Conference moira::parenting

    
    	I saw something in a catalog recently that is essentially a mesh
    tent that goes over the top of the crib. It allows ventilation and yet
    the child can not climb out.

    	I have no idea if this works or not, but it looked like a neat idea
    for a tricky problem.

    	I can get the name of the catalog if you are interested.

    				Wendy

    I too saw the tent and am considering one, when and if Alexandra
    crawls out of her crib.  She's 15+ months and hasn't started that
    stage yet (hopefully never will - ha!)
    
    It sells for around $80-$90 dollars and the name of the company
    catalog that sells it is 'Right Start' and I don't have their
    numerical #, but the alpha-numeric # is 1-800-LITTLE-1.
    
    I like their products, but would look around other stores to
    see if they carry the tent.  Catalog products tend to be pricier
    than finding the items at general children's products stores,
    plus you pay postage/handling, which can really up the cost.
    
    If anyone has one of these tents, I'm sure we would all like
    to know how well they work.
    
    Kath

I expect to be having this problem soon with Brad, and don't know how I will
handle it.  But I do have some input on that mesh thing for the top of the
crib.  I wouldn't do it for my own reasons.  When I was almost 3 years old
(I'm 34 now), I fell down the cellar stairs, got a concussion and ended up 
in the hospital. They kept me longer than normal as I was already scheduled
for eye surgery, so one visit went right into the next.  I was not sleeping
in a crib at home anymore, but hospital policy was all children under 3
slept in a crib with one of those mesh tents over the top to keep the child
in.  I hated it....absolutely hated it.   I felt caged like an animal and
insulted that I'd not only been demoted back to a crib, but that I had to
be tied into it even though I knew enough not to climb out.  I still remember
that feeling and would not do it to my  child.

I'm not sure how your child will react to such a contraption, but you may 
want to think about how he'll feel before spending so much money on it.

I'm still a little claustrophobic today, and I think it started in that
crib.

Cathy

    Maybe it is time to move him into a big bed?
    
    Wendy

    
    Wouldn't the Mesh stop them from being able to even stand up in the
    crib also???  Seems a bit confining...
    
    ??
    
    

    I am the basenoter, thanks for the ideas.  But I'm not sure I am ready
    for moving him to a Big boy bed yet. That starts a another whole new
    set of problems. My first son didn't start to climb out if his crib
    until he was 23 mos.
    
    I don't have a problem with Tyler climbing out at bed time, but please
    don't tell me he is ready to give up his two naps a day already.
    
    There was a chair next to his crib by the head, I'm hopeing thats how
    he got out of the crib. (I have moved the chair now, so I will have to
    wait till the weekend to see if that is how he got out).
    
    Keep the ideas coming...
    
    Thanks,
    Lynne

    Chris,
    
    	The mesh is "tent-like" and so a child could easily stand up under
    it while in the crib.
    
    			Wendy

    
    Oh...Okay, I get it now. (I haven't seen one)
    
    Thanks for the clarification,
    
    Chris
    

    Re .6
    
    If you decide to put him into a bed it doesn't automatically follow
    that he will have to change his sleeping routine. Amy has just turned
    3, has been in a bed for the best part of 18 months and still has an
    afternoon nap if she needs/wants it.
    
    She used to climb out and come down but we found that by putting a
    stairgate across the door (we don't need to use this anymore), she 
    soon got fed up trying to get out and went to sleep.
    
    Just an idea.
    
    Dave
    

    Here's what I did with Alex:
    
    Step 1: babyproof her entire room.  I figured, she escaped once; she 
            will do it again (heady with her previous success!).
    Step 2: Lower crib mattress (actually I always had it at the lowest
            setting, since I'm tall enough for that to be workable for me),
            lower crib rail to maybe a foot above the mattress, and provide
            soft cushiony rug on the landing zone.   Since she WILL get out, 
            I'm providing a shorter glide path.  :-)
    Step 3: Put gate in her door (or close the door, but not lock it).
    Step 4: When next escape is made, delineate the rules (IF you get out
            of bed, you PLAY QUIETLY or get back in bed.  Do not leave the
            room.  Call me if you NEED [vs. want] something).
    
