I need advice. We have a new situation that I am unsure how to solve. My 20-month-old has recently been swinging her leg over the rail of her crib and falling to the floor. It comes at night when we lay her down to go to bed. She used to cry for a few minutes and then fall asleep, now she gets up and walks around the bedroom or opens the door, and comes out crying. I don't feel she is quite ready for a toddler bed, because she is all over the place when she is sleeping. I put her down one direction, and she wakes up the next morning on the other end of the crib facing a completely different direction. Putting her in bed with my husband and I is also not a solution I can accept. What should we do? Oh, to make matters worse I am expecting my second baby any day now, and our second bedroom is only half finished. In other words we have one bedroom and will soon have two babies, and lots of sleep deprivation. Help!!
I don't know if it would do any good or not, but you could try putting up gate in her doorway, that way, when she wakes up and opens the door, so can't roam around the house. You could also maybe try a toddler bed or twin size bed with rails, so even if she does get up and climb out, she won't have as far to fall.
Sounds like it's time to say bye-bye to the crib. My 2 year old uses a twin bed with gaurd rails. We have a babygate put up in her door for her protection and our ease of mind.
I see that someone has already recommended the crib tent. They're a little pricey but probably worth it if she's already climbing out.
If, as in my case, the crib tent won't fit your crib, my other suggestion would be a sleep sack. Much less money, and that way she can't swing her leg over the side to climb out.
Good luck and congratulations on the new baby!
My 2 year old did the same thing the day before her 2nd birthday. As long as you put a guard rail and keep her bed time routine she will be fine. She is ready if she is climbing out. I am having my 3rd in October and am glad she actually did it in June. She is "converted" to a twin bed just in time for her brother to be here. She is actually sharing a twin bed with her 4 year old sister. I think kids tell us when they are ready for certain transitions like this one. Good luck.
If you don't feel she is ready for a toddler bed or "big girl bed" yet, have you tried a crib tent? You can find them at Babies R Us or maybe even Target or Walmart (not sure). They attach to the crib and prevent kiddos from crawling out.
We've recently moved our 2 year old (26 months) to a twin sized bed which is up against a corner so that the head of the bed and one side are touching the wall. Then we have a short bedside rail on the foot of the bed and an extra tall, extra long rail along the open long side. Our daughter moves around a lot, and she is sleeping better now that she has more room to move and she has only crawled out of bed a few times - but it's safer than falling out of a crib.
Try the crib tent (I have heard great things about it) and then as baby arrives (congrats) you may transition your toddler to a toddler or big girl bed during the time your newborn is sleeping with you all in your room (a few months at least).
Good luck and congrats on the new baby.
Just after our daughter turned 2 she let us know that she was too big for her crib. She also moves a lot while sleeping so I was afraid to put her in a big bed. We started by placing the mattress on the floor in the corner. On the open side we used a bed rail. This way the only way she could roll out was at the end. Suprisingly she never got out at night to wander, I know those days are numbered. You could also place a baby gate in the door way to keep her in her room at night.
If she is able to get out of the crib she is ready for a bed. She will fall out a few times, but then will be fine. Yes, she will be all over the place. My 3 year old still sleeps all over the place (usually sideways or head down at the foot of the bed), but she also sleeps in a queen sized bed, so a toddler bed may limit her wanderings which is good!
Good luck and congratulations in advance on your new baby!
hi-
My 21 month old climbed out of his crib 3 weeks ago, 1 week before my 2nd baby arrived! We had him sleep for 2 nights on a clean, firm dog bed next to his crib and he did great so we bought him a twin box spring and mattress and put it right on the floor for now. He goofs off for a few minutes and then climbs in and goes to sleep. If he is tired enough, he goes right to sleep. He moves all around the bed, but who cares! He has never fallen out and cannot open his door yet. My pediatrician said to leave the crib in there for a while so the room does not change too quickly, so it is still in there. At some point, we are moving the baby in with him.
I personally would want a bed closer to the ground if my child had a penchant for climbing :-) Sounds like its time for a switch to a twin bed with a guard. And work with her on staying on her room for quiet time....just FYI, my 4.5 y.o. is *still* all over the bed and she's been sleeping in a twin for 3 years now.
