns how to open the door anyhow.
Also make sure the dresses are anchored down and the room is baby proof. To help him stay in bed give him a few quiet toys to occupy himself, if he isn't ready to go to sleep yet. If he cries for you at the door, check if his imediate needs are met, if they are then ignor him, he'll figure out that it is time for bed (cry it out method)
My daughter (now 2) transitioned to her t. bed w/no problems.
We now have a twin size bed...'cause we were borrowing the tod. bed, and they needed it back. She chooses to sleep on the floor, which is fine by me, at least she is asleep.

Hi D.~
I sure sympathize w/you!! Once our guy (now 3) learned how to get out of his crib it was a war to keep him in it! Not only is it frustrating, but we were worried about him getting hurt! He was such a good sleeper at night and in the am he would wait for me to come get him. All of a sudden he wouldn't stay in bed NO MATTER WHAT and if he woke up way too early, he would go downstairs while we were asleep! THAT terrified me!!! I dreaded putting him in a real bed b/c it would be even worse. Long story short, we tried everything from explaining to bribing to spanking...nothing worked. He just wasn't old enough to understand that bedtime means bedtime. Eventually, though, with persistence he learned to stay in bed at night, although he never again waited for me to come get him in the am. I think that all you can do is be firm, be diligent, don't give in...not even once! Keep telling him as you put him back in bed for the 15th time, that it is bedtime...stay in bed! I believe that often, kids learn a skill too early, and they lack the maturity to NOT do it. We didn't put our son in a big bed until he learned to stay in the crib again. Now he stays in his twin bed at bedtime and naptime, and when he gets up to potty, he goes right back to bed. Your guy will get it...I promise!
~L.

If a crib tent will work that's great. If not, I would get a toddler bed and but a gate at this door so he can't leave his room. I would be concerned with him falling out of the crib and injuring himself. My son was in a double bed at just over 2 with no problems. He never liked his crib (although he never tried to climb out) and wouldn't sleep in it. He sleeps great in his big boy bed though.

Our son was the same way. We lowered the crib matress to the lowest point. Once he could still get out, we went the toddler bed - which our crib converted into. Also, I put a baby gate in his door so he could not get out and his bedroom was baby-proofed! They make crib tents, which at the time, I didn't even know about. So you may want to try that for awhile. Our son was 18 mos when we made the switch and I do not regret it (he's 3 1/2 now). You know your child better than anyone, and if you feel he's ready for a toddler bed, by all means, switch! Good luck & let us know how it goes!!

Hi D.,
If there is any way to keep him in his crib that is probably the best. They make crib tents that maybe you could try. I don't know a whole lot about them but it has worked for a couple of people I know. My son is almost 18 months and I can't imagine trying to keep him in a toddler bed yet. You could also try going to some place like Babies-R-Us and see what they have. Maybe there is something else that you could try. Good luck.
Chris

My daughter was in a toddler bed by that time also. They say when they can climb out it is time. You dont want your lil one to hurt themselves climbing out also. I used rails on her big girl bed, till she was almost 5 cause she would roll around so much. Hope that helps..

S.

My now 5 year old son did the same thing at about a year. I would never have dreamed of a toddler bed at that age. There is to much for him to get hurt on if he happened to wonder out and I was in bed. I did the crib tent and it worked wonderful. He did scream for two or three nights but once he go use to it he was fine. If I left it unzipped to get him a glass of water or something he'd get pretty mad. He said it was his "camping bed". He stayed in it until he was 3. By then he could get in unzipped on his own. Then went right to a twin size bed. I just don't feel any rush to get my kids out of the crib. It's safe and I don't have to worry about them falling down the stairs or playing in the toilet or any number of things that could be a problem if I were asleep. Good Luck!

I wouldn't rush out to switch to the toddler bed just yet. Your son wasn't sleepy so he got up, my daughter did the same thing a few weeks ago. We got the support bar out to make her crib a toddler bed, but then opted to wait and she has not climbed again. I am hoping to wait until she is closer to 2 before we will need a toddler bed at my house. I know from past experiences with my first son that if you switch to early you will have the ever constant putting them back in bed battle. LOL Best advice is to see how he is over the next few days and then make a decision, he may be ready, but you will know.

yes it time for a toddler bed if he climbing out of his crib better to be safe then sorry

Our daughter did the same thing at that age. We put the crib mattress on the floor and it worked great for us. Good luck!! I remember standing outside the door, listening to her scream, then hearing her feet hit the floor. Quite the shock! ;o)