Crib on a Hard Wood Floor
July 6, 2010 6:27 AM Subscribe
My son is getting to the escape-from-crib age, and his crib is on a hardwood floor. This worries me.
Almost all the floors in my house are hardwood, including all the bedrooms. My 13-month-old is turning into a real climber, and I'm concerned about him climbing out of the crib and falling on the hardwood and cracking his head open like an egg. There is nowhere the crib can go that isn't hardwood.
If you had a crib on a hard floor, and the baby climbed/fell out, how bad was it? How serious an injury are we talking about? (The baby books mostly act like having the crib on a hard floor is the end of the world as we know it.)
What are good options for providing padding/carpet under the crib? Can I just go get an area rug at Target, or do I need to add underpadding? How far outside the crib should the padding extend? The crib is on wheels, which makes me think some kinds of padding wouldn't work as well.
Just trying to get a sense of how worried I should be about the hard floor, and what my options are ... I've never dealt with any kind of carpet/rug type of issue before! There is no room we can move the crib to that isn't hard-floored, and carpeting the bedroom isn't an option. I don't think putting the mattress on the floor is an option quite yet -- he likes his crib, and refuses to nap or sleep if he can crawl around and explore, and there are a few childproofing issues -- but if there are no better options we will certainly find a way to make that work. But I feel like there must be an area rug option!
Also, hardwood has stopped looking like a word now.
Almost all the floors in my house are hardwood, including all the bedrooms. My 13-month-old is turning into a real climber, and I'm concerned about him climbing out of the crib and falling on the hardwood and cracking his head open like an egg. There is nowhere the crib can go that isn't hardwood.
If you had a crib on a hard floor, and the baby climbed/fell out, how bad was it? How serious an injury are we talking about? (The baby books mostly act like having the crib on a hard floor is the end of the world as we know it.)
What are good options for providing padding/carpet under the crib? Can I just go get an area rug at Target, or do I need to add underpadding? How far outside the crib should the padding extend? The crib is on wheels, which makes me think some kinds of padding wouldn't work as well.
Just trying to get a sense of how worried I should be about the hard floor, and what my options are ... I've never dealt with any kind of carpet/rug type of issue before! There is no room we can move the crib to that isn't hard-floored, and carpeting the bedroom isn't an option. I don't think putting the mattress on the floor is an option quite yet -- he likes his crib, and refuses to nap or sleep if he can crawl around and explore, and there are a few childproofing issues -- but if there are no better options we will certainly find a way to make that work. But I feel like there must be an area rug option!
Also, hardwood has stopped looking like a word now.
Absolutely go with a plush area rug under the crib that extends around the crib's perimeters(landing zone for baby). This will provide enough cushion to protect your baby from everything from bruises to a more serious injury. Target, Wal Mart, and Ikea all have great options.
If he does happen to fall on the hardwood floor anyway: Though severity would depend on how far he dropped and how he lands(landing on the face or head could be bad), my doctor informed me that young toddlers are naturally well insulated from falls and tumbles, as in they usually will try to land on their bottom. He explained that babies have plenty of fat to protect their organs and bones from light trauma(a fall out the crib).
So it's safe to say that even without an area rug he would be fine, maybe just a bruise(but who wants that anyway?) With an area rug thats soft and plush would reduce chance of any injury down to perhaps 15%. Add some pillows to the rug while he's in there and you cut it to 5%. Good Luck!
posted by xbeautychicx at 6:46 AM on July 6, 2010
If he does happen to fall on the hardwood floor anyway: Though severity would depend on how far he dropped and how he lands(landing on the face or head could be bad), my doctor informed me that young toddlers are naturally well insulated from falls and tumbles, as in they usually will try to land on their bottom. He explained that babies have plenty of fat to protect their organs and bones from light trauma(a fall out the crib).
So it's safe to say that even without an area rug he would be fine, maybe just a bruise(but who wants that anyway?) With an area rug thats soft and plush would reduce chance of any injury down to perhaps 15%. Add some pillows to the rug while he's in there and you cut it to 5%. Good Luck!
posted by xbeautychicx at 6:46 AM on July 6, 2010
My daughter fell (jumped?) out of her crib before she was one. We're not sure what body part she landed on, but she was and is fine, 14 years later.
