Help—My Toddler Is Climbing Out of the Crib!

One minute your toddler is snoozing sweetly in their crib. The next, they’re scaling the rails like a mini Houdini. This escape act can feel terrifying for parents—but, as many of us know, it’s all too common. Whether they’re masterfully avoiding sleep or just testing boundaries, chances are that if your toddler sleeps in a crib, they’ve tried to get out of it.

“The look on my almost-2-year-old’s face when he figured out the crib climb—pure satisfaction,” recalls Lauren Barth, associate content director at The Bump and mom of three. “He was positively smug.”

Experts say this behavior is completely normal. “Climbing out is usually a combination of physical development and developmental drive,” says Jessica Madden, MD, a pediatrician, neonatologist and the medical director at Aeroflow Breastpumps. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set boundaries to keep your little one safe. Ahead, learn what to do when your toddler starts climbing out of their crib, how to keep them safe—and when it’s time to move on to a toddler bed.

Key Takeaways

• It’s normal for toddlers to try to climb out of their crib, and they often do so because they’re seeking exploration and independence.
• Since toddlers can hurt themselves while climbing out of the crib, it’s important to take safety measures like lowering the mattress, keeping the crib clear and baby proofing the room.
• You can help your toddler stay in their crib by being consistent and turning it into a game, like making a “crib” for their favorite stuffed animal.
• If your toddler’s climbing out of the crib, it might be a sign that they’re ready to transition to a toddler bed, particularly if they’ve reached other developmental milestones like potty training.

At What Age Do Toddlers Start Climbing Out of the Crib?

Toddlers typically start trying to climb out of the crib when they’re about 18 months to 2 years old, experts say. “Some adventurous little ones try even earlier, especially if they’re tall or physically confident. It’s one of the first signs of growing independence and curiosity!” says Madden.

Some toddlers don’t try to break out of their cribs at all. My daughter never had the desire to climb out of her crib. My best mom friend, on the other hand, would find her 2-year-old son by her bedside every morning because he’d decided he was done with his crib—every toddler’s different!

Why Is Your Toddler Climbing Out of the Crib?

The biggest reason? They’re craving exploration and independence. “Toddlers are natural explorers, and once they realize they can get out, they often want to,” says Madden. “Whether it’s to find a parent, grab a toy or just roam, it’s part of their quest for autonomy.” Reasons like teething and sleep regressions are also not out of the question.

Risks of Toddler Climbing Out of the Crib

Just because it’s developmentally normal and common doesn’t mean that climbing out of the crib doesn’t come with some serious risks. Your toddler could get hurt from falling out of the crib or get stuck in the process, says Diana Zales, a certified pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Zzzs by Zales. “Also, if the child does successfully climb out of their crib, if the room isn’t properly baby proofed, they can get into unsafe situations, like access to cords, wires and curtain pulls,” she adds.

Toddler Sleep Safety Tips

Even if your toddler isn’t climbing out of their crib—perhaps yet—it’s important to make sure their sleep space is safe. Zales suggests the following toddler sleep safety tips for best practice:

• Lower the crib mattress. To avoid injuries, set your toddler’s crib mattress height to its lowest setting. The lower the crib mattress, the harder it is to get out of the crib, points out Zales. Personally, I lowered my daughter’s crib mattress to its lowest rung as soon as she could pull up to stand, just to be on the safe side.
• Keep the crib clear. “Cribs should be boring! No mobiles, thick pillows, bumpers or mesh paneling that a child could use to push themselves over the railing easier,” says Zales. “Crib tents” also aren’t safe. Just like newborns and infants, toddlers also need a clear sleeping space. Toddlers can sleep with a blanket at around 12 months if they’ve met all of their developmental milestones, “but especially if a toddler’s starting to explore climbing out, I’d ditch anything else,” adds Zales.
• Baby proof the room. Anchor furniture to walls, cover any outlets, tie up cords and move them out of reach. Zales says she’d take it a step further and add a baby gate to their door in case they get out of the crib and try to leave the room. Also keep any creams or medicines stored away where a curious toddler can’t get to them.

What to Do When Your Toddler Climbs Out of the Crib

Madden says if your toddler’s climbing out of the crib, it’s time to reevaluate safety. Your first step is to lower the crib mattress height to its lowest setting. Then, remove any climbable objects in the crib like toys or pillows. Also, make sure the crib isn’t near any windows, shelves or anything with cords or wires. Lastly, baby proof the entire room in case they do get out again.

How to encourage your toddler to stay in their crib

Zales suggests sitting down and talking to your toddler about staying in their crib. The key here is to use language that makes your child know they’re safe in their crib and that they need to stay there until someone gets them in the morning. Repeat this to them consistently.

“Parents may feel like a broken record, but toddlers hear and they really do get it as long as the parents are setting this boundary, and then positively reinforcing it in the a.m. when the toddler does stay in the crib overnight,” says Zales. Make sure to “celebrate” it in the morning when they’ve stayed put overnight.

Another great hack for guiding toddlers to stay in their cribs is to tap into their natural drive to learn and play. “Have the toddler tuck their favorite stuffed animal into a makeshift crib,” recommends Zales. She suggests using a makeshift shoebox and placing it next to their crib like a bed. Your toddler can role play by tucking the stuffed animal in, walking out of the room, walking back in the next “morning” (which is actually only a few minutes later) and celebrating the stuffed animal for staying in the crib “all night.”

When to transition to a toddler bed

When your toddler can climb out of their crib no matter what you do, it’s probably time to transition them to a toddler bed or floor bed to promote their blossoming independence. “I usually see this transition anywhere from 2-and-a-half to 4 years, so it’s a big range, but your child’s safety comes first,” says Zales. “Also, fun fact—when transitioning to a toddler bed, try not to mention that they can get out of it. If they don’t know it’s a possibility, they usually don’t even try in the beginning!”

To Sum It Up

It’s normal for toddlers to try to start climbing out of their cribs as they become more active and curious about the world—but whether and how they do it varies based on their personality and physical development. And while this milestone is a sign of independence, it also comes with real safety risks. Make sure to lower the crib mattress, keep the crib free of things your toddler could climb on and baby proof the room. Once your toddler’s ready, consider transitioning to a toddler bed. Toddlers can definitely keep you on your toes—so it’s important to stay flexible and change their setup if needed.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.