Can My Baby Hurt Herself By Falling In the Crib?

Valentina just learned to pull herself up to standing the other night. Well, technically at 4:30 am. What better time, right?

Well, the problem was that she didn’t know how to let herself back down again. So she was stuck yowling at the crib bars.

It reminded me of the many questions I have received over the years about if babies can get head injuries in the crib. What if they fall asleep standing? What if they deliberately head bang? What if, like Valentina, they don’t know how to let themselves down? Many parents spend a lot of time going back and forth to the crib. And babies, of course, like to just pop back up again. 

Well, Valentina eventually figured it out. Either her legs sort of buckled or she consciously decided to let go (I was watching on the monitor but didn't interfere). She landed in a sitting position, none the worse for wear.

I have never, in all my years of pediatric practice and then child sleep coaching work, heard of a child hurting themselves in their crib (since drop side cribs were abolished). Babies and toddlers have well designed skulls to withstand falls without causing brain damage.

So while I know it’s nerve wracking to watch their hikinks in the crib, no, you don’t need to worry about crib safety. A safe crib is safe for your healthy child, without reservations.

Want some help getting your little one to stay in the crib all night long? Schedule a free consult and let's get your little one sleeping all night, every night. Guaranteed.