    It's kinda like when they learn to walk... you're proud of their
    accomplishment, but it's a whole new chapter and there's no going back!
    
    Leslie

    My son started climbing out of his crib real early too.  He wouldn't
    come into my room, he'd go into the refrigerator and eat, what he
    didn't like he threw on the floor for the dog to eat.  This only happened 
    a couple of times.   What I did was have a friend build a half door onto his
    bedroom entrance.   It was just about 4 feet tall and had a lock on
    the outside door.   This door was a lifesaver for me.   When he was
    put in his room with that little door locked he knew it was time to
    sleep.  I also made sure there was nothing he could be hurt with in
    his room  
    
    Chris
    

    My vote is for a baby gate across his door, too, so he can't go down
    the stairs, into rooms that aren't babyproofed, and so on.  I'd also 
    seriously consider the bed.  He might hurt himself climbing out of the 
    crib.
    
    I have major problems with the mesh across the top of the crib.  I
    don't think that's a way to treat a child.  In my opinion (and I'm
    sure there are those who disagree), it'd be like a cage.
    
    Pam  

    We are now going through the climbing out of the crib routine (at 25
    months).  
    
    We lowered the bar and put a bench next to the crib so she can get in
    and out safely.  She'd like to move to the bed, but I'll wait until we
    get her used to staying in bed when she's put there.   Later we'll deal
    with the falling out problem.  One thing at a time.
    
    We are using the Dr. Ferber method to train her.  When she comes out of
    her room, we put her back and put the gate in the door for a few
    minutes.  When she stays put, we remove the gate.  So SHE controls
    whether the gate is installed or not, by staying in bed.  We started
    out closing the door, but she really hates that and the gate is
    achieving the same goal with less upset.  
    
    (She's so cute when I threaten to close the door.  She puts out her
    hand and says 'top (for stop).)
    
    If she starts wandering around at night (right now she just comes into
    our room and wakes us), we'll probably have to use the gate all night.
    
    Even for middle of the night wakings, we try to remove the gate after a
    few minutes.  I forgive myself if I fall asleep with the gate in place.
    
    L

    Please see related information about sleep problems in note 27.
    
    L
    co-mod
    

    re. -2
    
    Laura
    
    Forgive me for asking, but how are you going to get her used to staying
    in bed unless you actually put her her in one?
    
    A lowered bar and a bench beside the bed is no substitute for the real
    thing - a crib is still a crib even with a lowered bar. 
    
    Dave

    RE: .15
    
    Dave,
    
    It's ok with me if she doesn't transition to bed right away.  I'm not
    in any hurry.  Should I be?
    
    Do you see any problem with me doing it this way?  She's quite adept at
    getting in and out using the bench.  Why, she even does it at 3 a.m.
    ;-) 
    
    Grandma is bringing her beautiful new sheets and a comforter next
    month.  
    
    L

    Laura
    
    I guess I'm seeing it from the child's point of view. I know when Amy
    decided that she didn't want to be in a crib anymore, that was fine by
    us - in a bed she went. This isn't to say that what she wants is what
    she always gets. It's just that at the time we felt that, in this 
    particular instance, it was OK to go ahead.
    
    I think, maybe, that I misunderstood your initial reply ie getting her
    used to staying in a bed before you put her in one sounded like a
    contradiction in terms and I guess I was querying this.
    
    Looking at it from the child's point of view, she's said that she wants
    to go into a bed, but mummy won't let her and she's still having to
    sleep in the crib (albeit with the side down), just isn't the same as
    what she thinks it might be like if she were in a bed (I think that's how 
    it was supposed to come out).
    
