He broke free from crib - now what?

[cameron09]

Ok, so my 2.5 yr old DS figured out how to get out of his crib and open his door.  Might not be so tragic for some, but I have been dreading this day as he has never wishfully wanted to take naps or go to bed (he's the strongly spirited, high energy type).  I tried enticing him with a big boy bed today for his nap - he seemed excited, but after over an hour of up/down, in/out of room, I gave up.  He showed no signs of sleeping, just playing.

I am 2 weeks away from having #2 and obviously need to nip this situation in the bud quickly. 

As for naps, if he doesn't take one he's miserable all evening and gets aggressive.  If I take him in the stroller or car, he's asleep in minutes, so I know he still needs it.  Before he got out of the crib, he slept 1.5-2 hrs for his nap.

As for evenings, he goes through stages of getting up really early (5:30/6) and calling for me and/or fighting going to bed.  If he can get out now, i'm afraid he'll just get out of his room anytime he wakes up.

So how do you keep a spirited little guy in his room.   Should I just give up the crib now, set up the bed properly and keep taking him back every time he gets out?  Did I mention how persistent he can be?

Any advice is greatly appreciated as the clock is ticking for number 2 to arrive!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS

 

[Peek-a-boo]

Have you considered a crib tent?  Something like this:  http://www.amazon.com/Tots-Mind-Cozy-Crib-White/dp/B00014PLAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315092035&sr=8-1

We kept our spirited DS in his crib until he was 3.25 year old and I was thankful we did.  We tried a transition to a big bed around 2.25 years and it was a disaster for us. 

[IzzyD's mom]

How is your crib put together? Our DD escaped from her crib just before DS was born when she was 11 months. We switched her to a travel crib with higher sides for a few months until she climbed out of that so now she is back in her crib but I removed the bottom part so that the mattress sits directly on the floor. The crib is still very stable and the mattress fills all the space between the crib bars and floor so she cant get stuck. May be you could try the same thing. We did try her in a BGB for a few weeks and she was great at first but then started going walk abouts in the night and was just too young to understand that she should stay in bed

[nona]

Crib tent!!!!

[consmummy]

Or you could go for the bed!

Seriously, make it a big cool thing for him to be doing, get him to help choose bed, bedding, nightlight, etc, LOTS of talking about what a big boy he is and he may just go for it.

My 2 both went into beds with no probs whatsoever so I have no experience of negative issues, just thought I'd share what we did. Oh, and DS2 went into a bed at 2 on holiday because he hated the cot provided and went straight back into a bed at home, didn't miss the cot one bit!

I'm not boasting, just trying to say sometimes they surprise you. Your lo may not like his crib but may really go for the bed idea!

[*jazzberry*]

I'd say to go for the bed too (although with only 2 weeks to go till baby I can fully understand your reluctance!) We had no problem with ds1 or ds2, but we did put a gate at the door and toddlerproofed the room so they were contained in there. We also did all the setting up/dismantling of cot with them in the room, made it a big exciting thing. Put lots of teddies in the bed and a mattress on the floor at the side of it (in case they fell out). If you act like it's the most natural thing in the world it may just rub off on him too. Good luck with whatever you decide!

[shivi]

is your LO in a sleeping bag?

My spirited monkeys could escape from their cot to the chair next to it by 14-16 mths each without the sleeping bag. With it, still no chance for Ms. emmusia who is over 2.5...

S x

[FroggyMom]

I agree with Consmummy and jazzberry!  You just might be as surprised as I was last week!!!  My DS is 20 months old and climbed out of his crib about 1 1/2 weeks ago!  I was relieved he did not get hurt but torn between trying a crib tent and moving him to a BBB.  I felt 20 months was young to understand sleeping in a BBB but felt like it was the best option!  With some support from some smart ladies on here, I had the courage to go for the BBB!

My DH took down the crib and put up the BBB while DS was in the room!  We made a big deal about how he was a big boy now!  From night 1, he has STTN and stayed in his BBB!  When he wakes up in the morning, he just sits in his bed like he did his crib until I come in to get him.  Again, I make a big deal about what a good, big boy he is and talk about how I like how he stayed in his BBB all night!  He usually cheers for himself by getting out of bed while saying, "yea!!!"  It's too cute!

I have the safety knobs on his door handles so he can not get out of his room and roam around at night.  We also put the baby gate up at the door in case he did figure out how to get the door open.  Good luck with whatever you decide!!!

[nona]

i had an awesome sleeper and he never climbed anything...until he climbed out of his crib. i thought it was miserable. i wasn't able to find a crib tent in my area and we needed a solution fast so we converted his crib to a toddler bed. Anyway, the next 6 months of our lives was horrible and i wont' get into it the detailals. no way i could've dealt with that being pregnant or a newborn. But that 's my family and my personality!  For the next one, i'm getting a crib tent just in case!

obviously you are going to get a lot of opinions. i think his world is about to be turned upside down with a new little baby in the house so i'd make the decision based on your family's needs right now and the temperament of your child. 

Good Luck and Keep us posted!!!

[cameron09]

Thanks so much for all the feedback girls!

I haven't decided what to do yet.  Since I had tried putting a mattress on the floor yesterday and called it his big boy nap bed, he asked for it many times when going to sleep last night (I had hid it away again).  So I think he likes the idea of something new.  However, any new environment he has had to sleep in when we are away from home, has been difficult for him to sleep properly, so he's not the most adaptable sleeper.

This all happened because we did stop using sleep sacks over a month ago because he was too hot.  I tried keeping him in one as long as I could and have tried putting him back in one in the last week but he will not go for it.  Perhaps I could be more persistent and put him back in it now that it's not quite as hot...............hmm.

I think we are beyond the crib tent idea.  He would HATE that and would be destructive in trying to rip it down.

Naps have always been a battle in his crib at the best of times (it's the last thing he wants to do is sleep).  However, walk him in a stroller and he's out in 2 minutes and likes sleeping there.  So, maybe trying to nap in a toddler bed would be no different if I had a handle on the door preventing him from getting out.  I guess he's give up eventually trying to "break free".

Today for his nap, he fell asleep in the car as we were out on a playdate and I was able to successfully transfer him into his crib, so the issue has been delayed.

I will keep everyone posted as to how to continue this journey next.