Climbing out of crib

[cindelro]

How do you know when you are ready to make the switch to a toddler bed? My daughter sometimes climbs out of her crib, but hates sleeping on a bed. Thoughts?

[NJMama]

I skipped the toddler bed altogether. I went right from the crib at 14 months to a twin bed, but I put the mattress and box spring right on the floor. I put it in the corner of the room so two sides were against the wall, and put pillows around the other two sides in case he fell out of bed (this also acted as a sort of step stool so that he could eventually get in and out of bed by himself). He didn't sleep in it much at first, and really prefered the long body pillow on the floor, but it was safer then leaving a climber in the crib. One important piece of info... I had a gate on his bedroom door so that he couldn't wander at night. I also removed any dangers in his room, including the bureau (he would open the drawers and climb up the bureau). I made his room completely baby safe (lock those windows!!), and eventually he climbed into bed and sleeps there now. I never bothered with safety rails or any of that stuff, and I plan on doing the same routine with my daughter when she turns 14 months. I did leave toys in the room, and still do, and let him play with them during the day so that he isn't interested in them at naptime or bedtime... this could buy you a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning too:-). If your daughter is climbing out of her crib, this can be very dangerous... I would recommend another sleeping arrangement asap... even if its a sleeping bag on the floor! Anything that is safer than a potential fall from a crib... just be sure to look around her room at her level to make sure its completely baby safe :-)

[KLM]

i think that is a good idea. i have a 15 month old boy and he or shall i say we had been sleeping in the floor for almost 2 weeks now. me and/or my husband will sleep with him, but sometimes we let him sleep by himself. i want to try this and see if it works. thanks!

[myboysmom]

With my first son, he went to a toddler bed at 22 months b/c we were getting ready for a new baby. He had never tried to climb out of his crib. My second son climbed and fell out of the crib (without getting hurt) at age 19 months, so we got some wooden bunkbeds at a garage sale and my husband added a side rail on the bottom one that had an 18 inch gap on one side for him to get out of. He had no problems with it, and it was a space saver in their small shared room. Maybe if you just switch to a big kid bed she won't want to crawl out? I hope this helps. Good Luck!