    From our own experience, we found that Amy settled very well into a bed
    straight away - yes, she did get out and come down when the gate wasn't
    on - but now she is generally very good at going to bed when she is
    told.
    
    To answer your questions, it sounds as though your daughter is in more
    of a hurry than you are to get her into a bed - only you can make the
    final decision on that.
    
    The only problem I see with you doing it the way you are is that it may
    take a longer time overall to get her settled in a bed.
    
    I think what I am really trying to say is that each child is different
    and many parents have different ideas on how and when certain things
    change. From my experience, the transition from crib to bed was
    overnight with no serious problems. You obviously feel more comfortable
    doing what you are. As I said before, maybe I misunderstood what you
    were saying.
    
    Changing the subject, Grandmas are great for bringing goodies aren't they 
    (especially when we're on the salaries we're on!) but Amy's brings stuff 
    so often that we've now got to the stage where Amy says to me: "I wonder 
    what Grandma is going to bring me this time!" I had a little chat with 
    Grandma about it, but do you think it's had any effect? Not a chance!
    
    Dave
    
    

    I have a 4 1/2 year old and a 21 month old.  Here is what I suggest for
    you:
    Get a toddler bed - you can use your crib mattress in it and they are
    very cheap for the frame - can buy at Toy's or Us or local toy store.
    
    OR,
    
    Go ahead and buy the twin bed and give her the option of sleeping in
    the crib or the bed.  I put the twin bed in the room with the crib and
    showed my son the new bed and he climbed right in it and never wanted
    to go back to the crib.  I also used the baby gate and night so he
    wouldn't fall down the stairs (he was not potty trained yet so getting
    out at night was not an issue) - I believe that he was 2 1/2 when we
    did this...........
    
    Thanks,
    Anne
    
    No to the net over the crib idea!!!  Sounds dangerous!

    My daughter just made the transition to a bed!  Our latest milestone,
    hooray for Ilona!
    
    She had a twin bed in her room all along with the crib.  We used it for
    changing her.  For several days she started climbing out of the crib
    quite often.  Then she voluntarily slept in the bed twice.  We removed
    the crib 3 days ago and she is happily sleeping in the bed, snuggled up
    with her stuffed animals.
    
    We put a gate up in the door only when she exits her room during sleep
    times.  (She's not toilet trained yet.)  The times without the gate are
    getting more frequent, as she learns to stay in her room and play until
    she's ready to sleep.  Then she gets into bed.
    
    We don't have a bedrail yet.  She fell out of bed once, waking up
    everyone and feeling quite miserable.  So, we put a strip of foam
    rubber under the sheet on the outside edge.  So far, so good.  We'll
    get a bedrail when Grandma comes with the pretty, new twin sheets.
    
    L

    My sister called the other day to say she did something she thought she
    would never do.  she bought one of those toddler beds.  Seems while
    they were at the store Chelsea climbed in the display bed and said
    "night night"!  As they got ready to take her out and move along she
    freaked.  They bought the bed, brought it home, set it up (uses crib
    mattress) and put PJ's on Chelsea.  She climbed in and said "Night
    night" and went right to sleep.  Chelsea gets into bed every night
    without a single word and goes to sleep.  She stays in bed until mom
    gets her out in the morning.  Same with naptime!
    
    Mine were almost as easy, but this is ridiculous!!!
    
    -sandy
    

    RE:  19
    
    I wouldn't worry about a bedrail if she continues to be able to stay in
    bed.  I bought one for Justin as he fell out 3 times the first night, 1
    time the second night and then just started getting up and coudn't get
    back in.  I put up a bedrail hoping it would deter him from getting out
    of bed...would you believe he stared getting up 6-7 times a night? 
    Once I took it back down, 2-3 days later he started only getting up
    once or twice.  I didn't feel like the ~$20 was worth it and returned
    the rail.  He still sometimes gets up once a night, but I think he just
    wants to make sure we're all still there!
    
