Anyone tried one of the crib tents?

MommyToAshley wrote: MIL suggested getting Ashley a crib tent since she is so tall and I am not ready to put her in a toddler bed. Has anyone used one? I am not sure Ashley would like it... but I would love to hear from anyone that has used one.

Here's a pic of it:
crib tent

MomToMany replied: I've never used one. It looks too confining to me, like the child would get claustrophobia or something. I don't think it's right to trap the child in the crib like that, either. But that's just my opinion.

aspenblue1 replied: I haven't used one on crib, but Isabella pack and play came with tent to keep bugs and sun out when she is outside and she hates it. She will not get in her pack and play if the tent thing is one.

jem0622 replied: I would never use one. I have seen one and bought it but then changed my mind. That was for my eldest DS. He climbed out/fell out of his crib @ 18 mos. I decided that I would rather not risk having him get hurt in the future so I moved him to a toddler bed and he did very very well. And he did not climb out of his toddler bed (b/c of the way I set it up) for a good while.

Julie

Shooter replied: I think this is a good question, M2A. I don't liken it to "trapping" a child at all if you want to make sure they're not getting up at night or during naptime and managing to crawl out of their crib and suffering a fall. Not all kids are ready for a toddler bed when they're getting near the size of possibly being able to crawl out of their cribs. If I went by this line of thinking, I wouldn't have a gate at the top of the stairs either because I would be "trapping" him upstairs by using it.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I was gonna get one because of the cats but never did I just kept them out of her room and even now I have never seen or cought ithem in her pay pin or crib. I did have on of them for her basinette but never used it except to see what it was like but it was such a hassle for me. The playpin I have at home has ont built in for outdoor I did zip it up once she did not mind it and thougth it was funny but I did not keep it up, I did not want to scare her. Sorry I am not much help....

5littleladies replied: I agree with Shooter. Putting a tent over her bed isn't trapping her in-it's providing for her safety. I haven't had any kids who crawled out of their cribs yet but if I did I would use one.
Ashley might not like it at first but I'm sure she would get used to it. Of course if you felt she was ready you could move her into a toddler bed. Just be ready for the possibility of her getting up at all hours of the night. It took my daughters a loooong time to learn to stay in their beds.

DansMom replied: I bought one when Daniel was a small infant to keep the cats out of the crib. Then we ended up cosleeping anyway and never really used it. It was on the crib for a while but with the flap zipped open. I agree with others that it felt weird, like having baby in a cage. Once he was a few months old, it was the cats who needed protection from him, not the other way around So we got rid of the tent altogether.

Jamison'smama replied: Hey M2A, I agree with Shooter and several others--it is a matter of safety! I registered for a crib tent but didn't get one--I thought I would need it to keep the cats out but I may end up needing one to keep Jamison in. Jama is still in our bed but we are going to start transitioning her over the holidays-(wish us luck). Jama is active and is a climber so I would consider it long before a toddler bed at this point. THey can still see out--the railings around the crib are not covered--the tent mesh is thin -you could put some pictures on the top of the tent to make it more fun. Do whatever you need to do to keep that precious baby safe.

Schnoogly replied: Well I think if you're going to cage a toddler in a crib, why not go all the way? I am more in favor of letting them sleep on a mattress on the floor and babyproofing the room, then putting a gate in the doorway. That way she can play if she doesn't want to nap, and has more freedom. I think toddlers should be given the opportunity to learn--by putting a tent over the crib you're really removing that possibility. I think the baby's needs also should take precedence over any possible inconvenience for you (if she won't stay in her toddler bed). I mean, why have a baby if you don't want inconvenience. I also don't believe in playpens and wouldn't use one even if Iain would allow it.

Sorry to be so rude, I got about 2 hours sleep last night b/c Iain and DH have the flu.

DansMom replied: I like the mattress on the floor idea---we're putting a double mattress in his room for when my sister comes from California over Christmas. We're thinking of leaving it in there after she leaves, and transitioning Daniel to his own room for naps and maybe the first part of the night.

Kaitlin'smom replied:
not rude to me just your opinion. I dont really use the paypin, the sitter has one for her to sleep in but thats all, and the only time I put kaitlin in it at home is when I had to go potty and no one else was home, wanted to be sure she could not get in to something that might hurt her. So she is only in in for very short times. Other wise I let her roam.... and chase her


sorry you did not get much sleep hope thay both feel better soon!

Jamison'smama replied: We are still co-sleeping in our home but I am not sure what I would/will do if/when I transition Jamison---she is no longer sleeping well and has a REALLY hard time getting to sleep. If she was on a mattress on the floor I know she would be up most of the night--she is in our bed as it is but we are there with her to make sure she stays in bed and that is getting tough. If she was in her own crib she would try to climb out or if she was on a mattress she would be up for HOURS.

