Upon hitting one year old, it is highly likely that your child will become so active that you will feel like your house is turning into a jungle gym. You may see your toddler starting to scale the coffee table and couch, move up and down the stairs, and frustratingly, climb out of the crib.
So how to keep a toddler in a crib and ensure your toddler’s safety? What are the other things you can do aside from having to transition into a bigger bed?
Note that it would be best for you to wait a bit before you make your toddler transition into a bigger bed, so it helps to be aware of some tricks to make him stay in the crib.
When Do Toddlers Start Climbing Out of Their Crib?
Toddlers around 12 to 24 months are in a phase wherein they experience a massive development brought on by their newly-found independence. It is also the time when they experience seriously complicated emotions.
With that in mind, expect even 12-month-young babies to try breaking free from their crib. This is especially true for kids who are tall enough that they can bring their legs over and up the railing.
Why do they do this? Well, the answer is that they view the act of climbing out of and breaking free from their crib as a sort of developmental milestone. At 12 months and up, your baby will begin to feel more independent.
You can see him pulling himself up or standing in the cot on his own. You can also see your child starting to walk independently. It is also the stage when you will notice a quick improvement in your child’s coordination.
At this stage, toddlers will most likely practice these newfound skills and independence by climbing out of the crib. After a few more months, their feeling of independence will become even fiercer and you can see them wanting to do all things on their own.
Their desire to explore will be so strong that they will keep on attempting to get out of their crib when everyone is asleep at night. The problem is if left unsupervised, your child may be prone to getting hurt or injured.
This is why you should still apply a few tricks that will put them inside their crib while still letting them enjoy their independence from time to time.
Tips and Tricks for Keeping Your Toddler in the Crib
So what are the things you can do to prevent your child from climbing out of the crib all the time? Here are some simple tricks:
Ensure that the room is toddler-proofed
The crib is not the only part of the room that you should keep safe. It is also necessary to look at the whole room and work on toddler-proofing it. Note that once your toddler escapes, there is a possibility that he will be alone unsupervised.
Here are the things you can do to keep the entire room safe for your toddler:
- Use outlet covers to cover electric sockets.
- Get rid of electrical cords, drapes, and long blind curves.
- Keep all windows safe and secure. They should be properly locked when you leave your child in his crib.
- Keep all furniture items tethered to the walls.
- Keep the room free from small pieces and objects that your child may swallow.
- Keep creams and medicines away from your toddler’s reach to prevent accidentally ingesting them.
Lower the crib mattress
Do this even before your child can sit on his own. Put the mattress at the lowest position before your child learns to stand independently, too.
Lowering the mattress before your child reaches such major milestones will not only guarantee their safety but also prevent them from climbing for a while.
Moreover, avoid putting any furniture item close to the crib as your child may only use it to obtain a foothold for climbing out.
Use a sleep sack
Try keeping your toddler in there. The reason is that it will be harder for your toddler to get out of the crib when you put him inside a sleep sack.
If the sleep sack is easy to unzip, it would be a better idea to turn it around. The zipper should be at the back so your child will not be able to access it easily.
Cultivate a bedtime routine
If your baby has already started to climb out of his crib, then you can either reverse or prevent such behavior by establishing a good bedtime routine for him. As a matter of fact, it provides a solution for the majority of nighttime parenting issues.
To establish a nighttime routine that will prepare him for sleep, do the same steps every night. This is important in conditioning the mind of your child, preparing them for sleep and relaxation.
If you put him in the right mindset for sleeping, there is a low chance for him to get out of bed. You can set up a routine like this:
- Bathing and brushing his teeth
- Putting on lotion
- Making him change into his sleepwear
- Snuggling and reading books together
- Tucking him in
- Putting on the crib soother before leaving the room
By following all these steps every night, your child will be able to build a routine. It will develop a mindset that since it is sleep time, he should not get into other activities that will deter his time for rest.
Put on white noise and soothing sounds
Soft and soothing music as well as white noise aid in drowning out distracting noises that may disturb your child’s sleep. This type of music can consistently give your child an auditory environment that will help them sleep peacefully.
In this case, you can use a white noise machine to create a static or a gentle hum. This can produce a relaxing sound, which can put your baby to sleep.
Once you have this machine, you are allowed to experiment with various settings, allowing you to find the perfect tone and volume for him. You may also want to play soft and instrumental music or a lullaby.
The good news is that there are several playlists and albums that you can access online, making it possible for you to find the tunes that are most appropriate for your child.
Address separation anxiety and other fears
Note that there are also toddlers who have a hard time keeping themselves inside the crib because they are afraid of the dark or they have separation anxiety. It is crucial to address such concerns, making them feel secure and increasing the amount of their quality sleep.
One thing you can do is to install a warm-toned and dim nightlight. It should just be enough to illuminate the sleeping area, making your toddler feel safe and secure without disturbing their sleep.
Find other options, too, that come with adjustable brightness settings. That way, you can set it based on what your child prefers.
Give your child their comfort objects, too. You can designate a comfort object that will make him feel at ease and secure, like a toy or special blanket. It should help him cope with fear and separation anxiety.
Give him encouragement, too, telling him that he can depend on the toy to make him feel safe whenever he feels scared. Just make sure that the item is available in the crib all the time so he can easily grab it.
Make his crib environment cozy and inviting
Build an inviting and cozy crib environment for your child to encourage them to stay there. Look at his crib as a small sanctuary that allows them to drift peacefully and easily into sleep. You can do that with the help of the following:
- Soft blankets and beddings – Ensure that the blankets and beddings you use for the crib are comfortable and soft. The materials should be gentle to the skin of your toddler.
Some good options are muslin and cotton. Do not use blankets that have tiny parts or loose threads as those are considered choking hazards.
- Calming and soothing colors – Factor in the crib’s color scheme. Soothing and soft colors, such as muted tones and pastel colors, are capable of creating a peaceful atmosphere, which promotes relaxation.
Do not use overly stimulating or bright colors that may only activate your toddler’s mind.
- Gentle and soothing lighting – If you decide to put the crib close to a window, it would be ideal to use breathable and light curtains, allowing natural light to penetrate throughout the day.
At night, you can use a soft and small night light, which can give a comforting glow to the area without overstimulating it.
- Cuddly toy – You can introduce a cuddly stuffed toy to your toddler and make it serve as his companion, giving him a sense of security and comfort. Ensure that the toy is appropriate for his age and does not have any detachable small parts.
- Favorite book – Read a familiar bedtime story to him. Make it a point to keep this book close to you. It will become a relaxing part of his sleeping routine, signaling that it is time for him to prepare for sleep.
Conclusion
While a toddler climbing out of a crib is frustrating, note that you can find a few solutions on how to keep a toddler in a crib. You can adjust furniture, try products such as sleep training clocks and sleep sacks, and set boundaries.
You may also want to start thinking about transitioning him to a bigger bed but you have to be one hundred percent sure that your child is really ready for this change.