7 Tips To Prevent Crib Climbing
Do you have a little Houdini who has recently started escaping the crib? Or is the possibility of your kiddo escaping from their crib causing you to stay up worrying at night?
If your little one is climbing out of their crib and you are convinced that it is time to transition into a big kid bed before either of you are ready, STOP RIGHT THERE!
Crib climbing can be extremely worrisome for parents, and though I haven’t dealt with it myself (my two have always loved their cribs), I have helped many other parents prevent and curb their little ones' tendency to play Houdini with the crib rails.
First, let’s explore some of the primary reasons for these new escape tactics; as I always say, “it’s important to understand the ‘why’ before the ‘how,’”.
They are exploring a fun new skill.
Recent crib escapes have gained them attention from you and it has become a ploy to get you in their room.
They are not tired when you put them in their crib.
An older sibling is aiding and abetting the escape.
Your child has a negative association with independent sleep or the crib.
Whatever the reason for crib climbing, here are some tips to help curb their motivation and their ability to climb out of the crib.
1- Hold space for your child to learn independent sleep skills. If a child has confidence in their ability to fall asleep independently (i.e. they can fall asleep on their own without feeding, rocking, soother, etc.) they are far less likely to develop a negative association with their sleep environment, as they are not spending time awake and frustrated in their crib. Allowing your little one to learn how to self-soothe is my number one recommendation to help prevent crib climbing. Encouraging independence in sleep onset before your child becomes mobile will help your child feel confident and secure in their ability to fall asleep quickly. This, in turn, will help reduce the chances of your child wanting to escape their crib.
2- Remove any distractions from your child's room, be it toys, furniture they can climb on, or anything that would lure them out of the crib to explore. It’s always recommended to keep your child's nursery as simple as possible. Toys and distractions should be left out of the bedroom to make it clear that the room is for peace and relaxation.
3- Remove any furniture within close proximity to the crib. If a child knows they can climb onto something as they climb out of the crib, this may give them the extra courage to try.
4- If you have a crib where the back rails are higher than the front, a good tip is to turn the crib around so the front crib rails are against the wall. You can also push the crib into a safe corner of the room where only one of the low crib ends is exposed to the open, further deterring their confidence to climb out of the crib.
5- Take that sleep sack out of retirement and put it on backwards, so the zipper is at the back. The sleep sack will prevent your little one from swinging their leg over the crib rail. Placing it backwards will reduce the chances of them being able to remove it. I have even seen parents sew a strip of cloth between the legs of the footie pyjamas to prevent them from swinging their legs over the rail.
6- Put a soft toy or book in your child's crib so that if they wake earlier than you, they have something to keep them entertained until you come to get them.
7- If your child does escape the crib despite all of the above, do not give it too much attention. When you go back into your child's room, place them back in the crib without a peep. If they have started doing this as a game, they will quickly realize nobody is in on it and get bored.
Finally, if your child is escaping, it is imperative that you safety-proof their sleep environment. Click this link to see our Safe Sleep Environment Checklist for Toddlers to ensure that should they escape, there is no immediate danger within the bounds of their sleep environment.
So there you have it, my top-tips to minimize crib climbing. Should you need help teaching your little one to love their sleep environment, please do not hesitate to book a free sleep assessment call with me. It would be my pleasure to help your little one learn to love sleep!