I think for sure it is up to each individual person what is best for their families---I agree that children should be able to play and explore and learn --I fully believe in attachment parenting but we have to do what is best for each individual child.

Jamison is a climber and a difficult sleeper and is not ready for a toddler bed or a mattress alone.

How does putting a tent over the bed prohibit a child from learning--all it does is prevent them from climbing (or cats from jumping in)--it is a mesh--see-through tent .

I do think the tent may appear a little confining but I wonder how confining it really is--my nephew slept in a tent over his toddler bed by choice--granted it looked like a camping tent but he loved it. I think we have to do what is best for all involved. It appears to me that most of the babies--especially Ashley are not lacking in learing opportunities.

Any suggestions for an ACTIVE baby other than their own toddler bed would be great!! I am completely open to ideas.

Observer replied: Wow...I didn't realize this was an AP board. Sorry, but it just seems rather accusatory to me when AP'ers make statements like "if you're going to cage a child". To me, that is an inflammatory statement intended to do nothing but cause negative feelings in the person(s) who may not follow this line of thinking. It certainly can't be taken in a constructive way and I personally think that posts containing content that is portrayed in this manner should be edited or deleted. The same information/opinion could be put across in a much more positive manner, as in:

"We choose not to use a crib or crib tent. We have come up with a way to handle this situation that works for us that you may want to consider as well, and here it is.....etc, etc, etc."

One could consider putting a gate on a bedroom doorway a form of "caging"....I mean, where do you draw the line? I do not mean to start a big argument/debate, but I would like to be able to discuss parenting issues without such negative slanted opinions and backhanded attacks interspersed throughout.

ediep replied: I would definately consider a crib tent if Jason was climbing out of the crib and he wasn't ready for a bed. He has wood floor in his room and it would really hurt if he fell. I don't think I would even consider putting a mattress on the floor because I don't think he would sleep like that, He could crawl or walk away in the middle of the night and fall down the stairs!! I often wonder how my friends who let their kids sleep on the living room floor for nap time, get anything done. Jason would just get up and crawl or walk away. He would never take good naps that way.

MommyToAshley replied: Wow, I didn't realize this was going to be a big debate. We all have our own way of parenting, and I am not going to pass judgement and say which way is right or wrong. I just try to do what is best for my own child, as I am sure you do.

I do know that if Ashley were not in her crib right now, then she would be up all night. It doesn't matter how tired she is, she would keep on going. (Past experience has proven this!) And, if she learns how to climb out, that would be the end of her sleeping at night as we now know it. It is not so much that it would be an inconvenience to me if she got up at night, but I believe that she needs a good nights sleep in order for her to do the exploring and learning during the daylight hours. She only takes one short nap during the day so she needs the 11 or 12 hours that she sleeps at night! Not to mention that I don't want her to get hurt trying to climb out.

I am not sure if the tent is the right answer, but I don't see any other option than a toddler bed and I don't think we are ready for that yet. If you have other suggestions, then I am open to those as well... which is why I posed the question about the tent.

I just want to add that I do use a playpen. Ashley runs around most of the day, but I usually put her in the playpen while I make dinner or if I have a business call and DH is also busy. She is never in there for more than 30 minutes, but it is a lifesaver. And, she loves to sit there and read her books and stack her blocks so I see nothing wrong with putting her in a playpen. If I left her in there all day and never let her out, then I would agree that it is taking away opportunities to explore the world around her.

I didn't take offense to anything that has been said, and I hope no one has taken offense to my post. As always, I think we are all capable of expressing our opinions without any ill-will.

P.S. Schnoogley I hope you feel better.

ediep replied: well said M2A! I agree!

Jamison'smama replied: I agree--well said.

CantWait replied:
I'm not sure who the observor is, but do realize that Parenting Club is a friendly place where EVERYONES opinions can be expressed freely. Schnoogly was just expressing her opinion, and as a regular member of the board was justified to do just that in her own words at that. I hope that you continue to browse the forums and realize what a great place it is

Shooter replied: hmmm...So, it's ok for members here to flat out say that other members are "caging" their children if they have them sleeping in a crib? I mean, it's not even an insinuation, it's a blunt statement. My son sleeps in a crib and is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen in my life. He sleeps great and enjoys spending time playing in his crib when he's up. I take great offense to idea that I am abusing my son by having him sleep in a crib, and that's exactly what's being said here...how else could one construe the statement about caging? I think that one's opinions could be stated in a much more agreeable manner. I know I certainly wouldn't take this approach if I disagreed with how someone was raising their children. I don't have personal issues with anyone here, but wow...I find it hard to believe that statements like those above would be condoned here. I'm sorry if I hold the minority opinion...

MommyToAshley replied: I think it is best to lock this thread before it gets out of hand. I just want to try to keep things friendly here... if anyone has any other suggestions about the crib tent or has tried them, please start a new thread.



Hugs to all!