Help, mamas! Anyone else's LO climbing out of the crib yet?

sarums4 · August 2014

So the last night two nights DS climbed out of his crib. The first time we thought it was a fluke, and that he'd scared himself and wouldn't do it again, but I think now that he's figured it out, it's a thing. It's terrifying. This, combined with the 18-month sleep regression and molars coming in, and he's sleeping worse than he ever has in his life (us too). He used to peacefully lay down in his crib when it was time for bed, but now he hates it. Screams, etc. Even if we can get him to go down using every trick we know, he wakes up 3 hours later, frantic and upset. Wants to be held, run around, I don't know. I don't feel like we changed anything! Same bedtime routine, foods, bedtime, etc. He did start daycare last week, though, so I know that's big.

So my question--how do you deal with crib jumpers? Also, I know a few of you do mattress/pallets/beds on the floor instead of a crib--how do you get them to stay IN them (or in big boy beds)?

Any insight would be appreciated. I've looked in all my sleep books, but honestly I'm so sleep deprived I can't even process it.

spainy17 · August 2014

Does your crib have a back side that is higher? I know some mamas had luck turning their cribs around so the higher back rail was the outside one. Otherwise baby proof the hell out of his room and put a mattress on the floor and baby gate the door. That sounds awful. Sleep has been weird here too, lots of crazy early wakings and some night waking and just less sleep in general. I pray it passes!!!

mamom0103 · August 2014

DS climbed out at 14 months. Once he figured out how we childproofed his room and put a twin mattress/box spring on floor. He went back to sleeping well immediately (no more screaming, fighting bed time). We put couch cushions on the floor around the bed for the first few nights until he learned not to roll out (took 2 nights). Occasionally he gets up and plays but not often, we have very few toys in his room. Just make sure you childproof well, my DS climbs the furniture occasionally so I recommend attaching the dressers to the wall. Good luck! My DS has been sleeping great in a bed for about 5 months now.

this decaf life · August 2014

GL. I'm not looking forward to this!

We don't own anything in our townhouse so we can't just go bolting things to the wall. Plus DD loves trying to lock the door in her room so I'm hoping she can stay in the crib until we leave here

she's a climber though so I don't think we'll make it!

cozybluebear · August 2014

My son started climbing out at 17 months during a period of sleep regression. It's like he suddenly realized he was an independent little person and wanted to do everything he could to show me. We immediately got him a toddler bed because every night I would lay awake just waiting for that dreaded "thud" and cry. We got him a big plastic Step 2 fire engine bed and he loved it. It had a steering wheel, lights, and a siren. I often catch him sitting in it during the day playing with his toys. I chose it because it's deep... His mattress actually sits in it opposed to on top of it. There's a little notch where he can safely climb out but it's comforting knowing that he can't just roll out. He sleeps better than ever!

sarums4 · August 2014

cozybluebear said:

My son started climbing out at 17 months during a period of sleep regression. It's like he suddenly realized he was an independent little person and wanted to do everything he could to show me. We immediately got him a toddler bed because every night I would lay awake just waiting for that dreaded "thud" and cry. We got him a big plastic Step 2 fire engine bed and he loved it. It had a steering wheel, lights, and a siren. I often catch him sitting in it during the day playing with his toys. I chose it because it's deep... His mattress actually sits in it opposed to on top of it. There's a little notch where he can safely climb out but it's comforting knowing that he can't just roll out. He sleeps better than ever!

I love this--thanks, @cozybluebear! We're going to look into something like this.

Thanks so much for all your advice. Update- last night went ok... we took the side rail off his crib to convert it to a toddler bed, but then we just ended up putting his mattress on the floor, and we took turns sleeping on the floor next to him. It went ok, not great (he was really restless), but I think we're headed in the right direction. As you said, @natt1230, MUCH less crying/fighting bedtime. So that's a good thing. Hope this passes SOON! Little man is completely worn out. Thanks, mamas. I know I don't post often, but I spend time on this page every day and follow a lot of you guys on IG, and have learned so much from you guys

RedGiant · August 2014

My son didn't try to climb out of his crib, but he was not sleeping well and we needed to transition him out of the crib at some point before new baby arrives. We baby-proofed his room and moved DS into a full size mattress on the floor a few weeks ago, and he is sleeping much better. Now when he wakes up at night (which is less than when he was in his crib) either DH or I go in, snuggle with him on the mattress and he goes back to sleep pretty quickly. Then we either sneak away back to our own bed, or just sleep with him in his bed for a while if we happen to fall asleep next to him. DS has always been one to move a lot in his sleep, so I think having more room just works for him. He can flop around and get comfy without hitting the crib rails and waking up.

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Help, mamas! Anyone else's LO climbing out of the crib yet?

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