when do they start climbing out of cribs?

meg_2006 · February 2013

Just wondering because DS's bedroom is on the second floor and if he climbed out he'd be going right for the stairs. When should I start putting the gate up?

ASmallWonder · February 2013

There's no timeframe that is definitive enough that I'd hesitate to put the gate up ASAP. I honestly didn't think my son was ever going to climb out because he didn't even seem to contemplate trying and he loved his crib. Then one night he just did it.

MNgirl326 · February 2013

LO was about 17 months old. The next day I put the gate up at his door, and invested in good wine

memali26 · February 2013

DD1 has never tried to climb out. We moved her to a toddler bed at 23 months, but now she will occasionally climb into the crib with her sister but still won't climb out.

Now DD2, I expect her to figure it out any day now. She is climbing everything else, the crib is probably next. If we had a 2 story house the gates would be up ASAP.

agytay · February 2013

Why are you waiting to put up the gate? If your child is mobile your gates should be up.

Beckypooh09 · February 2013

DS1 was almost 2 years when he started climbing out and DS2 still isn't but if I was in your situation I'd put up a gate now.

Colsdoll · February 2013

DD was about 26 months. Physically she could have done it much sooner. Just one day she up and went for it.

12bailey18 · February 2013

agytay:
Why are you waiting to put up the gate? If your child is mobile your gates should be up.

I agree with this. There's no definite age when they start climbing out of the crib. My oldest never did. But you never really know.

hawaiihaley · February 2013

Depends on the child. Mine climbed out easily at 15 months.

chicsahm · February 2013

We don't have a gate at top of stairs, if I have to do stuff up there with him I shut doors and watch him......although he isn't walking yet either. I am also teaching him already the proper way to go down safely. DS's door stays shut while he sleeps, and if he does start climbing out and know how to open doors..... most likely he will be old enough to get down the stairs safely....or we would put a gate on his door. There are also these netting things you can get that look like a tent that goes over the crib to keep them from climbing out.

ASmallWonder · February 2013

chicsahm:
We don't have a gate at top of stairs, if I have to do stuff up there with him I shut doors and watch him......although he isn't walking yet either. I am also teaching him already the proper way to go down safely. DS's door stays shut while he sleeps, and if he does start climbing out and know how to open doors..... most likely he will be old enough to get down the stairs safely....or we would put a gate on his door. There are also these netting things you can get that look like a tent that goes over the crib to keep them from climbing out.

Just a heads up, crib tents are all recalled due to strangulation risks. I just want to throw out there that knowing how to go down the stairs safely and being able to do it EVERY time, especially at night, disoriented in the dark, are worlds apart. OP, I would get the stairs or gate his door because the first time something happens is the first time something happens, kwim? There aren't always warning signs that help you prepare. Sometimes you have to base your child proofing on the concept that your kid CAN do whatever it is, even if they aren't currently attempting it.

sugarbear0524 · February 2013

My sister didn't think my nephew could climb out until she was making breakfast one morning and he appeared out of nowhere announcing, "I awake!"

Haley.Beth · February 2013

My mother tells stories of me being able to climb out by 12 months, so with dd we started gating the end of the hallway just in case as soon as she could crawl, even though we don't have stairs. She's sneaky anyway, I have no doubt she'd be in every kitchen cabinet before we even woke up if she figured out how to climb out!

Cebs222 · February 2013

I def. agree with those who are saying put it up now.. better safe than sorry. My daughter is 15 months and has not made any sort of attempt.. but we already are taking precautions lol. she has a hardwood floor.. and as soon as she could stand in her crib we got a rug for around her crib.. lol. I'm nervous to death for when she learns, but we are also hoping to just transition her to a toddler bed/ big girl mattress just on the floor before she figures it out lol.

tetedefromage · February 2013

Yeah, every LO is different. My LO isn't trying to climb out yet at 14 months, but my friend's 12m old is.

meg_2006 · February 2013

Thanks all! We already have a gate above the steps, I just never shut it before while he was sleeping because honestly...I hadn't even thought about him climbing out until yesterday! Then I wasn't even sure if it was a necessary concern yet, but sounds like you just never know! DS is pretty active and curious, so from now on the gate will be closed

magdalina.h · February 2013

Lucas still hasn't tried. He started lifting his leg on the pnp (where I put him while I get ready) but hasn't gotten out of the crib.

ETA: We don't have a gate at the top of the stairs, but his door is shut and we have the door knob covers so he can't open the door.

Tink112011 · February 2013

My almost 15 month old DS hasn't shown any signs of climbing out, and I had never given thought to closing the upstairs gate before this post. I will tonight though!

Cherryblossoms07 · February 2013

I would put up the gate now. DD climbed out of her crib a few days before 15 months. DS is 14 months and hasn't attempted it yet to our knowledge.

mbgreenwalt · February 2013

DD1 did it twice at 18 months. She was really pissed and didn't want to take a nap both times that it happened, so I think she had some motivation. She started climbing out daily at 21 months and we moved her to a toddler bed.

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