Padding suggestions for the area around the crib:
- a plush mattress pad
- rubberized tiles or an exercise mat (random link for illustration purposes)
- carpet remnants
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:09 AM on July 6, 2010
Padding suggestions for the area around the crib:
- a plush mattress pad
- rubberized tiles or an exercise mat (random link for illustration purposes)
- carpet remnants
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:09 AM on July 6, 2010
I also have a 13 month old and am waiting for the day that this becomes an issue. Kid can't walk, but clearly wants to climb!! I read this recently and found it helpful and comforting.
posted by dpx.mfx at 7:11 AM on July 6, 2010
posted by dpx.mfx at 7:11 AM on July 6, 2010
Just in case you haven't already thought of this: Remove from the crib anything he might stand on, like larger stuffed animals or toys, and make sure there isn't anything close to the crib that he can pull into the crib to stand on. Also make sure there isn't anything outside of the crib that is close enough to reach and grab onto for leverage, like the handle of a drawer.
Good luck! The climbing monkey stage is always fun. :-)
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:15 AM on July 6, 2010
Good luck! The climbing monkey stage is always fun. :-)
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:15 AM on July 6, 2010
Get a crib tent. It is a mesh dome that attaches to the top of the crib. He'll be able to stand but not able to climb out. One side unzips so you can easily get him in and out.
Additionally, I would get an area rug with a pad below it to soften his fall if he does manage to escape. The wheels on your crib shouldn't be a problem any more than they would be on regular carpet.
posted by onhazier at 7:15 AM on July 6, 2010 [4 favorites]
Additionally, I would get an area rug with a pad below it to soften his fall if he does manage to escape. The wheels on your crib shouldn't be a problem any more than they would be on regular carpet.
posted by onhazier at 7:15 AM on July 6, 2010 [4 favorites]
I'm wondering if maybe you need a different crib? Go Banana Jr. is a very active 15 months old and it seems unlikely she'd be able to climb out of her crib (she's certainly never come close to my knowledge). When she's standing up the railing is at eye level and there's nowhere to get a foothold to climb out. She's also hampered in any climbing efforts by her sleep sack (which she sleeps in every night).
Just a thought--there's probably no point in switching to a new crib at this point but I thought it was something worth thinking about.
posted by Go Banana at 7:16 AM on July 6, 2010
Just a thought--there's probably no point in switching to a new crib at this point but I thought it was something worth thinking about.
posted by Go Banana at 7:16 AM on July 6, 2010
My daughter fell out at 19 months, landed on carpet and broke her arm. For my son, I got a tot tent off of amazon. They also have them at right start, online. It is a tent, made of a wide mesh that attaches inside the crib, under the mattress and has a high, domed ceiling that you zip closed when he's inside. Hard to explain but it is very secure once it's installed. I love it! Such peace of mind and he has always liked being "cosy". Good luck!
posted by pearlybob at 7:16 AM on July 6, 2010
posted by pearlybob at 7:16 AM on July 6, 2010
I came to say crib tent, too. A girl I used to babysit for had one. It was pretty weird looking, but did the job. (I swear that kid was half monkey or something. I'd go in to check on her (she'd take forever to go to sleep) and she would literally be swinging from the rafters.
posted by phunniemee at 7:31 AM on July 6, 2010
posted by phunniemee at 7:31 AM on July 6, 2010
My first two did not climb out of their cribs. Granted, my oldest was put in a twin bed at 19 months, but she was ready. My third, a boy, taught us the new trick of climbing out of his crib. One day, we heard a loud thud from upstairs. We went up to check more out of curiosity than worry and low and behold there was Trey lying on the floor alternately laughing and crying. It hurt to fall, but he had found out he was free!! He was more than willing to take the pain for the gain. We tried to convince him this was not good. It did not work. We learned the hard way when he got out, crawled to his changing table, took the diaper creme and proceeded to shmeer it all over the himself and the walls. His brother and roommate just watched the whole thing from his bed.
