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DEL.ICIO.USA baby prison break!
How do stop babies from climbing out of their cribs? When is it time for a toddler bed, and when do you tent them in?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a noise that a mother doesn’t easily forget — the “thud” of her child climbing up and then falling out of his crib.
My now 5-year-old son figured out how to escape around 12 months old. I didn’t expect it because our oldest child had never even attempted a prison break.
The thud of him falling was so loud it woke me up in our bedroom down the hall. I startled awake and knew immediately he had fallen. He figured out how to get up and over the top rail but had no plans for the other side. So he just dropped to the ground.
I have been watching our 21-month-old baby experimenting in her crib for the last few weeks and knew her first escape would come soon.
She had been pushing her arms down as hard as she could on the top rail trying to lift herself over. Then she would wrap her toes around the curved spindles of the crib trying to climb out. When she couldn’t get any traction there, she moved on to an impressive karate-style sideways kick to swing her leg up and over the rail.
None of her earlier moves actually secured her escape last Wednesday night. It was a new plan that I hadn’t seen before. I know the move now because she demonstrated it after her successful break out. She does the sideway kick but hooks her toes on the top of the thin metal pole that the front of the crib raises up and down on. Then using that leg for leverage, she pulls herself up and over.
Her “thud” didn’t sound the same as my son’s. She sounded more like a gymnast landing a vault — a loud but solid hit and definitely all foot, no head. (I’m pretty sure my son landed on his head.)
Once she hit the ground, she was on the move immediately. She opened her own bedroom door, (Didn’t really know she could do that either — more ways we are in trouble!) and came running down the hall to our room screeching. She wanted to with us and was so proud of herself that she had escaped.
Normally a great sleeper, Lilina had been having a tough week. She had been taking medicine to help clear out her lungs, and it was wiring her. Usually Lilina goes right to sleep. I rock her a few minutes, kiss her good night, tell her I love her and lay her in her crib and she’s out. All week she had been crying and eventually coming into our bed where I could listen to her breathing and comfort her.
I had been sick all week too, and by that Wednesday night I needed her to stay in her crib so we both could get a good night’s sleep. My husband and I had both rocked her over and over again that night. She would fall asleep but then wake as soon as we put in her the crib. After literally hours of trying to get her to sleep I finally left her crying in her crib and went to lie down in my own bed. That was when I heard the “thud” and her joyful cries coming down the hall.
I ended up sleeping with her on the floor of her bedroom that night.
So what do you do when your child can escape the crib? It’s too dangerous just to let them climb out at will. Do you go ahead and put them into a toddler bed or do you try to contain them in their crib with a little invention known as the crib tent?
My son was way too young to put in a toddler bed, plus Rose was still in it when he started his prison breaks. So I had not choice but to try out the crib tent.
For the uninitiated, the crib tent (the brand I use is Cozy Crib Tent II) is mesh fabric that completely surrounds the inside of the crib even going under the mattress. It vaults up like a tent. It hooks all around the crib on the outside to keep it secure and then zips in the raised portion. The tent never seemed to bother him and kept him in his crib for almost two more years.
I feel like Lilina is also too small to roam her room at night. But I was worried she wouldn’t accept being tented in knowing she could escape.
I bought a tent the next day. And she was not happy about it that night. She screamed and cried. It was a terrible night, and I finally ended up sleeping with her on the floor again.
She did sleep in the tent for nap the next day without much fight. However, she came down with a fever after the nap. I’m still trying to decide if she had an independent moment or just didn’t feel well.
For the last few nights she’s been getting back to her normal pattern of sleeping even under the tent. And I’m definitely sleeping more soundly knowing that once again she’s safe.
Did you have jailbreaks from your crib? How young were they? Did you move them toddler beds or try the tent? Is it mean to tent them in? What are other options for parents with escaping toddlers?
You can email Theresa at ajcmomania@gmail.com
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By PHR
December 22, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this
I never had a problem with my son in his crib. As a matter of fact he didn’t even realize he could get out of his “big boy” bed for a while.
However, my nephews both escaped their cribs at early ages. They both got the crib tents and actually learned to like them. One of them actually liked to help zip himself in at night. The crib tent keeps the kids safe and gives the parents peace of mind.
By sandy
December 22, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
The Crib Tent RULES!
By MILF Hunter
December 22, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
Morning ladies.
You know odly enough I climed out of the crib on a regular basis and my mother’s solution was to simply turn the crib over so it was quite literally a prison.
