My toddler won’t stop climbing out of their crib, what do I do?
Do you have a climber? A toddler who just will NOT stay in their crib at night? Then today’s episode is for you! In this episode we discuss solutions to prevent climbing, parenting strategies you can implement during the day and at bedtime, and what to do if none of the strategies are working.
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Strategies to prevent your toddler from climbing out of their crib:
Try a sleep sack inside out and backwards
Our first recommendation to parents is to try putting their toddler in a sleep sack, but put it on inside out AND backwards. This prevents them from not only being able to get to the zipper to unzip themselves, but it also prevents them from being able to hoist their precious chubby legs over that crib rail ;)
Turn their crib around:
This strategy only works depending on the style of crib you have, but if the back and sides are higher than the front, you can flip the crib around and put the short side against the wall. This makes it harder for your toddler to climb out.
Try a Pack n Play:
Pack n Plays can be much harder to climb out of because of the mesh siding. Level up by adding a Slumberpod over the pack n play.
The Lotus pack n play is great because it opens from the side and the mattress portion is at floor level, which makes the sides taller and harder to climb.
Parenting strategies to help prevent crib climbing:
Spend intentional time with your spouse IN THE PRESENCE OF your child
Often times, our kids don’t see mom and dad spending intentional, one on one time together. They see us tag-teaming and working together throughout the day or during the evening, but rarely see us sitting and talking together. Sometimes this can be the cause of a toddler climbing out of their crib - after they go to bed or in the middle of the night is the only time they see mom and dad together.
By setting aside 15-20 minutes each day to spend intentional time with your spouse (where your little one can see you) can make a huge difference. It can help give our children a sense of security to see mom and dad communicating and enjoying one another.
Let your “Yes mean yes, and your no mean no”
This is challenging, but a smooth bedtime actually begins during the day. Are you being consistent with your toddler all day long? Do they know what to expect from you? Do you, “Say what you mean and mean what you say?”
It can be really confusing to our kids if the only time we mean what we say is at bedtime when we’re tired and at the end of our ropes. It’s important to be consistent all the time, not just when it’s convenient.
What if none of these strategies work to help keep your toddler from climbing out of their crib?
We typically don’t recommend moving your toddler to a big kid bed until they’re at least three years old. The reason being, most toddlers are not developmentally ready for the lack of boundaries that come with a big kid bed. However, if none of the above strategies work to keep your toddler in their crib, it’s time to make the transition to a big kid bed for their safety.
Tips for transitioning to a toddler bed:
Let it be a positive experience. Take them to Target and let them pick out a special pillowcase or new sheets! Talk through your expectations around their new big kid bed, and practice with them during the day to help prepare them for what’s coming.
Check out THESE Instagram stories where I give an example of how I practice a new skill with my three year old.
Safety is the priority
Their room is now essentially one big crib and it needs to be completely child-proofed (anchor furniture, remove choking hazards, cover outlets, etc). This might mean moving everything except the bed out of their room for a season, and that’s completely ok!
If you have a toddler under three years old, we strongly encourage using some kind of an alternative physical barrier. This isn’t meant to be cruel or mean, but rather to keep them safe (i.e. we don’t want our two year old running around the house unsupervised at night turning on the stove, practicing unlocking doors, or climbing on cupboards etc.).
Ways to keep your toddler in their room with alternative physical barriers:
A simple door knob cover
A door monkey (this keeps their door from opening all the way, but keeps it cracked open)
A very tall baby gate in the doorway
We hope some of these strategies help if you’ve got a climber. I have personally had two climbers, and I know how discouraging it is. Seriously, my second child was incredible.
She was SO determined. God definitely had me go through that situation so I could be more empathetic with other parents, because it is so so stressful. Hopefully one or a combination of these strategies will help you and your little climber ;)
If your little one struggles with sleep in general, climbing out of the crib is only one piece of the puzzle. We would love to come alongside you and help your child (and your entire family) get the sleep they need to grow and thrive.
To work directly with us, check out our one on one personalized sleep plans where we work closely with you and your family to create a plan that fits your child, their personality, their needs, and your family’s situation. We LOVE helping families sleep and we would be honored to walk through the entire process with you!