Toddler Climbing Out of Crib
The short answer
Once your toddler can climb out of the crib, it is a safety concern that needs addressing promptly. Most children start attempting this between 18-36 months. Lowering the mattress to the lowest setting is the first step, but if climbing continues, transitioning to a toddler bed or floor mattress is the safest option.
Thousands of parents search for this exact thing. You are not alone.
By Age
What to expect by age
12-18 months
Crib climbing at this age is less common but possible in very active, physically advanced babies. Make sure the crib mattress is at the lowest setting and remove any bumpers, pillows, or stuffed animals that could be used as a step. A sleep sack can also limit climbing ability at this age since it restricts leg movement.
18-24 months
This is when many toddlers first attempt to climb out. Their growing leg strength and problem-solving skills make it an appealing challenge. Try turning the crib around if one side is higher, use a wearable blanket to limit leg lift, and keep the room safe in case they succeed. If climbing persists, it may be time to transition.
2-3 years
By 2-3 years, most persistent climbers need to move to a toddler bed or a mattress on the floor. This is normal and appropriate. Use a toddler rail for the first few weeks, childproof the entire room thoroughly, and use a doorknob cover or baby gate at the bedroom door to keep your child safely in their room at night.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your toddler tries to climb out once or twice and is deterred by a lower mattress setting
- Climbing attempts start during a developmental leap when your child is mastering new physical skills
- Your child adjusts to a toddler bed within 1-2 weeks with consistent boundaries
- Occasional out-of-bed wandering in the first weeks after the transition
- Your toddler has fallen from the crib and you are concerned about injury even if they seem fine
- You are struggling with the transition to a toddler bed and your child is getting very little sleep as a result
- Your child falls from the crib and shows signs of a head injury such as vomiting, excessive sleepiness, unequal pupils, or loss of consciousness
- Your child has a visible injury like swelling, bruising, or inability to move a limb after a fall
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
Worrying about your baby means you care. That is a good thing.
Related Sleep Concerns
How Long Should Baby Be Awake Between Naps?
The ideal awake time between naps (called a "wake window") increases as your baby grows. Newborns may only handle 45-90 minutes awake, while toddlers can manage 4-6 hours. Getting wake windows right is one of the most effective ways to improve nap quality, because both too-short and too-long wake times lead to poor sleep.
Is a Bath Before Bed Really Necessary?
A nightly bath is not medically necessary and some babies with sensitive skin do better with less frequent bathing. However, a warm bath can be a powerful sleep cue because the subsequent body temperature drop triggers melatonin production. If you include a bath, keep it calm and warm rather than stimulating.
How Long Should the Bedtime Routine Be?
An ideal bedtime routine for babies and toddlers is 20-30 minutes. Shorter routines may not give enough time to wind down, while routines longer than 45 minutes can become a stalling tactic. Consistency in the routine order matters more than exact length.
Is My Baby's Bedtime Too Early?
For most babies over 3 months, bedtime between 6:00-8:00 PM is appropriate. A bedtime that is too early can cause early morning wakings (before 6 AM) or long periods of wakefulness in the middle of the night. However, during nap transitions or on days when naps were short, an earlier-than-usual bedtime helps prevent overtiredness.
Is My Baby's Bedtime Too Late?
For babies over 3-4 months, consistently going to bed after 8:30-9:00 PM may result in overtiredness, which paradoxically makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Cortisol rises when babies are overtired, leading to more night wakings and early mornings. Moving bedtime earlier, even by 15-30 minutes, often improves overnight sleep quality.
Baby Only Napping 30 Minutes
Short naps of 30-45 minutes are extremely common in babies under 6 months. Your baby is waking at the end of a single sleep cycle and has not yet learned to link cycles together during the day. This is developmentally normal and typically improves on its own between 5-7 months as the brain matures.