What to do if your baby keeps standing up or starts climbing out of their cot
If your baby keeps standing up in their cot, it can turn into a game and a test of wills, leaving both you and your child feeling worn out and potentially sleep-deprived. The good news is this behaviour can be managed with patience and consistency.
What to do:
- Make sure your baby has plenty of floor time during the day to practice their new standing skills. This will also tire them out with physical activity.
- Teach your baby how to safely lower themselves from standing to lying down.
- Once you trust that they can do this, allow them to stand in their cot briefly while you stay nearby.
- Occasionally tap the mattress and say, “It’s sleepy time, lie down.”
- If they stand up again, remain calm and simply pat the mattress, guiding them to lie down.
- With patience and consistency, your baby will gradually stop standing in their cot.
My baby has started to climb out of their cot
What to do:
- If your toddler is climbing out of their cot, begin by lowering the mattress, if you haven’t already.
- Remove any items like teddy bears that they could use to boost themselves out of the cot.
- Avoid accidentally rewarding the behaviour, such as by letting them sleep in your bed.
- Stay calm and firm—and address them quickly and consistently. Calmly but firmly tell them not to climb out.
- If they keep trying to escape, it might be time to transition them to a low-level bed.
- Consider placing a stair gate at their door for safety if they start exploring their newfound freedom at night.
- At the same time, childproof their bedroom, almost turning it into a large cot.
Written by Mandy Gurney RGN.RM.DipHV
Founder Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic
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