Uncategorized

Crib Tents. We’re converted.

November 3, 2011

We believe we should all love where we live.

We’re a couple of homebodies, working to uncover the home our home wants to be. And we’re so happy to have you here. 

Portfolio

Projects

Design

We're Chris + Julia

read more

What we're                   right now

Loving

browse the shop

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here. 

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen. 

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.

browse all

browse all

browse all

02

01

03

Popular Posts

1.

2.

3.

Top Categories

When we make any home decor or design choice, we weigh the aesthetics and function heavily.  Chris is definitely the voice of function and comfort and I put my two ten cents in for looks.  In the end, we’re all happy.  That being said, Greta’s room has a new addition and it isn’t pretty.  
Also, you can’t miss it:

No matter how much of an eye sore it is, we are all a lot happier with the crib tent in place.  Greta, although as tall or taller than most 3 year olds, is just 20 months old and a climber.  Her climbing became an issue when she would climb out of her crib every time we put her in it to take a nap or go to bed.  There were days last week when I had to wrestle with her for hours, putting her back in her crib over and over and trying to help her relax and take a nap with no success.  She was a different child–cranky, always crying, wouldn’t eat anything and, frankly, I was pretty emotional myself at the end of the week.  Exhausted, Chris and I tried taking out the spring platform in her crib and putting her mattress on the floor.  She climbed out.  We tried taking out the mattress completely and just creating a little bed out of blankets on the floor and she got out.  We tried having her sleep on just the mattress outside of her crib and locking her door and she still couldn’t relax and sleep.  She just wasn’t mature enough for a toddler bed quite yet.  Then a friend told me about a crib tent, to which I replied, “Are those things even legal?”

Well, they are.  And after a few days of exhausting more options and feeling more tired and frustrated than ever, we checked the online classifieds and someone was selling a “like-new” crib tent for half of what they retail for (they retail for $60-$80) and we went and picked up the tent ten minutes later.  It has been a dream and a life-saver.  A sanity saver.  Greta is back to taking her normal nap and sleeping so well at night.

For naps and bedtime, we just lay her down and zip up the tent, and she can’t climb out which gives us great peace of mind and eliminates her anxiety about always having to climb out of her crib.  The fears about her really hurting herself or escaping while we are asleep are completely gone and we are all resting well again.  Greta has adapted really well, too.  She doesn’t really have the room to jump like she used to (her most favorite thing in the world), but when I unzip it, she goes wild for a few minutes:

As for climbing over other things, we haven’t found a way to prevent that.  But seriously, the girl has no respect for gates any longer.  She just climbs over them, or like in the picture below, pushes them down.  Le sigh:

So what about you?  Do you have things in your home that aren’t so pretty but work so well, you don’t care?  What’s your take on crib tents?  Do you have a super tall toddler that has zero boundaries?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

What do you think?

  1. This kid enjoys small tents.

  2. I waste no time in looking online to see what type of blind you pick- your
    conservatory appeal perfect fit blinds will definitely be considerably
    boosted. The triple cell shades offer the best light control to a room.

  3. Glenna says:

    I was just about to order this thing when I realized it was recalled….sad face. Just a heads up.

  4. Sometimes function has to come first.

    Not sure if you play along, but I sent a BLOG AWARD your way. Check it out on today’s blog post.

    dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com

    Have a great weekend!!

  5. Julia Fain says:

    hi! i found your blog through the pinterest challenge (I posted one too @ 1088churchill.blogspot.com) we have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. We graduated both kids from their crib at 2 years. We have a sturdy babygate on their door (which makes the whole room feel like a giant crib) and it works wonders til they are a bit older and understand boundaries.

  6. “If so..Call the Maury Show. 1 800 72 MAURY. That’s 1 800 72 MAURY.”

  7. sue372 says:

    My 19 month old is just average for height and he thankfully hasn’t tried climbing out yet but I had wondered about the crib tents as an option in case he ever did. Thanks for letting us know that it worked for you! He LOVES jumping in his crib too :)

  8. Meagan says:

    What a cool tent! Much better than putting a strap on your childs leg so they won’t get out…(my parents are ridiculous! How did we survive!?).

    Greta and her jumping! Brinley has just really started to jump in her crib when I get her after naps and in the AM. She LOVES to jump.

    I appreciate my average height genes now after all that Greta can do to barricades!!! That girl…. :-) Love her to pieces!

  9. HAHAHAHAahahaha!!! It really does!

  10. Lisa says:

    Before I was a parent, I would have said no to a crib tent. Now after 2 children, I say you need to do what gives you sanity. More sleep makes us all better people and boundaries keeps your little one safe.

  11. Read the last sentence in your blog, then read my comment, it just goes together

  12. I’m glad I could open that option up for you! We were clueless about crib tents, as in never heard of them, and now, we are fans through and through. Added perk: Her pacifiers can’t escape either. Win win!

all the latest

We believe we should all love where we live.

We’re a couple of homebodies, working to uncover the home our home wants to be. And we’re so happy to have you here. 

HI! We're Chris + Julia

read more

Load More

Reader Faves

SHop all

What We're                     Right Now

What We're                 Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop. 

Loving

looking for inspiration? 

A reader recently asked me if I’m starting to fully embrace traditional style and whether we still consider our house to be a “modern Colonial” and why. It was a really great question and so timely — I had really just been thinking about my approach to this home and how my style has changed […]

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

Follow Along on Instagram

Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations

@chrislovesjulia