Now that I have had a post about Cami, Kyle has joined the trouble band wagon. He has figured out how to climb out of his crib. He fell out somehow during nap. He was fussing so I gave him his things back that he had thrown out of his crib (only so he wouldn't wake his sister up) and then I came out to try and eat lunch. Not that long after I sat down, listening to the fussing, I heard a big thump and screaming. I ran to the room knowing pretty much what had happened. He was sitting on his knees screaming. So now that my heart has settled down, What do I do???????
I assume the matress is as low as it can go. Other than that a crib tent I think is the next step. I am not looking forward to the day I hear that thud!
Ack! Isn't that the worst feeling, seeing your "safely cribbed" baby on the floor of the nursery?! Nate's done this TWICE. :blush: Both times were because we hadn't lowered the crib enough for his height/ability. Since we've lowered the crib to the bottom level (which we should have done the first time :fool: ) he hasn't escaped again. Yet. I'm assuming your cribs don't lower any more? If not, can you figure out how he got out and try to stop it? There might be a nightstand close enough that he can get a boost up from, or a pillow he can stand on to get extra height. Then there are crib tents. I'm not going to go into the pros and cons because there is some controversy over them, but I know some mamas do use them to keep their children in their cribs. I don't have any feelings about them one way or another because I haven't had to investigate using them (I'm knocking on wood here). If all else fails, many people have successfully moved their kids to toddler beds (some younger than yours) when they can't keep them in cribs any more. Do your cribs convert to toddler beds? Mine only convert to twin beds so I'm *really* hoping that they won't figure out how to get out of their cribs until they're ready for "big boy" beds. (Did I mention that I'm knocking on wood here? ) Good luck!
[quote name='Nate and Jack's Mom' date='23 February 2010 - 04:47 PM' timestamp='1266961653' post='1586944'] Ack! Isn't that the worst feeling, seeing your "safely cribbed" baby on the floor of the nursery?! Nate's done this TWICE. :blush: Both times were because we hadn't lowered the crib enough for his height/ability. Since we've lowered the crib to the bottom level (which we should have done the first time :fool: ) he hasn't escaped again. Yet. I'm assuming your cribs don't lower any more? If not, can you figure out how he got out and try to stop it? There might be a nightstand close enough that he can get a boost up from, or a pillow he can stand on to get extra height. Then there are crib tents. I'm not going to go into the pros and cons because there is some controversy over them, but I know some mamas do use them to keep their children in their cribs. I don't have any feelings about them one way or another because I haven't had to investigate using them (I'm knocking on wood here). If all else fails, many people have successfully moved their kids to toddler beds (some younger than yours) when they can't keep them in cribs any more. Do your cribs convert to toddler beds? Mine only convert to twin beds so I'm *really* hoping that they won't figure out how to get out of their cribs until they're ready for "big boy" beds. (Did I mention that I'm knocking on wood here? ) Good luck! [/quote] We lowered lowered their mattresses as soon as they could stand up. It doesn't look like they go any lower. I don't know if I want to invest in the tents at this stage. I don't know if it would be worth the expense since they are almost two. I think he mat have used the stuffed dog that is tied to the top of the crib rail. It is the kind you pull down and it plays music. Other than that he only has a couple of blankets and his small beanie type monkey. There aren't any other pieces of furniture nearby. Their cribs are supposed to convert to toddler beds, but I am not so sure about that option yet. We need to do a little more baby proofing first. Their room is downstairs and ours is upstairs. They do not have a "real" door, it is two doors that open in. I am not ready for this yet. I will remove the doggy and see how it goes tonight. Hopefully that will solve the problem for a little while. Thanks guys! Jen
Another member on here had a great suggestion, to turn the crib around so that the higher side faces outward and the lower side that they would climb out of would face the wall. That also might be another option for you if you are not ready for toddler beds.
Does the side drop down? If not someone told me to take the mattress spring off and put the mattress directly on the floor. That would give you at least a few more inches.
It is a drop side crib. I will have to see if the mattress being on the floor would be an option. I just worry that he would get stuck between the mattress and the crib side. I worry a lot can you tell :laughing: . Thank you. Jen
The cribs that we have, have both sides the same height. My little monkey was already able to climb over these tall sides. That was a great idea though. Thank you so much!!! Jen
Maybe you can find a used crib tent on craigslist or a consignment store. I found mine at a MOM sale, think I paid $5 for it.
Mine were exactly your age when we went through this! Here is what we did. I borrowed a crib tent from a friend and it turned out that "I" hated it... I hated zipping him up in it. He actually didn't mind it much and I think he thought it was fun. Well I chose to try the toddler beds. It went horribly for us!! We tried for 7 very long days and by the end we went to the store and bought another crib tent. If I had planned on getting them before then I would have checked craigslist and My twins group but at that point I didn't care. Mine are now 25 months and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the tents. I am so incredibly happy that we ended up doing them and they love them. They help zip them up everytime. They are so nice because I don't have to worry about what I put in the cribs--mine used to use everything to stand on. They also can't throw anything out so that is really nice as well. It is very much a personal decision but that was our experience. GL!!
