Crib/Toddler bed

sedl1lau

We are going to be having LO#2 in 3 1/2 weeks, so in prepartion, MIL gave us an extra crib she had, and we moved DS#1 to a new room with this crib. He's been sleeping in there for probably a month now. However, he has recently discovered that he can climb on anything and everything (kitchen chairs, couches, etc). Friday morning, a couple minutes after he woke up, I heard a thud followed by crying. He had climbed out of the crib! I still don't know how he managed to do this, it seems so high up and there's nothing he can step on to boost himself up. I really am not a fan of making the crib a toddler bed yet, because I just don't feel like he's going to stay in bed! I mean he's only 19 months, and already going through lots of changes because of a new sibbling coming. I wanted to keep him in his crib for as long as possible...like 3 years!? But I do worry about his safety now. What would you ladies do?

Netty_3

We skipped the toddler bed altogether. He's in a full bed with pillows barricading him. He's been that way for 5 months now. He wakes up and will sit there and wait for one of us to come to him. When we put him to bed he tries to climb over, but he knows to try to go down feet first. So far it's worked really well. We did it because he was not sleeping well in his crib at all.  With all the tossing and turning.

oliversmommy32912

We plan to do a mattress on the floor instead of a toddler bed. If you're looking to keep him in a crib I hear if you put them in sleep sacks they have a harder time climbing put because they can't lift their leg as high. I have also heard of putting the crib mattress on the floor instead of on the lowest crib setting to make the rails higher if that makes sense. It would depend on the crib you have.

dragossoul84

My son crawled out of his crib at 11 months so we converted his crib to a toddler bed. At night I put our couch cushions down so its like soft steps to his bed in case he rolls out which he doesnt. We have had no problems since he went in a toddler bed and I'm not worried about him crawling out any more

bridein08

If he is able to climb out, you shouldn't let him sleep in it anymore, ever. Put the mattress on the floor, convert the crib to a bed or buy a new bed ASAP. The risk is not worth it.

ASmallWonder

The truth is that there's a good chance he will get up and walk around the first few nights until the novelty wears off. But it won't hurt him even if he loses a little sleep but he can get seriously hurt climbing out of his crib.