I think you have to accept the fact that he is going to climb out. I think caging them in with a net is well caging them in. We put down an egg crate foam pad around the crib and tried to put limits on the climbing. By explaining he could not climb out when it was dark and a few other restrictions, he understood that he could climb out at certain times. He got good at it. He also stopped once the novelty wore off. Within a month or two we simply put him in a bed with rails and told him that in a bed, you cannot climb out. That worked for a few months.
One thing we considered was putting the crib mattress on the floor with some of those play area type fences around it to give him a feeling of comfort and to keep him in an area. If he climbed out, he would not have far to fall. I forget why we rejected the idea as it sounds good to me now 12 years later.
To me the initial risk is the greatest. THe first time or two he does it, how will he land? He may hit his head, he may break a bone in arm (previous poster) or he may land on his butt and laugh it off.
tl;dr. I would put the egg crate foam pads down around his crib and some pillows on top of that. If he is consistently climbing out, put him in a bed.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:37 AM on July 6, 2010
I think you have to accept the fact that he is going to climb out. I think caging them in with a net is well caging them in. We put down an egg crate foam pad around the crib and tried to put limits on the climbing. By explaining he could not climb out when it was dark and a few other restrictions, he understood that he could climb out at certain times. He got good at it. He also stopped once the novelty wore off. Within a month or two we simply put him in a bed with rails and told him that in a bed, you cannot climb out. That worked for a few months.
One thing we considered was putting the crib mattress on the floor with some of those play area type fences around it to give him a feeling of comfort and to keep him in an area. If he climbed out, he would not have far to fall. I forget why we rejected the idea as it sounds good to me now 12 years later.
To me the initial risk is the greatest. THe first time or two he does it, how will he land? He may hit his head, he may break a bone in arm (previous poster) or he may land on his butt and laugh it off.
tl;dr. I would put the egg crate foam pads down around his crib and some pillows on top of that. If he is consistently climbing out, put him in a bed.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:37 AM on July 6, 2010
Do cribs not have drop sides anymore? When my son was at this stage - this is the child I found on top of the refrigerator one morning at age 13 months - I finally stopped trying to keep him in and decided to just make it easier for him to get out. I dropped one side of the crib to as low as it would go and lined the whole hardwood floor with carpet remnants. He clambered in and out happily for several months (muttering Out Out me get out) but it was nerve wracking, so I gave up altogether and moved him into a toddler bed.
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:39 AM on July 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:39 AM on July 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
Just here to add another recommendation for a crib tent.
We've always used the tent/mosquito net thing that came with my son's crib to keep the mosquitoes off him at night. Although we had to stop using his play pen at around 12 months as he climbed out of it and took a header onto the hard tile floor, at 2 and a half he's still happily and safely sleeping in his crib, with the tent over the top.
posted by toodles at 7:43 AM on July 6, 2010
We've always used the tent/mosquito net thing that came with my son's crib to keep the mosquitoes off him at night. Although we had to stop using his play pen at around 12 months as he climbed out of it and took a header onto the hard tile floor, at 2 and a half he's still happily and safely sleeping in his crib, with the tent over the top.
posted by toodles at 7:43 AM on July 6, 2010
Honestly, as much trouble as it is to put padding around the crib, how would it be more trouble to just childproof the room and put a mattress on the floor?
If you're worried about night wandering, you might consider a large mattress that will also accomodate one of you until the baby's safely asleep.
posted by emjaybee at 7:47 AM on July 6, 2010
If you're worried about night wandering, you might consider a large mattress that will also accomodate one of you until the baby's safely asleep.
posted by emjaybee at 7:47 AM on July 6, 2010
Response by poster: Responding to some of the questions:
Crib is free of climbables ... the child can seriously just about do a pull up and sometimes attempts to shimmy up the bars. There's also nothing near the crib he can climb on to.
He won't go to sleep if anyone is in the room with him.
I resist the mattress on the floor since at present he will not sleep ANYWHERE but in the crib. I have a feeling we'd spend an entire month with everyone wanting to kill each other for lack of sleep while we convinced him to sleep on the not-crib. (The childproofing issue is a bit complicated, but basically our house is older so has some oddities that are tricky to fix or block. It's not so interesting I'll regale you with the specifics. It can happen if it has to, but padding is much easier.) I don't think it's the right time for the transition and while I'll do it if I have to, I'd rather wait until it seems like the right time.
