Climbs out of the playpen

I have a new child that started today. He's a little over a year and a half. He had a great morning. No crying for mom at all! Waived goodbye.

Has played well, not agressive at all. He's a climber in the yard so I have to watch he doesn't get into a situation he can't get out of, but generally he's done really well.

We had a few issues where he didn't get what he wanted and he went straight into a full body floor tantrum.. But I ignored it and he stopped quickly and didn't attempt the same thing again.

Now nap time. Oh my! He's so little i thought i'll just let him cry it out in the play pen. Nope, he was up and climbed out of the playpen as I was closing the door. OMG! I've never seen anything like it. So, change of plans. I bring the playpen down to the playroom, shut all the blinds and start the battle.

It took me 15 minutes to keep hiim from climbing out. But now, I'm so nervous to leave the area in case he does a sneak attack on me.

Anyone else have a climber? How do you deal iwth it?

I have never encountered a climber like yours yet, but if I did, I would try spraying down the four sides of the playpen with PAM cooking spray tonight....I know I know, sounds silly, but I've heard football players used to spray it on their jerseys so their opponents couldn't grip onto them. I would assume it would make it difficult for him to climb out.. sounds totally bizarre i know, but it was honestly the first thing that popped into my head.

A friend some time ago told me she was using a security "tent" in top of the crib for her son (not sure if that would work with the play pen). She got it from a safety store. I think I have seen it before in one of those stores.

I had one climber and I took the hint. Too big for a playpen. It's very dangerous, too. He needs a mat and some training to stay on it. It could be long and painful for you, but I'm sure with time, consistency and lots of sterness, he'll figure it out.

Good luck!

Put him in a sleep sac. That's what I did with two of my climbers when they escaped out of their playpens. That way they can't swing their leg high enough over to climb out........problem solved :-) At least it worked for me!!!! And if they eventually figure out how to unzip the sleep sac then just put it on backwards :-)

what does he sleep in at home? I would just try to transition him to a mat. Too dangerous having him climbing out of a playpen, and I wouldn't want other dck to witness it either and get any ideas lol

I second putting him on a cot/mat. You don't want him breaking his arm crawling out. My 3 y o dcb was too big for a PNP but would not stay in his cot when he first started. It took some training but he got it quickly. The thing that worked the best was I had him stay in the cot after nap time and let the others play. He caught on quickly that he was getting additional time for not staying when he was supposed to.

I also would recommend a video baby monitor. I have been looking at getting one and I think this will make you feel safer leaving him alone.

I would also recommend a video monitor. I have 4 throughout my daycare and it has helped tremendously at naptime!

Yes, I think the mat is ideal, I'm just not set up to have kids on sleep mats right now. UGH! If only I knew a week ago. I have a video monitor. It's awesome! I totally recomment it!

He's super tiny though. He looks like he's 11 months old. It's so bizaare! I can't believe he can climb out of the play pen like that!


At home he's in a crib. They said he sleeps fine. He came from a centre daycare and slept fine there apparently too... in a PNP. But, who knows. I've heard negative things about this specific centre.

thanks for the advise. I will see how the rest of the week plays out.

I have had climbers right in the room with me during naptime and I played on my computer in semi darkness telling them to lay down every time they tried to get up. Once they learned to sleep without standing I gradually moved the playpen further from me till they were ok in the nap room with the older kids that were on mats so he was on the same level as me.

The tiny ones are often better climbers...they are light so it is easier for them to pull their weight up ;) I agree with the others who have said either put him in a playpen in the room with you or on a mat/cot in the room with you until he learns to stay put. Also, some playpens are bigger with higher sides than others...I just bought one that is smaller and had to give it to the youngest/least likely to learn to climb out. Is it possible that the playpen he is in is a bit smaller? Maybe you could swap it for a larger one?

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Originally Posted by apples and bananas

Yes, I think the mat is ideal, I'm just not set up to have kids on sleep mats right now. UGH! If only I knew a week ago. I have a video monitor. It's awesome! I totally recomment it!

He's super tiny though. He looks like he's 11 months old. It's so bizaare! I can't believe he can climb out of the play pen like that!


At home he's in a crib. They said he sleeps fine. He came from a centre daycare and slept fine there apparently too... in a PNP. But, who knows. I've heard negative things about this specific centre.

thanks for the advise. I will see how the rest of the week plays out.

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I'm going to measure my play pens tonight and maybe do some switching around. So true about the lighter ones being able to move easier. WOW!

And to top it all off he has been sleeping for over 2 1/2 hours. So, great sleeper! At least we have that going for us.

Last jan I had a 21 month old start and he too could get out of the play pen. My dcks sleep in my bedrooms so I left the door open a crack so I could see him and as soon as he swung over I open the door quickly to startle him and with my mean face I said "no climbing out"! And then I put him back in .... Rinse and repeat .... After two weeks he never climbed out again !!!