I got the last laugh though because I figured out how to move the crib around the room and I ended up blocking the door to the bedroom and my mom couldn’t get in….LOL.
By BigBedby15mos
December 22, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
We didn’t use a crib tent or a toddler bed. Once both our boys were trying to climb out, we just moved them to a low futon and called it a big boy bed. Worked well for us, especially when they were sick. Instead of having to sleep on the floor, either my husband or I would just sleep next to the sick child on an actual bed. Everyone got rest and no one was on the floor.
The futon was low enough not to have to worry about boys falling a long distance to the floor. And as it turned out, neither boy ever rolled out of it. Yes, they could get out easily on their own, but they could get IN bed on their own too. Every step is a step toward independence, even if it’s sometimes inconvenient for us parents.
We always made sure the rooms were “baby-proofed” and secure - outlet covers, dressers and bookshelves secured to the walls, etc. - so we were less worried about them being alone in their rooms.
This turned out to be a longer post than I intended. Hope our experience helps someone else though.
By LM
December 22, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
My daughter was not the escape artist, but…
My brother was, in a big way. This was back in the early 60’s and we were living in Chicago. We have many fun stories about Chris and his night time antics. I’ll share a few short ones.
Winter, lots of snow and get got out in the middle of the night, he remembered to pull on his boots, but once he was in the snow his boot was stuck and he pulled his foot out and started screaming. Mom got up, all the doors were still locked from the inside. To this day we don’t know how he got outside.
Mom was painting the living room, oil based paint, it was late and she wrapped the roller in plastic wrap so she could touch up any missed spots, Chris got up at night and liked the color of the paint so he painted the front of the TV, also got a carton of egs and went and bombed the bathroom with time, removed the drain mechanics for the tub, then promplty flushed a roll of TP.
I am 2 1/2 years younger then Chris. He has suffered a severe burn on his face and several surgies, he reveretd in many ways and one was he just didn’t talk. Some how he managed to communitcate with me when I was about 15 months old. Since Chris has proven to be quite the excape artist Mom locked him in his room, and he figured out how to get out so she put the little hook & eye on his door up high where he could not get it and he would be stuck in his room until she released him. It worked until he taught me to escape my crib and climb on a dresser in the hallway, so she locked me in my room, and he figured out a way to get out and release him.
Poor Mom, she really had her hands full with us.
By MILF Hunter
December 22, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
Wow this place is about as exciting as a root canal today….I guess everybody is off this week?
I’ll be off after tomorrow until after the new year.
By ebaby
December 22, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
We werent having any problems with the crib, but the opportunity presented itself to buy a toddler bed, so we did. We set it up that night with every intention of our 22 month old to continue sleeping in her crib, but she jumped right into the bed at the first chance. She has slept in it, peacefully, since the first night. She has, after 4 months, figured out that she can get out of it on her own and comes to wake us up in the mornings. I prefer her new method as compared to her old method of crying in her crib.
We are very happy with the results and the timing has been perfect. Since I am expecting our second child in 3 months, it has given our first enough time to let go of the crib and not claim it as her own. I am starting to tell her that her brother will sleep there and that it is his crib, etc. She seems okay with the idea as long as he doesnt touch her toys.
By Katie
December 22, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
Sarah never did this..but Luke did..at about 1 1/2 he did it too many times, so we put him in a toddler bed and put a gate on his door so he wouldn’t roam the house! By 2 he was in a twin bed…Sarah was in the crib til 2 1/2..completely different kids.
By Jess
December 22, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
At almost 2 years old plus jumping out of the crib, yes, I think it is time for either a twin or toddler bed. My son was in one at about the same time, no need to over-analyze.
By Amy in the ATL
December 22, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
I moved my oldest daughter from her crib to a regular bed, not a toddler bed, at the age of 22 months to make room for her baby sister. We got good quality bedrails to use on both sides to keep her from rolling out (One Step Ahead has some nice sturdy ones!) This also coincided nicely with potty training, and she started to get up and go to the bathroom herself shortly thereafter.
Baby sister moved from the crib to her “big girl bed” at age 2 after she started flipping herself out, which scared me to death.
A lot of parents I know are hesitant to let kids move out of the crib out of concern for what they might do, unsupervised, if they got out. But at least with our experience, it’s worked well and I think it was great with potty training since it gave the girls a “choice” to go to the potty instead of going in their pullup, which they wouldn’t have had in the crib.
By dd
December 22, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
When my oldest daughter was 2 1/2 she climbed into the crib and managed to get my 3 week old daughter out by climbing out of the crib with her and neither of them hit the floor. That day will live with me forever just seeing her walking down the hall with her in her arms scared to death how she got her out of there.
