22 Month Old Fell Out of Crib!!!

I never had this problem, but I have a friend who uses one for her son and she says it works very well. If he's crawling out, I'd definitely give it a try!

We did the tent for my son at 1 yrs old til he was 3. At first, it was hard for both of us but in the end it was good piece of mind and he became so used to it, he would remind me to zip it up!

My daughter climbed out of the crib at 15 months, and was not ready for a toddler crib as there were too many safety issues, etc. I got the tent after getting over my initial reluctance to "enclose" her. The tent is mesh, and goes up high (it's a Tots-In-Mind cozy crib tent, which is the ONLY brand I could find). It is not confining at all. And, I have a convertible crib, so the sides are not even. It still attaches just fine. She loves it. Like someone else mentioned, she reminds me to zip it up. And, now we can rest easy that she is safe, and can work on the big-girl-bed transition in a more planful way, and when she is mature enough to handle that step. I can assure you there is NO WAY she could get that thing open, even if she did know how to operate a zipper. Someone mentioned kicking it off- it attaches so securely that the idea of it falling off the crib is preposterous. In fact, my daughter also climbed out of the pack-n-play at my parents' house (imagine my dismay at suddenly seeing her at the top of the stairs, because the bedroom door didn't shut tight in the humidity). We called around and found a store that carried the Tots in Mind tent to fit the pack-n-play. Even that one attaches ridiculously securely (my mother could not remove it when she tried very hard, knew how it clipped on, and was on the outside- no way a child could remove it from the inside). This also prevents the pack-n-play from tipping when she swings her leg over the side, because she cannot swing that leg anymore!! Anyway, in short, I definitely recommend the tent if you are not ready to give up the crib entirely. I had doubts in the beginning too, but it is by far one of the best investments I've made as a mum!

If he's climbing out of the crib, he's going to figure out how to get past the tent - OR get caught up in the tent and get really hurt. Some of the tents have recalls on them, and some have lawsuits pending because kids have gotten caught and suffocated. EEP!

That said, my daughter climbed out of her crib, fell once, and we knew SOMETHING had to change. Our short-term solution was to teach her how to climb out safely, which she picked up very well and never fell again. We then started our hunt for the right toddler bed, and she was sleeping in it within a month of climbing out.

Remember that any change in your son's life is going to have a transition period, and we often assume our kids aren't ready or aren't capable when they really, really are. They just need to be introduced to the new thing in a healthy way.

I'm confident that you'll get over this hump quickly and by Christmas he'll be loving his big-boy bed.

I have heard good things about the tent. But why do you think he isn't ready for the toddler bed? Both of my kids were in toddler beds at 1.5 yo, both did fine. It is very low to the ground, and we had pillows on the floor. They did fall out at first, but usually didn't even wake up when they did.
good luck!
Kim

We used the crib tent from One Step Ahead for both our sons (our nearly 2-year-old is still using it, although it has suffered some holes by now). The older one was not a climber, but we purchased the tent to stop him from throwing his binkies and toys out of the crib and then wanting us to go retrieve them. The younger one had the tent from day one, so we never got to see whether he would have climbed out -- but surely he would have, given that he climbs everything else. I even used the tent with my older son when he was past 3 just for naps (he had been in a toddler bed at night from just over 2) because if he wasn't confined to a crib with no toys, he'd just play instead of going to sleep.

The bottom line is that we loved the tent. Others have mentioned that it might be time for a toddler bed, and that certainly is a possibility too, but if you're not ready to try that quite yet, the crib tent is well worth it.

Babies R Us sells crib tents if you need one.

We used the crib tent from One Step Ahead. It worked great for both our boys! I would recommend it.

My son started climbing out his crib at 18 months. We purchased the crib tent and never had another problem. Once he figured out that he couldn't get out, he actually loved it! I felt a little strange about it at first, but it was a great solution to a dangerous problem. Good luck!

My daugther had done the same thing when she was close to 2 years old. I was so afraid she would hurt herself so I bought her a toddler bed at the sameday but it was teribble she woke up 100 times so we went back to crib. I knew she would not like the tent idea so I watched her from the monitor and went to her room to put her leg down everytime she has tried which was many many times. After days passed she learned that i was not going to give up and I knew she did not had gut to go all the way down after her fall the first time but she knew well that she could scared us. Good luck .

My 21 month old just learned how to climb out of his crib, but when I went to Babies R Us for the crib tent they had recalled them, and when I researched them online I found that they are in the process of recalling them because toddlers have suffocated on them. We went with a toddler bed and a babygate on his door and he has been fine with the transition! Good luck!

My little girl just fell out of her crib for the first time last month at 24 months. She'd been experimenting and climbing up on the rail but one morning I heard THUD and saw her on the monitor running back over to reach in the crib & get her blankie for comfort, crying She was fine, but I also got the crib tent. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit on my crib as I have a lifetime crib but it looked like it would be perfect if ti fit. No way would they get it off as some others suggest.