    Von

    re .20, now there's a kid who knows what she wants!
    
    Just look out when she turns 16.... I can see her in the 'vette
    showroom, climbing in and yelling "Vroom vroom!"  ;-)
    
    Leslie

Stephen, Jr. is now 26 months, and he occasionally swings his foot over the crib
rail if we are there playing with him, but I casually push it back and divert
his attention. We have just this month gotten him to lie under the blanket.
We've had a bear in the crib with him for ages, but he's just starting to pay 
attention to it (we kiss the bear goodnight along with him, so he's more aware 
of it). The month before we got him to lie down and put his head on the pillow
when we told him to (and he was in the mood...).

We went to a furniture store this past weekend, and once he saw the kiddy beds,
we couldn't keep him away (had to drag him away screaming!). He was climbing
all over them, giggling and laughing. So I guess it's getting time. I've been
thinking about building him a toddler bed to use his crib mattress and keep him 
low to the floor. He's a pretty good climber, so there's not much point in 
trying to keep him in with a barrier. I can't wait for the first time he bounces
into our room at 5 AM and turns on the lights (some idiot put all the switches
at kid height). We'll probably have to work on him a bit to keep him in bed, but
so far that sort of thing has only taken a few days. But we usually had more 
control of the situation then. 

I have a slight variation on the "baby climbs out of her crib" problem.

My 11.5 month old sleeps in a Fisher Price porta-crib at the sitter's.
She loves it, and has no problems sleeping in it.   However, on Monday,
she figured out how to get the side rail out of the fabric "pocket", and
launched herself out of the crib.  (Once you take out the rail, the mesh sides
of the crib get kind of floppy, so I thought "We'll just fix it so she can't
push the rail out anymore").

But then yesterday my sitter told me that after getting up from her nap, 
Lindsey managed to topple the crib over (while she was still in it).  She's 
only 11.5 months old, but she weighs 30 lbs, so I imagine all that weight 
can really move a crib.  :)

But now I have a dilemma.  What do I do with this child?  She is very good
about putting herself to sleep in her crib or porta crib, but I don't think
she'd stay put on a mat on the floor (I've tried it in the past when
we've gone visiting without the portacrib).   I'm not ready to put her in
a toddler bed or something where she can let herself out, but I can't think
of any other options.  I'm really afraid of her getting hurt.  My sitter
has put quilts on the floor to cushion the impact, but I'm not totally
satisfied with that solution.

The portacrib is the older Fisher Price design, and always looked to me as 
being one of the more stable designs.  (wrong!)  Has anybody else's baby been
able to topple one of these cribs?  Does anybody have any suggestions on
keeping it stable?  Like putting sandbags on the crib supports to hold it 
steady?
:-)

Thanks,
Lynne   

    re .24
    
    Set up the porta-crib so the two long sides are against stable pieces
    of furniture (or a wall on one side)?
    
            wall
    --------------------
     ----------  ----- |
       desk   | |crib || other wall
              | |     ||
              | |     ||
    ----------  |_____||
    
    Or do you think she could still tip it over by pushing on the short
    side?
    
    Leslie

    re .25
    
    That's a good idea, thanks.  I'll have to see if I can convince the
    sitter to rearrange her bedroom furniture...  It might work, because
    I think the crib gets toppled when Lindsey is leaning on the side,
    calling the sitter.  But she's too short (I think) to see over the
    top of the short side (it's higher and solid fabric, not mesh) so
    hopefully she won't lean on it.
    
    -Lynne
    

	You could just extend the legs further to the sides to make it
	harder to topple. I was thinking you could tape a long piece of
	wood to each end.

		|    |  how it is now.
		------  
             ------------  tape a longer rod of some sort to exisitng.
	

I'm looking for some advice on how to handle my 18 month old 
crib climber.

