13 month old son getting stuck?

Question

My 13 month old son keeps getting stuck in his crib. He gets up after his nap and plays for a while in his crib before he cries. I don't know he's awake until he cries, but lately he's been getting his leg stuck on the side of the crib. I don't know how he does it but when I find him, his whole leg all the way up to his thigh is sticking out. It's a very painful process to get him out especailly since I have to figure out how he stuck his leg through in the first place. I don't want to twist it the wrong way or anything. Is there anything out there that can help with this problem? I know he's too young for a toddler bed, so I really don't know what to do.

Answer 1

That sounds like my child ... I eventually had to switch to a toddler bed when she was 14 months old with a safety side on the bed (I put long pillow on the floor in case she falls off but never did) and a gate to block her door (so she doesn't leave the bedroom) as well as a door safety stop so she wouldn't close the door ...

Try that for a couple of days ?? (don't toss out the crib yet)

Other choice is get a video monitor (that's about 200 bucks) so you can watch how he gets his leg stuck ?? Or try borrowing a friend's video monitor if you know anyone has it and try watching it while you do your chores so you can be aware what he's doing and how hes getting his leg stuck ...

Good Luck

Answer 2

My daughter went through that too, honestly he may not be too young for a toddler bed. It will be hard getting him to stay in it for a while, but that may be a good choice. If you can get some kind of board to put at the base of the crib, it will make it hard for his leg to get stuck. The best thing to do though, is just listen for him really closely,when you hear him moving around he is probably awake, that's when you go in and let him play with toys outside the crib and not in.

Answer 3

I wish I had a suggestion for your son's sake, except that until you do find a solution, please stop using the crib! Not sure why you would continue to use it after the first time it happened...there's got to be somewhere safer you can keep him until you figure this out. He could fall or twist himself while his leg is stuck, and break his hip...
If you bought the crib new, contact the manufacturer and tell them what's happening. They need to know to help prevent other children from the same potential injury. They may be willing to replace the crib, with one with smaller openings.
In the early 90's this was a big deal and many cribs were recalled and the openings were made smaller, to prevent head, arm and legs from getting through and stuck.

Answer 4

I assume you have taken his bumper pads off for safety reasons, which is definitely the right thing to do. He may be climbing on those, then falling down. I suggest buying a crib tent. There is a crib tent and crib tent 2 made by Tots in Mind. It is designed to keep infants/toddlers from climbing out of their cribs. I just bought one for my 15 month old because he was dangerously close to climbing out (bumper pads are off too, now). However, if you buy a crib tent (you want the 2 version, it completely covers the entire crib (top and sides) so there is no way he could get his legs stuck through it. I bought the original because I don't need the sides covered. However, I think this will solve your problem. Your little one may protest when you first put it on his crib. However, after a couple of attempts, he should adjust to it just fine. I put my son under his and let him play in it for awhile before zipping him in so he wouldn't be scared. If you are lucky, your little one will think it's a new wonderful toy and will find it exciting to play in his new tent. That's how I presented it to my son & he's fine with it now.

I bought mine from babycenter.com (they have a free shipping special on now, too). Just be sure that if you buy one, make sure it's the Crib Tent 2. The original version will not help you. Good luck!

Here's a link: http://store.babycenter.com/product/crib+tent+2.do?search=basic&keyword=crib+tent&sortby=shortdesc&asc=true&page=1

Answer 5

Duct Tape -
going sideways along the rails, starting below the mattress and going up as far as you're comfortable. Two of my children were always getting stuck like that. I watched one of them actually try to climb out of the crib - pretty scary, but thats how some of the problems start. Not exactly the "classiest" solution but its a good fix for a temporary problem. Yes, it is temporary but its still stressful to see your poor baby stuck and crying his eyes out...

Try different strips of different colors so it doesnt look "duct taped" There's clear stuff now so you can hardly tell the tape is there. If you dont want to have to clean the sticky stuff off the rails when you take the tape off you can wrap the rails with papertowels and stick the tape to that. It just takes a bit more tape to secure the whole set up - but it does work.

Answer 6

I don't think he is too young for a toddler bed. They are very low to the floor. The main problem you might have with a toddler bed is your child getting out of bed. If he does that then I would suggest making sure that his room is completely baby proof and using a baby gate in the doorway. That way he will have to stay in his room if he gets up during the night. Just make sure you still have a monitor so you can hear him if he calls you.

Answer 7

I have those crib gaurds on mine and they are tied really tight I don't have a problem with mine getting stuck. Mabey at nap time you could put him in a playpen when he is asleep put a few toys near him so when he wakes up he can play. If all else fails mabey you could put bells on his ankles so when he wakes up they will rattle so you can hear him. mabey sew some on a pair of his socks. Just be sure they are really secure so he can't pull them off and choke.

Answer 8

first i have a question... is there a bumper pad on the inside of the crib??? if so, then perhaps a baby monitor closer to the crib would help. if that doesnt work, you could try training him for a toddler bed, i had to train my oldest when she was about your sons age because i was expecting another baby soon. as long as you think that he can climb in and out of the bed safely, then i wouldnt worry about trying to train him to sleep in a toddler bed. getting a baby to stay in the toddler bed is trying, but not all together impossible, my youngest who is 19 months has been sleeping in one for the past month... the first night she got out of bed alot, i just put her back in bed tucked her in and told her to stay in bed... she was allowed to sit in bed, play with her blankets, as long as she STAYED IN BED. does you son soothe himself to sleep or does he still require rocking??? if he does require rocking, perhaps you should look into the ferber method... it teaches him to self soothe and go to sleep without any assistance. just a suggestion... hope everything works out for you.

Answer 9

Halo sleep sacks, or any other brand of sleepsacks. Some might even call them blanket sleepers. They aslo keep them from climbing out of the crib. Plus are safer than blankets.

Halo makes them in sizes that even fit our two year old.

Answer 10

Do you have a bumper pad all the way around the crib?