By gpkbsin
December 22, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Our kid started sleeping in a twin bed when he was 1 and half. before that, we had two twin mattresses on the floor where he slept since he was 6 months old. this way I could sleep with him when he was sick. Now I have to sleep on the little twin bed with him if he wants to be “comforted”.
So, no problems with crib prison break. but have tons of problem of him getting out of the room to come into ours and sleep in our bed. everybody has their own kind of problem :)
By Joyce
December 22, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
We never used a toddler bed, either; I never saw the need, since my siblings and I all went from crib to twin beds. We just started easing him into it by starting out with naps in the twin bed. (with a guard rail of course!) That went on for about a month. One night, after reading a book, it was time to go to bed. My son took my hand and led me into his room and his twin bed and went to sleep there! We kept the crib up for a week or so, but he never even looked at it again. When they’re ready, they’re ready! Happy Holidays all!
By WTF???
December 22, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Yawn….. With all this talk of sleeping I’m starting to get sleepy…
By WTF???
December 22, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Oh and btw, I’m feeling a little “under the weather”…. Would someone come cuddle me while I took a nap? =P
By Mrs. Nice Guy
December 22, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
I hear that Mr. Nice Guy likes to “cuddle” people WTF….oh wait. That’s wrong.
By WTF???
December 22, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
ROFL!!!! Poor Mr. Nice Guy. Do ya’ll have an “open” relationship? =P
By WTF???
December 22, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
But anyway, I would prefer a motherly figure, not a Mr. Mom. Although I wouldn’t mind if he cleaned up my house.
By workingmom
December 22, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Lower the crib mattress to the lowest level and leave the side rails down (that will mean less distance to fall and less chance of injury if you don’t want to get a toddler bed.) We also put a child proof door handle on the inside of the bedroom door. That way, even when she crawled out of the crib, she was required to stay in her room. Although she didn’t like it at first, it was not a big deal for long and she would just put herself back to bed.
By Theresa
December 22, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
WTF — Consider this your notice. I found out that on Thursday and Friday a bunch of your comments had to be pulled by the AJC. Keep it clean and relevant or you will be banned. We are in the process of banning one of your cohorts right now. We’re happy to have you but keep it clean. Thanks!
By hilarious!
December 22, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
she has 6 people that read and respond to this poorly written drivel (How do stop babies from climbing out of their cribs?) and she is banning 2 of them!
By new mom
December 22, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
So far, our 15 month old hasn’t figured out how to escape. I’m not sure how she could do it, there’s only the mattress, breathable bumper (really not necessary anymore!) and the vertical slats. It’s the kind that doesn’t go up and down. I can’t imagine how she can get any traction on the slats, they are very smooth and flat, and have no curves or anything else on them. But—I’m sure that if there’s a way, she’ll find it!
We are planning on using what I think is a toddler bed—our crib has a rail that we will use that is short and has a space that will allow her to climb in and out. From there, the crib converts to a full size headboard and footboard. The footboard will be lovely, it looks like a doberman has been gnawing on it!
By MILF Hunter
December 22, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
What’s really funny is that you can’t stop me…..you can only hope to contain me.
By Tig
December 23, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
My daughter never tried to escape her crib, but when she was 2 I moved her to a toddler bed because when she would wake up she would (and still does) self-amuse herself with books/toys until somebody comes to get her up. By moving her to the toddler bed, I didn’t have to keep stocking her bed with extra ‘stuff’ just for her to have on-hand.
By DB
December 29, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
I never used a tent — “back in the day”, I’m not even sure they had them! And I probably wouldn’t have used them even if they were available. The minute my kids could escape from the crib, that was their signal that they were ready for a twin bed. My son was a bit more placid about it, but my daughter was an escape artist nonpareil. She scared the daylights out of me when she was 15 months old by quietly wriggling out of her car seat and suddenly appearing at my elbow with a crow of delight as I was driving the minivan down the highway at 60 mph — imagine my surprise to look out of the corner of my eye and see my baby standing there, very pleased with herself, when I thought she was asleep! (And yes, we are seatbelt freaks, and no, she wasn’t undersized! This was a Fisher-Price car seat with the over-the-head restraint that buckled between the legs.)
So when she started jumping the crib, we gave in gracefully and she got promoted to a big girl bed, with bumpers. We didn’t bother with the toddler-sized bed — mostly, because I thought it was a waste of money for a bed that would only be used for a short period of time.