This is a bit early for us. Jonathan is very independent and 
will at any moment walk away from a room where he is playing on 
an excursion on his own, inspecting closets and drawers as he 
moves along.

I've read all the replies to this note, and saw the reference 
to the mesh cover in some replies as a method of keeping the 
little climber in the crib. It seems like the gate in the 
doorway or the half-door is the alternative that I like the best.
I'm NOT thrilled with the mesh cover solution, but my husband wants 
to order one TODAY.

Jonathan is usually a good sleeper, sleeps through the night. But I liked
the idea of him being safe in the crib when he wakes up, and that he
will stay in the crib until we come and pick him up. On weekends 
I sometimes use the baby-monitor to listen for him waking up as I take
the opportunity to do stuff around the house. I.e. I'm not hovering
outside his door every minute of his nap (which can last from anywhere
between 1-3 hours). 

Have any of you personal experience with the net-crib cover? Did it
work, how did the child react?

I appreciate any comments or advice you might have, I'm not ready for
this!

Thanks

/Malin

    I haven't used the mesh cover, but you might be surprised at his
    reaction to "freedom".  I know that with both of my boys, when we moved
    them to beds, neither one of them would get out of bed by themselves
    when they woke up - they'd just lay there and yell that they wanted to
    get up.  If you have a climber, you're probably better off not to fight
    it (you'll never be able to foresee all the possible dangers his
    climbing could cause), and just realize that he's too old for his crib,
    take away the danger of falling, and deal with the rest of it.
    
    Unfortunately that does mean that there'll be moments when he can be up
    and about that you don't know, but if he can climb out, it sounds like
    you're at that stage anyway.
    
    I hope it's not in the name .... with a 4-month-old Jonathan!
    
    

        This is sort of related...
    My six month old daughter is into standing up in her crib, standing up
    anywhere really, but it's a problem in the crib because I'm not
    watching her. She's not very good at sitting back down and will either 
    make noise to get picked up or will forget to hang on to the rails and
    fall backward or sideways sometimes frontwards (ouch). 

    I know I can't prevent her from standing but what can I do to help with
    her landing? We've lowered the mattress to prevent her from launching
    herself out. Should the crib bumpers be removed? They seem to help when
    she's crawling/cramming herself into the corners, but they are also
    something she could get caught in with her foot. 

    Maybe I'll just buy a helmet for her. 8^)
    
    What's have you done? Lately I let her nap in her porta crib because at
    least the sides are soft to land on. 
    
    Gail

    
    My daughter is 7 months old and has been pulling herself up since
    she was 5.5 months. The first couple of weeks she definately got her
    share of bruises, mostly from furniture and door jambs. It wasn't to
    bad in her crib but I did remove the comforter and stuffed animals
    that were in there. This gave her less to trip on. I left the bumper
    in because it didn't seem to get in her way that much.
    
    After a couple of weeks you could really tell the difference that her
    balance was better so she fell a lot less and when she did she'd usually
    land on her bum. We keep her out of the areas of the house that aren't
    carpeted and that helps a lot too. Once they're up it usually doesn't
    take long before they have better control and balance.So hang in there
    and just try to make her as safe as possible while this stage lasts.
    
    I was really suprised at how early my daughter has been doing things.
    My son walked early (10.5 months) but he didn't really crawl or
    furniture cruise until @7 months. This little monkey has been on the
    go for 2 months already.It's fun but it's also a lot more work!
    
                      Barbara
    
    

    
    Well, that's what "they" say .... they learn how to SIT DOWN much later
    than Stand up!  I think the thinking behind it goes something like -
    they're so excited/uptight about learning to stand, that they don't
    relax enough to flex the knees to sit back down again.
    
    Try this little "exercise" with her....
    
