Approaching a Crib Climbing Phase

If your child is nearing the age of two, chances are that he or she is rapidly approaching a crib climbing phase. Children in this age range are especially likely to begin climbing out of cribs and beds because they are not yet afraid of falling. Even if they do not hurt themselves when getting out of the crib, they may put themselves in dangerous situations when parents are unaware that they have escaped. Follow these simple guidelines to keep your toddler safe.

Climbing deterrents

Making it harder to climb out of the crib before your child even attempts to do so is the best prevention. Put the mattress as far down in the crib as possible in order to increase the distance from the mattress to the top bars. Also, place the crib away from other furniture so grabbing onto anything is not an option for potential climbers. You should also remove any large toys that can assist in climbing out of the crib.

Further precautions

In the event that you do catch your toddler trying to climb out of the crib, make sure to scold him in a firm voice. There is no need for punishment, but make sure he knows from the tone of your voice that this behavior is not acceptable. Likewise, reward your child with praise when the behavior stops.

Keeping a toddler in a crib is a challenge once they learn to climb out. By preventing climbing in the first place, you can reduce the risk of injury.