Here's what has been working for us. She understands EVERYTHING we say, so we talked a lot about how she fell out and when BOOM, BANG and how she could get hurt if she falls out again. Then we told her that if she wants out, she has to call "Mom, come get me out" and I will come to her so she doesn't have to climb out. Well, she totally got it and that's what she does now. She'll play by herself (we have a video monitor so we can see what she's doing) and when she's ready to get out she calls for me, or her grandma or her nanny, whoever is watching her.

I also ordered my toddler rail but want to keep her in the crib as long as possible as my hosue is not in any way childproof.

Good luck!

If your child is climbing out of the crib, it is time for a toddler bed.

I say get the tent! My friends have it and they love it. But you have to make sure the sides of your crib are even. Some convert into a headboard. He isn't two yet then you may have months before he moves into a toddler bed. My son turned two in May and still loves his crib. He hasn't climbed out but he has threatened to, but I remind him about his cousins booboo on his head and he puts his knee right back in the crib. We will probably switch to a new bed after Christmas and the holidays. Best of luck!

Totally LOVED the Crib tents -yes tentS, I have three children and used it with all three (2 boys and one girl) My oldest son did the same thing yours did, fell out of the crib and I was out to Baby's R us a 9:30 THAT night to buy the crib tent and install it. I must say you did well, if I recall our son wasn't even 20 months old when he fell out.

It is wonderful, safe and well worth the peace of mind. They don't always like it at first, but they get used to it. Resist the temptation to constantly unzip it and console them. I just consoled them THROUGH the mesh. we would play games of putting my hand up to his/her hand on the other side and following where the hand went. I also always had a music mobile base inside the crib that they could control to start and stop music they could listen to.

Don't waste another night, get it today!! Good luck.

I dont know anything about the tent, but wanted to know more about why you think he's not ready for a regular bed? To me, climbing out of the crib is just the right reason to go to a regular bed! My kids luckily didnt climb out, but both got toddler beds for their second birthdays and your guy is pretty close to that if he's 22 months. Craigslist has lots of toddler beds for sale - we got cool race car beds for both of mine for about $50 each and I know there are plainer toddler beds on there for even cheaper. They are low to the ground so its not like trying to get him into a full size bed. I too worried mine would just get out of bed, but for me anyway, both slept in theirs fine from night one. Anyway, just my two cents.

I haven't personally used the tent, but my co-worker said it worked great for his sons.

I agree w/ xty. I could see using a crib tent if he was only a little over one but since he's just shy of 2 I say go ahead and get a toddler bed or regular bed.

Hi T.,
My daughter did the very same thing 10years ago. It was very scary. At that time the Graco pack n'go playpens were tall(deep). We measured it against the crib and we had another 4-5 inches on it. So that is where she spent her next year sleeping. The doctors told me she would just kick the tent off. Look around for some play pens and measure them. I also put up a tall gate in her doorway so if she did get out in the middle of the night she could not leave her room.

Hope this helps!
H. Rogers

My daughter is also 22 months. She figured out how to climb out of her crib about a month ago! Also super scary for us, when we heard the 'thud' upstairs. She had not wanted to go to sleep that night and was crying, wanting to get out...then we heard - thud. She was fine, but we didn't want that to happen again.

I also have a 6 year old girl who never did this. Instead of trying to keep our daughter in the crib, we've transitioned her to a twin sized mattress on the floor. She's slowly been getting used to it. Our routine right now is to read her a story/two and turn out the light with her...once she's asleep me (or my husband) will get up and leave. Have to admit, most nights we're both so tired we end up crashing with her (and/or my other daughter) most of the night. I'd heard of the tent, but didn't feel comfortable buying something that would enclose her, if that makes sense. Also, feel like she'd be close to transitioning into a "big girl bed" so why not start a few months early. And, she is already sleeping on a mattress on the floor at her daycare, in the toddler room.
Hope this helps - good luck!

Hi,

I know many people that use the tents and are happy with them. There are some risks with these tents...kids have gotten caught and tangled in them. My four kids were never able to climb out of their cribs because we always slept them in the "back-to-sleep" sleeping bags that the SIDS alliance recommends. They make them in larger sizes now, so my kids wore them until they were about 2.5 years old. My 22 month old son wears his for every nap and at night. In the summer, we use air conditioning and put the blanket sack on over a t-shirt. They are not able to swing a leg over the crib rail when they're wearing these! Then around 2.5 we moved them into beds...when it seemed safe for them to be up and about.

Best of luck!

E.

i think it's time for a bed sweetie and no i don't think he is TOO YOUNG. buy him a twin bed and add a guard rail, if not just let him sleep on the mattress with a boxspring underneath, it's better to be safer than sorry later. hope this helps, and i did this with my first child at the age of one because i could't afford a crib for her and she was fine with the mattress on the floor, it's a short drop just in case she fell, but i also kept a thick quilt there just in case. and those tent things are dangerous no matter how u look at it, he can get tangled in it and seriously hurt himself. that is why a twin mattress is the best idea, at least he won't get hurt sleeping on one of those. oh as far as naps i say drop them all together let him fall asleep on his own, anywhere in the house, he knows when he's tired. i don't beleive in forcing a child to take a nap, i'm not saying it's a bad thing, but think about if you weren't tired would you want someone telling you to take a nap?