How to Stop a Child Climbing Out of the Crib

Dress your baby in a sleep sack. A sleep sack is like a nightgown that zips up at the bottom, creating a bag around your baby's feet. Sleep sacks can limit the movement of younger babies, making it hard for them to pull up or climb out of the crib. Sleep sacks are not effective for older toddlers, who may be able to take them off or move around while wearing them.

Lower the mattress. Move the springs and the mattress to the lowest possible setting on the crib, effectively making the crib rail higher and harder to climb over.

Remove toys and other items in the crib that may provide leverage. Crib bumpers, blankets, stuffed toys and even bottles can give your child a few more inches at the rail, which can be enough to get over the side.

Move furniture away from the crib. Dressers, bookshelves and changing tables can all give your child a foothold to climb if they are close enough to the crib. Your child can also use nearby furniture to climb down from the crib once he is over the rail.

Try to catch your child in the act. If you know that your child usually wakes up around a certain time, or if you hear him stirring in his room, walk in to see if you can catch him trying to climb out of the crib. If you do, tell him firmly that he is not allowed to climb out of the crib and that it is very dangerous. On mornings that your child did not climb out of the crib during the night, give him plenty of praise and consider giving him a reward.

Move your child to a toddler bed. Once your child is able to climb out of the crib, Parents.com says that he is probably ready for a toddler bed. You can transition to a toddler bed, a day bed or a simple mattress on the floor.