Since my son figured out yesterday that he can climb out of his crib, it's been game on ;)
He's 2, and already acting like he's been climbing out his whole life! Like a pro! (Wish his speech would click like this!)
I've already 'toddler proofed' his room, but I was going to wait until next weekend to fully convert the crib into a toddler bed, so he could have time to get used to his new room layout before having free range with the toddler bed.
He still seems to like the security of the crib, like last night, he didn't try to climb out, he went straight to sleep... but this morning, he was up and out!
I know it's trial and error, and I totally can't remember what I did when the girls were little (I think I just threw them right into toddler beds)... but the girls were in toddler beds before 1... like I said, at 2, he still seems to like the security of the crib.
BUT, should I do this sooner rather than later? I'm thinking if he climbs out before he's taken his nap, he's not going to be able to climb back in....
What should I do?
Oh no! Next you'll be buying him razors and condoms!!!
Ahem, sorry.
Anyway, yeah, if you can, I'd go for it's time for a Big Boy Bed.
;)
Get it done ASAP. In the meantime, pull his mattress out and flop it on the floor. It's best to get him used to sleeping on a mattress without falling out when it's just an 8 inch drop anyhow...
Toddler bed, ASAP.
Raise the crib rail. Now look at the distance from the top of the raised crib rail to the floor. Now imagine your son falling that distance. Head first.
Yep, beyond dangerous.
My friend's child broke her arm the very first time she tried to climb out of her crib, at 18 months old. If she had fallen on her head or neck she could have been killed.
You think he likes the security of the crib, but that is trumped by the safety issue. You will have to go through the stage of walking him back to his bed over and over (and over) when he's in the "I can get up and move around at bedtime!" phase, but you must do that at some point, so get it over with now.
If he's goiing to be a climber, don't forget to tether furniture to the walls and the TV too. Go to www.cpsc.gov and search on injuries and deaths from furniture and TVs falling onto young children who climbed or pulled on them. CPSC recommends tethering things to the walls to prevent injuries or worse.
He probably won't be able to climb back in but then you can put him back in, ya know? Ask yourself if it is a toddler bed is he going to actually choose to put himself back in anyway.
I didn't worry about the kids being able to get out because I knew they wouldn't hurt themselves doing it. I mean come on, it is what, a four foot drop? Thing is that added effort to get out kept them in there better than when I switched to the bed and I needed all the help I could get to get those buggers to stay in their bed.
Personally R.? I would do it now. he's already acclimated to the room arrangement. Get him in the toddler bed now so we don't have another broken leg! :)
My son started getting out of his crib around 18 months (seriously, like vaulting out of the thing...). I did the change but found he didn't sleep as well at night. Tried it for one (very long and exhausting) week...he got up so many times I felt like a permanent zombie! So...I just gave up and did the crib thing. When I heard the *thud* in the morning, I knew he'd woken up and gotten out...he never cried...it was just his method of getting out. Eventually (obviously) we put him in something other than a crib...just trying to think of when :p. I want to say he was a little over three.
**OK...didn't really think of the safety thing...his was a port-a-crib...so it wasn't quite the same distance...BUT...I can definitely see that being a major concern...so...ignore my negligence :p.
Can the crib be modified (like front off) so he can get back in easier? It would make his climbing out AND in safer.
I would do it this weekend. If he's already climbing out with some regularity then it's time! The toddler bed is very much like the crib when it's converted. Just give it a try and see how it goes!
I would convert the crib since he's climbing out and it will seem a bit like the old crib if you have the kind you just add the side to. However some boys will still continue to climb. Be sure the room is safe and if it was me I'd put up a child gate at the door of his room just in case he decides to get up before you and go out. I had that happen with my first two. Not good.
My oldest started climbing out at 18 mos. We bought a crib tent. It was a pain for sheet-changes, but I was so not ready for a toddler bed with an 18 month old. My middle child NEVER climbed out and he was in the crib until age 3. My baby is 2.5 and he's not climbed out. I'm hoping to keep him in the crib until he's 3.
Since yours is climbing out regularly, I would put him in the toddler bed right now or get a tent.
id go ahead and change to a toddler bed, my daughter is 3 and is still in her crib, once she is potty trained well convert it to her toddler bed unless she climbes out before hand
R....if you have a way to tent him in, then that might work, but honestly, if he's climbing out, it's time to convert now! I have a daycare child who was a climber too and ended up climbing out of his crib (at home!) and breaking his arm and getting a concussion...in the summer time, so I had to bag him up every time we played outside, so it wouldn't get wet.
Better safe than sorry!
