Crib tents have a controversial reputation. But are they right for you?
It’s a bit ironic. I’ve been parenting toddlers for about 15 years and I never remember having the issue of a baby climbing out of the crib before they were ready for a bed. Yes, I remember bedtime being harder once they transitioned to a bed. But I don’t ever remember putting a child to sleep, and being greeted downstairs moments later with a “Hi, Mommy!”
Oh, yes. Toddlers who climb out of cribs are very proud of themselves and their feat.
I don’t remember ever having to ask, “Should I use a baby tent?” But there’s always a first! Barely after her 2-year-old birthday, my baby decided that she does not want to sleep in a crib.
Rather than giving her a bottle, putting her in the crib, tucking her in, saying Shema, then saying goodnight, bedtime suddenly became an hours-long ordeal. If I’d put her in and leave the room, I’d see her next to me minutes later. Repeat, repeat, and repeat. If I’d stay in her room, singing or playing music or just being there, waiting for her to fall asleep, an hour later, she still would not be asleep.
And you know what? When I had to spend so much time getting the baby to bed, the younger children didn’t get to bed either. It wasn’t just about me and my nights and my time. A baby needs to get to sleep for her own health!
When I mentioned to a neighbor at the bus stop when I had ordered a tent, and that I’m a little apprehensive because people consider a tent like “putting a baby in jail,” she told me, “Most of my babies slept in a tent. They were active boys who’d climb on the rungs of the crib from early on. But you know what? They loved sleeping in their tents. It felt cozy and safe.”
The truth is, when the tent arrived, it reminded me just of the tents or “cozy houses” my children would build in the playroom or their bedrooms and then want to sleep in. The particular one I bought had bows and ruffles and didn’t look jail-like at all. We took out the mattress, popped in the pop-up tent (there is no assembly needed), put the mattress back, tied the bows, and the tent was ready for use. All my little ones wanted to climb in. I let. I gave them books. It wasn’t quite bedtime yet. We wanted to create a positive aura around the tent.
Later in the evening, when it was bedtime, I put my baby in. She cried. It was 30 minutes, but it would’ve been much, much shorter if one child didn’t feel bad and take her out of the crib (that’s what gave her motivation to cry more!) But the next night, she went right to sleep after a tiny protest when I was putting her in.
Nowadays, when it’s time for bedtime, she might still say “Ichy crib,” but when it’s time to go to bed, she cuddles up and most often, goes right to sleep. She is tired, after all. Most often I open the zipper once she’s sleeping. I am not concerned about her climbing out in the middle of the night (I know some active male toddlers have been known to climb out in the middle of the night). I rather have quick access to her.
So, yes, from my experience, the tent has not given me the feeling of “putting my baby in a tent.” Rather, I feel like she’s safe. She’s not jumping from the railings. She’s not going to sleep at crazy hours. She had a better, more routine schedule. And we’re all happier.
For more information about the pros and cons of tents, see this post on the crib tent controversy.
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RZ says
These crib tents look really nice and safe! When I needed a solution for my son, the crib tents I found did not look safe, they looked like an entrapment hazard. But my 18 month old was wandering around the house at 2 am when everyone was sleeping and I was terrified he’d hurt himself or leave the house.
RZ says
Sorry-posted too soon. I spoke with my pediatrician….although I felt VERY guilty, I ultimately put in a doorknob with a lock, and put the lock on the outside. This way I knew he was in his room all night and my older kids could unlock the door if they needed to. I felt so so guilty, but I really did it to keep him safe. We removed the lock when he was about 3 and we trusted him more…
MW says
Another extremely effective idea for toddlers who climb out of the crib: put them in a large sleeveless sleep sack (I bought a fleece one size 3T). It gives them plenty room to feel cozy without being constricted, BUT they cannot separate their feet to get them over the railing! Make sure to get one where the zipper can tuck into the fabric at the end of the zipper, so they don't take it right off.
Anonymous says
I do the sleep sack as well. It works very nicely most of the time. I put it on backwards so the zipper is on the back and he can’t open it. Because it’s sleeveless he can manage to wiggle out of it, but he usually just does that when he wakes up. At night or naptime he’s usually too tired to wiggle out.
Anonymous says
Same, love the sleep sack idea! Once my daughter started to climb out of her crib, that sleep sack went on and has kept her safe. As a bonus, it also stops her from taking off her diaper.
A says
We have a pack n play cover that we use that doubles as a blackout shade – it’s black mesh instead of white – our pediatrician recommended it when our toddler would wake up with the first day of sunshine even in a room that had curtains- that tiniest bit of light woke him up! Can’t say it’s a perfect solution every morning but in general it keeps him sleeping a little later. And as a bonus he can only get out when a sibling unzips it and helps him climb over the side.
BR says
Just wanted to add my experience with the tent- also reiterating it would be much more dangerous for my active 18 month old to be wandering around the house at night. When we bought the tent I let him play in it before bed time so that he knew it would be there when it was time for sleeping. He loved it and asked me to zip it before I left the room. Even now he’s three and still lives in his tent all zipped up – and even though he’s able to unzip he never came out of bed since we put the tent in.
BR says
Also the reason why these options are safer than the original models from years ago is because the tent wraps around the whole mattress – therefore it cannot implode or fall down on the child
Sarah says
My baby climbed and jumped out at 9 months old – thank gd I was sitting on the floor changing my toddler and caught him. I unbuilt the crib and put the mattress on the floor with the crib placed on top. This made the mattress much much lower so he wasn’t Able to climb out for a few more months. One night he climbed out and we caught him walking to the front door pushing a chair to unlock the door. I amazoned a tent that minute. He felt secure, loved the zipper, and finally slept well and safely. My next kid jumped out early in middle of the night and was roaming too. I took out tent – and all good! He also feel so secure in it. Don’t let anyone make you felt guilty about keeping your kids safe!
EH says
I have used sleep tents for 4/6 children so far. It is a lifesaver both for tired mommies and overtired active toddlers. Toddlers physical abilities develop faster than their cognitive abilities and we need to protect them from themselves. Climbing out of a crib is dangerous as is roaming the house alone or chas vshalom climbing on furniture that isn’t anchored to the wall.
Malky says
So happy to see so many positive replies. I too use a tent since my 3rd child/first boy has been 18 months and it’s been a lifesaver. But whenever I mention it in conversation, I always get asked “weren’t those taken off the market” people are surprised to hear they are still sold! I even got one for the morah cuz he was climbing out in playgroup by nap time and going into other kids cribs. My son too loves it and doesn’t cry by bedtime and helps me zip it closed. We are so grateful to have this solution!!
Aubrey says
I was thinking about the tent cause I find it really cute. I’ve never thought about the reason to have it other than anti-mosquito thing. But in case like this it may be useful. Although you know what would be more useful? Sleep training! I have this great great guide in a nutshell that I’ve been following: https://www.parental-love.com/shop/baby-sleep-training and for now I cannot see a problem like this.
est man says
I used the tent and stilll using it it is a lifesaver my daughter was getting to sleep at 11pm every night and waking up crazy hours in the morning wondering around like a zombie. Thank g-d we discovered the tent, we call it her “princess castle” and she loves it. Now she is almost 3 I wonder if it is time to let go of it ? And start using a bed just hope she won’t go back into the old habits