How to Prevent My 2 Year-old from Climbing in the Crib

You could get one of those netted canopys to put on the top of the crib. It would be a big hassle though.

Wow! At that age kids can't communicate that well, but I'd want to know WHY she wants in the crib! Can you ask her? The crib net from other posters sounds like it would do the trick.
A.

A crib tent would solve many problems. All my boys used them. My almost 3 year old still has a tent on his crib and he refuses to let me take it off. He loves it. We made a big deal about them making them sound like a really fun thing and the boys bought it. It also keeps them from climbing out when they are old enough. I got mine at Babies R Us. They are expensive...around $60, but mine has gone through 5 kids...my 3 and two that borrowed it when I wasn't using it.

I am going to throw out a shocker of a response, but here goes. Let her get in the crib with the baby if she wants to. I mean, obviously, you will want to supervise her, but she wants to be with the baby, and at 2.5, especialy a little girl, it is likely that she knows to be careful. My son is only 14 months older than his sister, but he has been great with her from the get go. Also, a 6 month old is pretty sturdy and strong, and it would take quite a bit to really hurt her. She clearly wants to be in there, so if you take away the "no factor" it will likely wear off. I would tell her that she can come and let you know she wants in with her sister, and that you will let her. I dont know your child, so I cant swear it would work with her, but it would likely do the trick for mine. Best of luck in the transition!!~A.~

Buy a Crib tent they are awesome and will give you another year with the crib! they sell at Toys r us and other baby stores and you can find them online on Ebay they are made by Tots in mind. we love them and have used them for all 3 boys!

HTH
A. J

You could always put the crib in your room. Just a thought. My youngest is still in my room because he tosses and turns so he sleeps in his own bed just in our room.

Try a crib tent. They stop little ones climbing out, so I think they'd also stop bigger ones climbing in! We used to have one to keep my son in his crib. It worked well in that regard. You can get them at Babies R Us.

My 2 1/2 year old and 12 month old boys share a room and around 6 months ago we had the same problem. We solved this by lowering the crib matress down to the lowest position and keeping the rail up at all times. We also had to rearrange the room a little so that our oldest son was unable to use any other furniture to aid him over into the crib. He still occationally climbs onto the bottom of the rail and looks in, however, I have found that it is physically impossible for him to lift his leg from the bottom of the rail to the top of it, and he is in the 90th percentile for height. Since the matress is down, it is near even with the bottom of the rail and he cannot use it to climb higher and over the top of the crib. The rails and slats on our crib are smooth and straight, so climbing them is difficult and he hasn't figured a way around that.

Hope this helps!
Good Luck.

My first two girls were 10 months apart. The oldest walked at 9 mos. She would reach through the bars and pull her sister by the arm closer to the side. She'd also climb in when I wasn't looking. I started letting her handle her baby sister--while I supervised, of course. The novelty wore off eventually. She just needed to "see" with her hands what she was looking at. Once she realized the baby was not a doll, and couldn't get up and play, she was off to more interesting endeavors.

We had a "crib net" that went over the top of the crib. Our original reason was to keep the cat out of the crib. However, later it also server to keep our daughter in the crib and prevented her from climbing out. It is a simple mesh tent that attached to the top of the crib and has a zipper in the front to allow you easy access.

D.
SAHM of three:19,18,and 5
Home Baker and Candy Maker(see member perk). Married to the same wonderful man for almost 12 years.

They have tents that you can put over the crib for babies that climb out; maybe that will keep your toddler from climbing in.

Why would you think she would hurt her? Maybe she feels the need to bond with her because that's what sisters do. Do you always keep them apart? My worry would be that she would hurt her by falling into the crib, but I wouldn't worry that she would intentionaly hurt her once she was in the crib. I would suggest letting your older one lie down with the baby and just watch them carefully for a little while. The 2.5 is old enough to know not to hurt the baby (you may have to remind her to be gentle) and from other kids that I have seen, they tend to want to mother at this age. I think the nets a good idea when you can't watch them, but I think the older one just want to bond with the baby. Hope this helps.

I would just get a crib net/topper thing to put on the crib. Good luck!!!

Your kids are the same age spread as mine, now elementary-aged. They get along great now, but I had to set alot of limits in the beginning to protect the youngest. My gut reaction is that you need to work with your oldest child on understanding the boundaries. At 2 1/2 she's old enough to understand "no" if you really mean it and enforce it with whatever type of discipline you use. It will be rough the first few tries while she tries to do as she pleases, but it will be well worth it in the long run.