I'm not positive he'll climb out -- he likes his crib -- but as he gets more active and climby it's worrying me and I'd rather be proactive. I think I'll take a recon trip today and look at area rugs, those rubber tiles, and crib tents. I'm leaning a bit towards the rubber tiles because I could reuse them as a playroom mat and they're so cheerful-looking! But I'll take a look, thanks for the ideas so far!
(And oh, God, if I ever find him on top of the fridge, I think I'll just keel over and die then and there!)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:09 AM on July 6, 2010
Crib is free of climbables ... the child can seriously just about do a pull up and sometimes attempts to shimmy up the bars. There's also nothing near the crib he can climb on to.
He won't go to sleep if anyone is in the room with him.
I resist the mattress on the floor since at present he will not sleep ANYWHERE but in the crib. I have a feeling we'd spend an entire month with everyone wanting to kill each other for lack of sleep while we convinced him to sleep on the not-crib. (The childproofing issue is a bit complicated, but basically our house is older so has some oddities that are tricky to fix or block. It's not so interesting I'll regale you with the specifics. It can happen if it has to, but padding is much easier.) I don't think it's the right time for the transition and while I'll do it if I have to, I'd rather wait until it seems like the right time.
I'm not positive he'll climb out -- he likes his crib -- but as he gets more active and climby it's worrying me and I'd rather be proactive. I think I'll take a recon trip today and look at area rugs, those rubber tiles, and crib tents. I'm leaning a bit towards the rubber tiles because I could reuse them as a playroom mat and they're so cheerful-looking! But I'll take a look, thanks for the ideas so far!
(And oh, God, if I ever find him on top of the fridge, I think I'll just keel over and die then and there!)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:09 AM on July 6, 2010
We always surrounded my little brother's crib with inflatable air mattresses. We already had a bunch for camping trips and the like, so we didn't have to spend any money. Plus, the air mattresses were really cushiony, so little brother never actually hurt himself, no matter how many times he hurled himself forth from the crib.
posted by kataclysm at 8:26 AM on July 6, 2010
posted by kataclysm at 8:26 AM on July 6, 2010
Nthing crib tent - it could save your kid from a broken limb or hard head bonk.
posted by thatone at 8:36 AM on July 6, 2010
posted by thatone at 8:36 AM on July 6, 2010
Here's how Youngest Shoes does it. He pulls himself up to his armpits and then swings his right leg up and uses his little toes to walk his foot across the bar until he can hook his ankle and use that to leverage himself and pull his other leg up. Then he twists on his chest and drops down feet first. He usually lands on his butt.
From watching kids I babysat and something on Funniest Home Videos I think that's how most kids make the escape. I don't think they go head first. I'm just telling you this to help ease your anxiety about him breaking his head open. I totally agree that you should add a fluffy carpet with a pad under his crib. Another option might be putting him in a Pack&Play type playpen to sleep. He'll still climb out, but he'll be much closer to the ground so injuries will be kept to a minimum.
Here's the system My husband and I used: First we would burrito Youngest Shoes really tightly, almost like a baby straight jacket, and hold him on the couch while we watched TV until he was drowsy. Then we'd put him in his bed. These would keep him in his bed at night. We also put a childproof doorknob cover on the inside of his bedroom, so that in the mornings he couldn't get out of his bedroom. His room is totally childproofed, so he can play happily for a few minutes if he wakes up before I do. Usually he will bang on the door and call for me.
When he turned two we moved him to a bed, but we still did the burrito until he's drowsy thing. When the weather was warmer we stripped him down to his diaper and shorts and wrapped him in a sheet instead of a blanket. Now we just tuck him in. Sometimes we have to go in two or three times and tuck him back in, but he's slowly getting the message.
posted by TooFewShoes at 9:38 AM on July 6, 2010
From watching kids I babysat and something on Funniest Home Videos I think that's how most kids make the escape. I don't think they go head first. I'm just telling you this to help ease your anxiety about him breaking his head open. I totally agree that you should add a fluffy carpet with a pad under his crib. Another option might be putting him in a Pack&Play type playpen to sleep. He'll still climb out, but he'll be much closer to the ground so injuries will be kept to a minimum.
