Raymond Parenting

Thanks to the recommendation made by Kitty at one of her seminars, we have had a crib tent on our daughter’s crib since she was a year old.  We bought the same one through Kac’z Kids that she links to in her post here.  We originally got one to keep her cuski (sleepy toy) in her crib as it frequently would fly out as she played with it to fall asleep.  If your little monster does this, I highly recommend buying the cribtent with the mesh sides as well to keep your little one from pushing their sleepy toy out between the slats like ours did!

Now that our daughter is 2 years and 4 months, climbing has never been a concern and we know that she’s not yet ready for a regular bed and she’s super safe in her crib.

By Jenn Lofgren on November 24, 2010

I have a 2 year old that keeps climbing out of the crib and is driving me crazy. I read that you suggest using a sleep sack or crib tent. I first tried a sleep sack and he still figured out how to climb out and now am looking for crib tents. Wal Mart in Canada no longer sells crib tents and the internet is filled with sites claiming crib tents are dangerous and have caused the strangulation death of a few toddlers. So…do you still suggest using crib tents? Is there any other alternatives? Thanks.

Kitty here: I very much appreciate you writing in.  I’ve looked over some safety sites and see that these concerns are real and crib tents can pose a danger.  Here is one clear site: http://www.safetyresearch.net/2009/02/01/crib-tents-another-hazard-from-the-world-of-unregulated-child-products/

Since you have already tried a sleep sack for the purpose of “reminding” your child to stay in the crib, I think we need to take an entirely different tack.  Since he is such an ambitious climber, let’s make it safe for him to climb in and out.  You may as well lower the side of the crib a bit so he can safely move himself out onto a footstool and then on to the floor. 

You will need to child-proof his room and decide on the best way to secure the door so he can’t open it (very unsafe).  Once you put him into his crib and say goodnight, you will leave the room as usual and secure the door behind you.  He’ll no doubt get out - safely and very excited - and play around a while, trying to come out, perhaps crying, etc.  Eventually he’ll put himself to sleep, probably on the floor. 

By the 2nd or 3rd night you follow this routine, the novelty will be wearing off and he may either stay in his bed or get out for a stroll and climb back in to fall asleep.  Since we can’t find a safe way to contain him, this is the next best arrangement.

I do not suggest you take the crib down, since he might still prefer it over a bed, for another year of familiar sleeping.

PS if he is asleep on the floor when you check him before you go to bed, I suggest you lay a blanket over him and leave him be.  He may surprise us by climbing back in his crib by morning. 

By Seana Lunge on May 20, 2011