PSA: Transition Your Toddler from Their Crib Before They Take Matters into Their Own Hands

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Most mornings, I rely on my kids to wake me up. I usually hear them stirring and then head over to let them out of their rooms. One recent morning, I heard my daughter making noises, so I went to fetch her from her crib, only to discover she was already halfway out! One leg was dangling over the side, while she teetered on tiptoes, attempting to climb out of her crib. At that moment, I realized we needed to upgrade her brother’s bed this weekend so we could pass his toddler bed down to her. She was clearly ready for a change.

Reflecting on that, I should have recognized that she was no longer content in her crib. After her morning adventure, I put her down for a nap, hoping for a peaceful rest. Instead, an hour later, I was met with loud cries over the monitor. I rushed in to find her in a predicament—one leg again perched over the edge while the other was wedged between the crib slats. It appeared she lost her balance, and her chubby little knee was firmly stuck.

I quickly tried to free her leg, but the baby fat around her knee made it impossible. I bent and twisted, hoping to ease her leg out, but nothing worked. Panic surged as I called for my son to bring me my phone. He dashed in, more annoyed than concerned, saying he couldn’t think with all the noise. Classic 4-year-old empathy!

I explained to him that his sister needed help and asked him to fetch some items to keep her calm while I figured things out. He returned with one of his toy chairs, which I set up in the crib for her to sit on. She looked a bit more comfortable, but the crying continued. I tried to call my husband, but my call went straight to voicemail, adding to my stress.

In a moment of desperation, I remembered my in-laws lived nearby. I called my father-in-law in a voice that was probably too frantic for the actual situation, asking him to bring an Allen wrench to disassemble the crib. Meanwhile, I asked my son to search for distractions, like a cartoon or some snacks. He returned with pretzels and, amusingly, an entire jar of applesauce. I chuckled, thinking, at least he’s handling this better than I am!

When my in-laws arrived, we quickly discovered that the Allen wrench wouldn’t help. The crib was not designed for easy disassembly, and we’d need to cut her out. I dashed over to my neighbor’s house, hoping they had the right tools. I found my neighbor, who proudly showcased her DIY furniture projects and even offered to lend me her powered jigsaw. “Great! Let’s go!” I urged.

Back inside, I held my daughter’s hands for comfort while my son excitedly narrated his cartoon’s plot to my neighbor, completely oblivious to the chaos. As the saw roared to life, my daughter went silent, trembling in fear. Thankfully, we managed to cut one slat and free her leg. As I scooped her up, I could feel the blood rushing back into her limb.

We were fortunate with my son, who never attempted to climb out of his crib. We had moved him out before his sister’s arrival to prevent jealousy. Looking back, I realize we should have transitioned our daughter out of the crib well before this incident. We were lucky she wasn’t harmed.

From this experience, I’ve decided to create a proper emergency plan. I’ve saved the contact details of all my neighbors, and we’re considering installing a landline for critical situations. Plus, we’ve already set up a mattress on the floor where my daughter now sleeps comfortably.

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Summary:

Transitioning your toddler out of their crib can prevent dangerous situations, as demonstrated by one mother’s frantic experience when her daughter got stuck while trying to climb out. It’s crucial to recognize the signs that your child is ready for a new sleeping arrangement. Planning ahead and having an emergency strategy in place can help ease the stress of such incidents.