No matter how much of an eye sore it is, we are all a lot happier with the crib tent in place. Greta, although as tall or taller than most 3 year olds, is just 20 months old and a climber. Her climbing became an issue when she would climb out of her crib every time we put her in it to take a nap or go to bed. There were days last week when I had to wrestle with her for hours, putting her back in her crib over and over and trying to help her relax and take a nap with no success. She was a different child--cranky, always crying, wouldn't eat anything and, frankly, I was pretty emotional myself at the end of the week. Exhausted, Chris and I tried taking out the spring platform in her crib and putting her mattress on the floor. She climbed out. We tried taking out the mattress completely and just creating a little bed out of blankets on the floor and she got out. We tried having her sleep on just the mattress outside of her crib and locking her door and she still couldn't relax and sleep. She just wasn't mature enough for a toddler bed quite yet. Then a friend told me about a crib tent, to which I replied, "Are those things even legal?"
Well, they are. And after a few days of exhausting more options and feeling more tired and frustrated than ever, we checked the online classifieds and someone was selling a "like-new" crib tent for half of what they retail for (they retail for $60-$80) and we went and picked up the tent ten minutes later. It has been a dream and a life-saver. A sanity saver. Greta is back to taking her normal nap and sleeping so well at night.
For naps and bedtime, we just lay her down and zip up the tent, and she can't climb out which gives us great peace of mind and eliminates her anxiety about always having to climb out of her crib. The fears about her really hurting herself or escaping while we are asleep are completely gone and we are all resting well again. Greta has adapted really well, too. She doesn't really have the room to jump like she used to (her most favorite thing in the world), but when I unzip it, she goes wild for a few minutes:
As for climbing over other things, we haven't found a way to prevent that. But seriously, the girl has no respect for gates any longer. She just climbs over them, or like in the picture below, pushes them down. Le sigh:
So what about you? Do you have things in your home that aren't so pretty but work so well, you don't care? What's your take on crib tents? Do you have a super tall toddler that has zero boundaries?
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hi! i found your blog through the pinterest challenge (I posted one too @ 1088churchill.blogspot.com) we have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. We graduated both kids from their crib at 2 years. We have a sturdy babygate on their door (which makes the whole room feel like a giant crib) and it works wonders til they are a bit older and understand boundaries.
??? You're nuts. Haha.
"If so..Call the Maury Show. 1 800 72 MAURY. That's 1 800 72 MAURY."
My 19 month old is just average for height and he thankfully hasn't tried climbing out yet but I had wondered about the crib tents as an option in case he ever did. Thanks for letting us know that it worked for you! He LOVES jumping in his crib too :)
What a cool tent! Much better than putting a strap on your childs leg so they won't get out...(my parents are ridiculous! How did we survive!?).
Greta and her jumping! Brinley has just really started to jump in her crib when I get her after naps and in the AM. She LOVES to jump.
I appreciate my average height genes now after all that Greta can do to barricades!!! That girl.... :-) Love her to pieces!
HAHAHAHAahahaha!!! It really does!
Before I was a parent, I would have said no to a crib tent. Now after 2 children, I say you need to do what gives you sanity. More sleep makes us all better people and boundaries keeps your little one safe.
Read the last sentence in your blog, then read my comment, it just goes together
I'm glad I could open that option up for you! We were clueless about crib tents, as in never heard of them, and now, we are fans through and through. Added perk: Her pacifiers can't escape either. Win win!