[quote name='Nate and Jack's Mom' date='23 February 2010 - 01:47 PM' timestamp='1266961653' post='1586944'] Then there are crib tents. I'm not going to go into the pros and cons because there is some controversy over them, but I know some mamas do use them to keep their children in their cribs. I don't have any feelings about them one way or another because I haven't had to investigate using them (I'm knocking on wood here). [/quote] What is the controversy over crib tents?
[quote name='Shelly's twins' date='24 February 2010 - 11:42 AM' timestamp='1267029756' post='1587521'] Maybe you can find a used crib tent on craigslist or a consignment store. I found mine at a MOM sale, think I paid $5 for it. [/quote] Wow, that was a great deal!! I will have to look.
ok, so my boy has been able to climb out of his crib for a couple of months now... he just hikes his leg up sideways and its all the way up by his head! ugh!!! in fact, he can now climb out of the metal superyard I have. Anyway, back to cribs. I've had great luck for the past couple of months with sleep sacks. As long as the sleep sack is on he's stayed in his crib. Now his sister is another story. She just realized last week that she could also climb out of the crib... problem is she's very astute to working zippers!! and unless I do some altering, I can't keep the sleep sack on her. I have sewn on an extra little loop and used a zip tie to wind through the zipper pull and the loop... that will keep the sack on, but its a pain to put the zip tie on and then have to cut it off each time! anyway, I also lucked into a set of crib tents at our local MoMs sale... for $15 - one is in great shape, just needed to be washed. the other I had to replace a lot of velcro on, and I still have to figure out the zipper ... it needs some work. the tents are great, and work really well - but I'm with you, I didn't want to spend the $70 each retail. I hope you find something that works for you. seriously look into sleep sacks. I'm still putting the sleep sacks on for warmth and also to make sure to keep them in the cribs.
I put sleep sacks on them at night, but I don't at nap time. I should do that. Occasionally their zippers have separated and they have been half in and half out. That is a good idea, I will have to put them in them at nap. i will also have to see if I can find a couple of used tents. I didn't have an escapee today though. Thank you for the ideas. Jen
yes, make sure that the zipper is in fully at the top when you start it... its easy to not get it in fully and then it separates easily. good luck! I'm with you on resisting toddler beds ... my big thing was we hadn't figured out how to lock the closet, but we now have, so if I have to go to toddler beds I guess I'd just take out the rest of the stuff that's not baby proofed ... mine are into everything and I wouldn't trust them.
Great ideas- so happy we already use sleep sacs for naps and night- sure that hope that helps us from having to deal with crib escapes.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not 100% sure. ardon: I do know there was a rather heated debate about them a year or so ago, but I'm not sure if it's a safety issue, or the fact that some people think that crib tents are like "baby prisons". Like I said, I don't really have any feeling either way about them, and if I my guys start escaping from their cribs, I'll do some research and make up my own mind.
It's the whole baby jail thing. But my two lock themselves in the dog crate regularly. I'm fine with baby jails. In fact that's what we called the superyard. We would have gone that route if my two had ever decided to climb out before we moved. When we moved, they got new beds, toddler beds.
I did Googled crib tent safety and found some articles about possible suffocation or strangulation where the crib tent is attached to the crib. (Who knows if that's what really happened). Mesh is also cited as a potential suffocation hazard. Apparently crib tents are not regulated like cribs are so some people are concerned. Here's one of the articles I read, if anyone is interested. http://www.safetyresearch.net/2009/02/01/crib-tents-another-hazard-from-the-world-of-unregulated-child-products/ On the other hand, it may not be safe to have a toddler wandering the house, either.
I actually read that article when I was soooo sleep deprived from trying toddler beds with my twins and the ones we got are a better version of that one. It's actually all one piece, it goes under the mattress and is called crib tent II. Here is the link So it sounds like they did have issues but are better now and they recommend them through 36 months. Just an fyi
I converted their crib to a toddler bed for both my older kids between 18-24 months. Although I haven't had 2 toddlers at once But it worked for us
I HATED the crib tent! such a pain. and then to switch the sheets? NO THANK YOU! LOL. But of course, that's just me. However, Milo was a able to rip holes in it! This is the time I move to beds. Not fun, but it has to happen sometime. GL
Thank you all for the information. It is very helpful!! Luckily we have not had a repeat escape, but I am waiting. I still am not sure what I want to do. I really don't want to spend 160.00 on crib tents but then I have to worry about wandering around. Keep the info coming, it is helping with the pros and cons of each option. Jen
do you have a place to have a baby gate - either inside their room or just outside in the hall? we have 2 of the extra tal Dream Baby swing gates. they fit in a standard hallway (maybe 42"??) and are adjustable. I think once we switch to more freedom and toddler beds I will make sure to lock the gate at night so that they can't wander the house. these gates are much taller than the babies and seem like they will hold up to the toddlers. the other thing is to turn around the door lock on their room so that you can lock them in... of course both options require you to have a babyproof room to begin with. good luck! I'm with you I couldn't justify the price on the full priced tents... but if you have to any price is worth safety.
sooo can relate Charlotte did that once and i thought for sure no more crib-turns out she stood on top of the crib mobile and toppled out, no more big toys in the bed just a few books for them im not ready for beds yet:rotflmbo:
