[jamilahlashwe]

My baby climbed out of his crib today. Twice. Is this a milestone of some kind? It sure feels like it. So tonite Daddy and Juanito will be setting up the toddler bed. Then we have to put the thing on the door handle so that he can't get out of the room. I don't think he is a big boy enough to stay there when he should be sleeping, if he knows he can get out.

[Devora]

It is a milestone -- but you don't necessarily need to rush to set up the toddler bed. My son climbed out when he was 2.5 years old. I figured that was the end of naptime and of the crib --- He climbed out about 8 times during a one hour period. But then I talked with him about how he could get hurt and he didn't climb out for another few weeks. That time he did slip and fall. He didn't climb out again -- ever. We ended up leaving him in his crib until he was almost 4. So we got another 1.5 years out of his crib!

[AnaM-H]

We had to put Almari (29 months) in her toddler bed 2 weeks ago and now it seems little Ms. Alex will be next FAST. She fell out of the crib Thursday and we have caught her climbing out too many times since then. She lives to be in Almari's bed!!

[hml1976]

You're lucky My DS climbed (more like launched) out at 16mths. The ped had me move him immediately, we went straight to a twin bed. He looked like a little baby sleeping in a huge bed but he did great.

[chazzeldy2]

DD is 23 months and I just saw her hoist her knee to the top of the crib rail a couple days ago. I just ordered a crib tent based on other's suggestions on this forum.

[jaenelle]

Yuna never climbed or fell out, but she is so tall that she easily could if she wanted to. So several months ago, we converted her crib to the toddler bed. She fell out a few times, and sometimes she is asleep on the floor when we check on her, but mostly she does great.

[DDAmasa]

It's really risky to let a toddler stay in a crib once they've managed to climb out. Children have suffered very serious injuries, even brain damage and spine and neck injuries from falling out of the crib. I personally would never chance it.

I have a tall baby gate in front of my son's door. That way he can open his door and call me, but can't get out of his room.