Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Two-Year-Old Who Climbs out of the Crib at Bedtime | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
It seems since my son turned two he doesn't want to go to bed at night--he used to be on a schedule and would go to bed around 8:30 every night with no problem, but now he climbs out of his crib. Do you have any suggestions? I do have bunk beds in the room (I have a six-year-old), should I take the crib out and just put him in the bottom bunk, and how do I get him back into a routine without him screaming to get out of his room? He now falls asleep anywhere from 10-11:00pm. Thanks!— Meredith in Cherry Hill, NJ USA | | | ANSWER |
May 9, 2001 | | | Dear Meredith,
As a practical matter, once a child regularly climbs out of his crib--even with the mattress all the way down on the lowest notch, and the rails all the way up--that's a good time to consider switching to a "big-kid" bed. Children can actually hurt themselves falling from atop the crib rail.
As far as helping your child accept a reasonable bedtime: there are many good suggestions in the Sleep: Specific Problems section of our site. The key things are to have a calming routine and to insist that a child is in bed, and quiet, at the decided hour. Many children will test this rule, of course, but when parents are consistent and persistent, the children eventually catch on. Yes, this is often easier said than done! I hope the suggestions in the articles I've mentioned will give you the support you need to approach this developmental task with confidence.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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