The Great Escape: How to Stop Your Toddler From Climbing Out of Their Crib
When your toddler suddenly starts climbing out of their crib, take a deep breath—you’re not alone. Crib climbing is one of the most common toddler sleep challenges, particularly between 18 months and 3 years of age.
While this phase is developmentally normal, it can quickly lead to disrupted naps, bedtime battles, frequent night wakings, and exhausted parents. For families with twins or multiples, the challenge can escalate even faster—once one child learns how to escape, the others are often quick to copy.
What may begin as curiosity can soon become a repeated habit, leaving parents feeling overwhelmed, anxious about safety, and unsure whether it’s time to transition out of the crib.
Why Do Toddlers Climb Out of Their Crib?
From both a child development and sleep-training perspective, toddlers climb out of their crib for several reasons:
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Increased physical strength, coordination, and mobility
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A growing desire for independence and autonomy
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Boundary testing and learned reactions to parental responses
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Overtiredness caused by poorly timed naps or bedtime
Sleep expert Claudine Gillard, founder of Sweet Dreams Sleep Coaching, explains:
“Crib climbing can sometimes be a sign that a child is ready for a toddler bed. However, in most cases, it reflects boundary testing or inconsistent sleep expectations. With clear limits, consistency, and a few adjustments, many toddlers can safely remain in their crib.”
This distinction is important. Transitioning to a toddler bed too early often makes sleep problems worse, not better. Moving a child from the secure, enclosed environment of a crib to the open freedom of a bed can feel overwhelming and overstimulating—often resulting in more bedtime resistance and night disruptions.
How to Stop a Toddler From Climbing Out of the Crib
Many parents first try sleep sacks to limit climbing. While these can be effective in the short term, determined toddlers often learn how to unzip or remove them. Reversing the sleep sack (fastening it at the back) may buy you some time, but for most families, behavioural boundaries—not products—are the long-term solution.
The Silent Return Method (Most Effective Strategy)
One of the most effective and widely recommended sleep-training strategies for crib climbers is the Silent Return Method.
How the Silent Return Method Works:
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Calmly return your toddler to the crib every time they climb out
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Use little to no language and avoid eye contact
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Do not show emotional reactions—positive or negative
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Stay consistent every single time, no matter how often it happens
Your toddler may test your patience and repeat the escape 10–30 times in one hour. This is exhausting, but consistency is key. Quietly and calmly returning them to the crib teaches them that climbing out does not change the outcome.
If needed, you may repeat one firm, neutral phrase such as:
“No, you are not allowed to climb out of your crib.”
With enough physical activity during the day and a well-timed bedtime (sometimes slightly earlier), most families see a significant reduction in bedtime resistance within a few days.
As Claudine notes:
“Consistency teaches toddlers that climbing out won’t change the result. Calm, predictable responses reduce the behaviour far faster than repeated verbal corrections.”
Safety Tips for Toddlers Who Climb Out of the Crib
If your toddler is climbing out, safety must always come first. Use these sleep-coach-approved strategies:
1. Make the Bedroom a Safe Space
Remove climbable furniture, anchor dressers to the wall, eliminate choking hazards, secure cords and blinds, and cover power outlets. If your child does get out of their crib, their room should function as a safe, contained environment.
You can also place foam floor tiles, pillows, or cushions around the crib to soften potential falls.
2. Use a Door Gate or Child-Safe Lock
This prevents unsafe wandering throughout the house and is commonly recommended by pediatric sleep professionals for toddlers who remain in cribs.
3. Use Sleep Sacks Strategically
Sleep sacks can reduce leg mobility. If your toddler learns to undo them, reversing the sack or adding extra fastening (under supervision) may extend their effectiveness.
4. Adjust the Crib Position
If your crib has uneven rail heights, position the lower side against a wall to make climbing more difficult.
5. Stay Consistent With the Silent Return
Even one inconsistent response can reinforce the behaviour. Calm, consistent reactions lead to faster and more lasting results.
According to pediatric safety guidance, lowering the crib mattress and ensuring the room is fully childproofed are key strategies to reduce the chance of falls.
When Should You Transition to a Toddler Bed?
A common question parents ask is:
“If my toddler climbs out of the crib, do I need to switch to a toddler bed?”
The answer is: not necessarily.
While some children transition early without issues, most toddlers do best between ages 3 and 4, when impulse control, emotional regulation, and rule-following skills are more developed.
Transitioning too early often leads to:
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Prolonged bedtime struggles
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Increased night wakings
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Unsafe wandering
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More sleep deprivation for the entire family
In many cases, maintaining clear crib boundaries results in better sleep outcomes for both toddlers and parents.
Free 30-Minute Sleep Consultation for Parents
If your child is:
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Climbing out of their crib
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Fighting bedtime
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Waking frequently overnight
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Taking short or inconsistent naps
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Sweet Dreams Sleep Coaching offers a free 30-minute sleep consultation to help parents identify the root cause of their child’s sleep challenges and create a clear, age-appropriate plan.
During your consultation, we will:
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Review your child’s current sleep routine
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Identify what’s disrupting their sleep
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Provide practical, personalized strategies
👉 Book your free 30-minute sleep consultation today and take the first step toward calmer bedtimes and more restful nights for your family.