Here's the system My husband and I used: First we would burrito Youngest Shoes really tightly, almost like a baby straight jacket, and hold him on the couch while we watched TV until he was drowsy. Then we'd put him in his bed. These would keep him in his bed at night. We also put a childproof doorknob cover on the inside of his bedroom, so that in the mornings he couldn't get out of his bedroom. His room is totally childproofed, so he can play happily for a few minutes if he wakes up before I do. Usually he will bang on the door and call for me.
When he turned two we moved him to a bed, but we still did the burrito until he's drowsy thing. When the weather was warmer we stripped him down to his diaper and shorts and wrapped him in a sheet instead of a blanket. Now we just tuck him in. Sometimes we have to go in two or three times and tuck him back in, but he's slowly getting the message.
posted by TooFewShoes at 9:38 AM on July 6, 2010
My daughter broke her leg climbing out of her crib. She had probably climbed out once before but we weren't sure. She landed on a carpeted wooden floor - not what I'd call "hard" at all. She was at home for weeks and then spent more weeks dragging herself around daycare in her cast while her friends played outside. Oh yes - and she got a serious pressure sore on her heel from the jerk who misapplied the cast. I strongly urge you not to mess around with this. If she's climbing out you need to adjust the crib so she doesn't need to go over the side, or put her in a low bed with a guard rail.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:39 AM on July 6, 2010
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:39 AM on July 6, 2010
Piggy back: you people that say the kids' room is "totally kidproofed" - what do you do about outlets? Because our daughter gets the outlet covers we have out of the outlets, no problem. I'm also pretty sure she would pull out the drawers on the dresser and try to climb up on IT. So I'm curious what you mean.
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:35 AM on July 6, 2010
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:35 AM on July 6, 2010
Response by poster: dpx.mfx, you can get outlet covers that screw on over the outlets if they're ones you don't use. For ones you do use, I've seen outlet covers that flip open but require a screwdriver or something to flip open ... which still isn't totally secure, but may be better.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:38 AM on July 6, 2010
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:38 AM on July 6, 2010
One of mine leaned too far over the rail, and flipped head over heels. Heels over head. Whatever. Landed flat on his back. Scared himself (and me) more than anything.
Since he is one of three, we immediately got crib tents, so now they cannot get out. I plan to keep them in their cribs for at least another year.
posted by pyjammy at 11:49 AM on July 6, 2010
Since he is one of three, we immediately got crib tents, so now they cannot get out. I plan to keep them in their cribs for at least another year.
posted by pyjammy at 11:49 AM on July 6, 2010
Crib tents are great, but when our monkey started climbing out we put her in a trundle bed -- it became her "big girl" bed. That may be your next step. Or, put your Toodles in a pack-n-play -- the baby may still climb out, but not from a height, and still feel somewhat enclosed for sleeping purposes.
posted by mdiskin at 1:57 PM on July 6, 2010
posted by mdiskin at 1:57 PM on July 6, 2010
We have 4 kids, including 6 year old Triplets.
You can make yourself crazy trying to outsmart a kid. They will still find a way to surprise you and do the unexpected.
Make the changes so your kid can live safely in your world, doing the crazy, unexpected stuff kids do. You can't keep him in this crib forever. Make it safe for him to climb out, and make the house/room safe for him to explore. It's going to happen.
I haven't had coffee tables in over 5 years. This is their house, they just let me live here.
posted by Mrs_Eep at 5:16 PM on July 7, 2010
You can make yourself crazy trying to outsmart a kid. They will still find a way to surprise you and do the unexpected.
Make the changes so your kid can live safely in your world, doing the crazy, unexpected stuff kids do. You can't keep him in this crib forever. Make it safe for him to climb out, and make the house/room safe for him to explore. It's going to happen.
I haven't had coffee tables in over 5 years. This is their house, they just let me live here.
posted by Mrs_Eep at 5:16 PM on July 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 6:45 AM on July 6, 2010