I typically don’t rely on an alarm clock. Instead, I let my children dictate when the day begins. Recently, I was jolted awake by my daughter’s voice coming from her room. When I opened her door, I was met with a startling sight—she was halfway out of her crib, one leg perched over the edge while the other teetered on tiptoes, attempting to escape her confinement. It became painfully clear that we needed to upgrade my son’s bed this weekend so he could pass down his toddler bed to her. She was not going to be patient for much longer.
Reflecting back, it’s evident that she had run out of patience.
Later that day, I placed her for her nap in the crib, listening intently for her usual babbling as she woke. Instead, after about an hour, I was met with shrieks of distress. Rushing in, I discovered the same leg dangling over the edge, her other leg wedged awkwardly between the slats. It appeared she had lost her balance, and her knee had slipped through.
I tried to maneuver her stuck leg back through the slats, but the baby fat around her knees was acting like a stubborn anchor, keeping her trapped. I attempted to turn her sideways, wiggle her leg out, but nothing worked. She was stuck, and her cries filled the room. I called for my son to fetch my phone. He arrived promptly, but instead of concern, he remarked how he couldn’t concentrate with all the noise.
I explained to him that his sister was in trouble and asked him to retrieve items to help soothe her. He dashed off and returned with a miniature chair from his play table, which I placed in the crib to provide some comfort. Despite her being seated, the tears continued to flow. My attempt to call my husband went straight to voicemail.
In the midst of all this chaos, I remembered my in-laws lived close by. I called my father-in-law in a state of panic, urgently requesting he bring an Allen wrench to disassemble the crib and rescue his granddaughter.
Meanwhile, I instructed my son to grab my computer to distract her with a cartoon. He returned with pretzels and an entire jar of applesauce, proving once again that he was handling the crisis better than I was.
Upon my in-laws’ arrival, it became clear that an Allen wrench wouldn’t suffice; the crib slats were not designed for easy disassembly. We’d have to cut her out. It occurred to me that I should have exchanged phone numbers with my neighbors when we moved in nine months prior. Instead, I sprinted next door, hoping my neighbor had the necessary tools.
With a sense of urgency, I explained my predicament—needing a small saw to free my daughter. My neighbor, eager to help, showcased her various handmade furniture pieces before I urged her to grab an extension cord and follow me.
Inside the house, I held my daughter’s hands, trying to reassure her as my neighbor plugged in the saw. My son, ever the chatterbox, began narrating the plot of his cartoon as if it were the most pressing matter at hand.
The cutting was swift, and as soon as the saw roared to life, my daughter froze, trembling. With one slat severed, we managed to bend it enough to free her leg. As I lifted her from the crib, I felt her blood circulation returning to the previously trapped limb.
We were fortunate with my son; he never attempted to climb out of his crib. Before my daughter’s birth, we transitioned him out to prevent jealousy. If he hadn’t been born, he might still be in that crib, likely until his teenage years!
The urgency to transition our daughter was clear, yet we hesitated because she is under two years old. Now I realize we should have acted before she attempted her daring escape. Thankfully, she was unharmed in the process.
Going forward, I’ve devised a plan for emergencies: I’ve saved the contact information of all my neighbors and will be installing a landline for critical situations. Plus, we have a mattress on the floor where my daughter now sleeps comfortably. For more insights on parenting and fertility, check out this resource or this authority on home insemination. Additionally, explore this excellent resource for pregnancy.
Summary:
Transitioning toddlers from cribs is crucial before they attempt to escape, as demonstrated by a harrowing experience of a mother whose daughter got stuck. The mother learned the hard way that waiting too long can lead to dangerous situations. She now has a plan in place for emergencies and understands the importance of timely action.
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