Last night my son (20 months) has figured out how to climb out of his crib. It seems really dangerous, so I think we need to transform his crib to a toddler bed. Unfortunately, I can see this transition will be a difficult one. Usually, We go through our evening routine and we put him in his crib and he cries a little but he usually goes to sleep 10-20 mins later. I was just wanting to hear how the transition was from
crib to toddler bed for other mothers. How long did the transition take? Did you put up baby gates so your toddler doesn't leave the room? Anything else I should be prepared for?
Like finding him sleeping on the floor instead of in bed?
Just wanted to note that if you decide to do the toddler bed, you can close his door at night and put a doorknob cover on the inside doorknob so he can't leave the room. My son is 22 months and climbing out of his crib also. But I feel safe knowing that his room is totally baby proofed and he can't leave the room. I'm trying to make the same decision as to whether or not he's ready for a bed!
We're going to switch my son soon as well. Here is what I expect, based on what my friends have told me. He will repeatedly get out of bed, either to play in his room or to come find you. A gate on the door will work wonders in confining him in his room, but prepared in the beginning for him to stand at the gate and cry for you (this should stop within a couple of days if you make it clear that you won't be getting him out). He very well may sleep on the floor, or even right next to the gate. This too will stop after awhile as he learns to like the bed more. It usually takes about 3-7 days. Naps are tough too.
I'll be going through it within the next three months (possibly very soon), so I'll feel your pain!
A friend of mine just did it two days ago. If you want to ask her about it, you can post your question on http://oc.citymommy.com and she will reply!
K. : )
If you aren't ready for the toddler bed quite yet you can do what we did which was put the crib mattress on the setting for the toddler bed (should be really low almost to the ground) but don't actually transform it to a toddler bed. That way the mattress is so low he probably won't be able to climb out any more. This worked well for us as our son started climbing out of the crib at about 18 months but I wasn't ready for him to be in a toddler bed.
If you do go to a toddler bed just make sure his room is really child proofed (dresser bolted to the wall, etc.) because he might get up and wander around in the morning. Good luck!
Unfortunately, for us this transition was not an easy one and it may not be easy for you either. For the safety of your son it is a necessary one. We did find our son sleeping in the hallway right next to the doorway to the living room often. After that time he figured out that he just did not have to stay there either. So, we began the very long process of laying down beside his be until he fell asleep. A few of my friends did this as well. They moved themselves closer and closer to the doorway until their son was falling asleep by himself. That may work for you if you have difficulty as well. It did not work for us. I am still lying down next to him to get him to fall asleep. I pray it works for you, though. This is a tough transition, but know you are not alone. Many parents have been through this tough transition and made it. I wanted to add that the safety gate did not work for us. Our son is a virtual monkey. I do, however, like the idea of the doorknob cover on the inside.
this happened to my son too... at 19 months. we went right out and got a crib tent and it is great. i wasn't ready for the toddler bed and he is perfectly happy in his crib with the "tenty." you just need to put it up in the day when he is in the room and talk about his new tent, then put a stuffed animal in there to show how fun it is. then put him in there and just play for a bit. then at night he should be used to it and go right down. good luck!
I second the suggestion for a crib tent. We have used one with all 3 of our children for their safety (and our sanity) and they all LOVED it. I think 20 months is a little too young to have the freedom to get out of the crib on their own and I am a total worrier. I always worried about them sticking something in the sockets (mine can pull the protectors out) or injuring themselves on a dresser or falling out of the crib. 20 months is still so little. If you go the tent route, I would suggest assembling it and then putting it on the floor for them to play with and crawl under, play peek-a-boo etc. so they can see it as fun. Someone suggested this method to us and it really works. Good luck with whatever you decide.
My 23 month old daughter figured out how to climb out of the crib a few days ago. She's done it several times now, but hasna't gotten hurt. We are debating on whether to get a toddler bed or a crib tent (they are almost the same price). In the meantime, we've had to lie on the floor next to her crib until she falls asleep. This only take 10-15 mins because she has always been a good sleeper. But, if we leave the room she cries for us and climbs out of the crib. We have also just put the mattress on the floor a few times this past week and layed next to her until she falls asleep. I think we are going to opt for the toddler bed since she is almost 2. I know it will take a few days for her to get used to it. We did purchase a gate for her room so that she can't come get us in the middle of the night (or at 6am, as she did this morning). Tough decision, though. Good luck!
Have you thought of a crib tent? I know they have them at one step ahead:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/search.jsp?N=0&Nt...
We had a futon mattress on the floor, and turned the door into a dutch door (open on the top) with a door knob cover on the inside -- safety gate would probably work too. We found that when he could get off the mattress, he could also get back on, and he preferred it on. It was also nice for laying with him to nurse him back to sleep, 'cause it was big enough for me too, and we didn't need to buy smaller-sized sheets ::grin::.
