What to Do When Baby Climbs Out of the Crib

Hi friends!

I'm Lauren, founder of Sleep + the City, a top-rated infant + toddler slumber bureau! I am So happy you lot are here to read and talk over a topic that I get asked about about daily:

What to exercise when baby climbs out of the crib?!

Otherwise known to some as "GAME OVER", when your babe climbs out of the crib for the first time, this could pose a danger risk, and the potential to ruin those good for you sleep habits of a once-good-sleeper. If your babe is besides young for a toddler bed (see my recommendations here for that), so yous demand to take some steps as shortly as possible to go on your baby in the crib to prevent injuries (or your kid commencement to visit you nightly which can, over time, lead to bed sharing.)

Expert Tip: If your baby is nether two years old and wasn't sleeping prior to jumping out of the crib, then you may want to combine the solutions below simultaneously with one of my modern sleep training classes, packed with piece of cake sleep training solutions for any family.*

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What age does a baby start to climb out of the crib?

For starters, the age when a baby climbs out of the crib tin vary on the basis of gross motor skill ability. For some children, this tin can mean with a little practice, they can climb out of the crib before their first altogether! Near commonly though, babies will brainstorm to attempt to climb out of the crib between 12-24 months old.

How do I go on from baby from climbing out of the crib?

Once a baby climbs out of the crib the very commencement time, y'all must take immediate activeness that very mean solar day to stop the habit from forming. At first, a baby that climbs out of the crib can exist beautiful, or funny to some parents, especially if we are impressed with their newfound skills. Instead, hither is a good play tricks to attempt at abode: allow your babe to in their crib during the daytime, while you're present in the room folding laundry or picking up their toys. In one case y'all see baby throw a leg or foot upward on the edge of the crib rails, give a house "NO NO!" and place their foot dorsum downward on the mattress. Don't brand it game, and don't reward the behavior (even if you desire to laugh—agree it in!). Discouraging the behavior during the daytime will assist your baby realize that this is not a fun game to practice at nighttime also. Here are some other mode you can try as well to discourage a child from climbing out of the crib:

  • Clothes baby in a sleep sack during nap time, and earlier bedtime. Limiting their mobility to even throw up a leg over the side in the first identify will now be possible with an age-appropriate slumber sack. You lot tin can find my favorites here and here , and read more than nigh how to dress baby for sleep here .

  • Plough the crib completely around and so that the high backside of the crib now faces outward. It'due south much more than hard for baby to climb out of the crib when the side railing is higher.

  • Drop the mattress completely to the floor. You'll want to exist certain that no more than a ane-inch gap is between the top of the mattress and the bottom railing so infant doesn't have the potential to become stuck at night.

  • Accept out all items that babe may use equally a "staircase". This includes thick stuffed animals, pillows, etc.

  • Try some easily-on sleep shaping techniques to reply to baby in the heart of the night if they still attempt to climb out of the crib, or brainstorm crying out for yous. With the methods that I use with children over 12+ months, results are oft typical within five-x days without ever using weep-it-out.

What do I do when baby climbs out of the crib and comes into my room?

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If and when your baby climbs out of the crib and comes into your room, you'll want take immediate action (using ane of the steps higher up) once yous've returned to infant'due south room. The easiest middle-of-the-night solution would be a sleep sack, although when y'all brand Any changes to a child's sleep habits, you lot'll likely receive some tears or pushback from your baby. If your child is over 2 years old, I would recommend also downloading a copy of my Toddler Slumber DIY guide—this power-packed guide addresses the most common pain points when it comes to training (or re-preparation) toddlers to sleep. Just, it overdelivers by not only telling you the mutual bug, but getting yous on the path to fixing them, for good.

When should you finish using a crib? How exercise I transition my babe from crib to bed?

I recommend keeping the crib for your child until at to the lowest degree 2.five years quondam, or even 3.five years one-time when the nap begins to disappear naturally. Many families will initially see positive results subsequently switching to a toddler bed too early, simply it'southward a slippery slope (significant at first, they wake up early. Then start coming into your bed before and before, yikes!). Be certain that you read about the Transitioning to the Toddler Bed section of your Toddler DIY Sleep Guide to take the appropriate steps BEFORE you attempt to motion your babe into a new bed to keep these mishaps from occurring.

What if my 2-twelvemonth old toddler is climbing out of the crib at night?

When a child turns ii, it's extremely mutual for them to experience the "Ii-Year Regression", which is coupled with a huge spike in separation anxiety aside from a child's principal caretakers (pitiful Grandma that visits twice a twelvemonth). Y'all can read more nearly the ii-year regression here. It's extremely hard to expect your younger toddler to understand safety rules and boundaries if they have access to the entire firm at night.

If the tricks above don't work, or you've already moved your baby to a bed, you lot'll need to download your copy of my Toddler DIY Sleep Guide and use the "BRB Method" every bit soon equally possible, which is a mod AND gentle sleep solution to helping a kid stay in their bed all night. Be sure to also bolt heavy furniture to the wall (or remove altogether), remove all toys aside from a few books and stuffed animals, and keep all cords out of child'south reach. Continue a baby gate at the top of the stairs, and think about also installing a device up high on your front end and back door frame to keep them from exiting the house at nighttime.

If your child is constantly leaving his/her room without you knowing, I would besides recommend a Toddler Door Alarm, similar this one from toddlermonitor, which is super easy to install and sends an alert to your smartphone if your toddler's door (or any door in the house you choose), does happen to open up at night.