    You sit on the floor, indian style.  Have her sit on one of your knees,
    facing away from you.  This should be roughly the right height for her
    legs.  Hold her hands (similar to how she'd be holding the sides of the
    crib - probably more like let her hold your fingers), then raise your
    arms up so that she stands, then lower your arms and/or 'bump' the
    backs of her legs so that her knees flex.  Keep your hands 'up' a
    little, so that she's still reaching up when she sits down.  Make some
    congratulatory noise that you know she'll like.  Within a few shots of 
    this, she'll probably be bouncing up and down on your knee, using you
    as a trampoline.  
    
    It's important to keep your hands UP so that she gets used to reaching
    up and sitting down at the same time.  It's kind of an awkward maneuver
    for her to perfect.
    
    I remember Chris and Jason used to just stand there and cry because
    there legs would be so sore, but they didn't dare let go long enough to
    fall/sit. )-:  I did the bouncy thing with Jonathan (as described
    above), and he never had any qualms about sitting back down.  And
    actually he even still thinks it's GREAT fun to bounce up and down on
    Mom and Dad (of course now he prefers to sit on my belly and do it -
    ugh!).
    
    That's the trick anyway - flex up those legs so they're loose and the
    kid's brave enough to bend them!
    
    Wait till they start to RUN!  The Other way!! (-:
    

    In only a week Lisa is getting more proficient and falling on her butt.
    (the things parent's brag about). She now lets go with one hand, stands
    there looking pleased, bends her knees a bit and plop onto the floor.
    I've even seen her fall forward, it's like slow-motion. She lets go
    with the second hand, stands for a micro second and fell ever so slowly
    forward, but with her hands out in front to brace her. This is fine, as
    long as it's away from the furniture. When I see her plop down right, I
    smile and cheer her, she laughs a bit and gets right back up to try
    again. 
    
    Gail

    I couldn't find any other topic that looked similar, so mods please
    move if there is.
    
    My son, Steven, has only turned 9 months old last Wednesday, but can
    climb like a monkey.  Now here is a child that can only army crawl, with
    the speed of lightening I might add, just started pushing himself into
    the sitting position two weeks ago, yet has climbed stairs, he got to
    the third one in the time it took me to get to the stairs from the 
    couch, has done a header into the bath tub (no water), and this
    morning was pulling himself over the rail of his crib as he was
    pushing up with his feet on the rails.
    
    What I need info on is whether a product is made for children that
    climb out of the crib at an early age.  And if there are no such
    products, can anyone give me some ideas on what I can do to discourage
    him from climbing.
    
    I'm getting grayer by the day.......
    
    Andrea
    
    P.S. I have a daughter, Melissa, who is 2 yrs. 10 months and NEVER
    frightened me like he does.

    I just saw a product in a catalog (I have it at home - can't remember
    the name) that is like a net-tent type thing that attaches to the crib.
    It doesn't really discourage the climbing (which I don't think you
    can change if he just likes to climb), but it will prevent him from
    climbing OUT and taking a nasty fall.  At 9 months, if he ever got his
    weight over the top, he probably wouldn't know what to do next and
    would just fall to the ground.  
    
    I'll get the information tonight and post it tomorrow if nobody else
    has done so by then. OK?  I can't even remember the cost (could be
    anwhere from $20 - 40).
    
    I never had to worry about this.  My son is 2.5 and still in his crib.
    Never tried to climb out and likes it quite a bit (enjoys going to
    bed at night and just calls for me when he wakes up).  It's great 
    because he doesn't end up in my bed half way thru the night like many
    toddlers who have moved into beds (many friends of mine are battling
    this problem right now).
    
    The net would probably be a good solution for you since your little
    one is much too young for a bed just yet (in my opinion).
    
    Julie

    Thanks Julie,
    
    	I would really appreciate the information.  My big worry is him
    getting his weight over the top.  This is how he ended up in the
    bath tub.  One second he was standing there holding on and the next
    he was in the tub.  And it's not that he doesn't like his crib, he
    sleeps great in it and loves to go to bed when he is tired, he just
    climbs everything he can.
    
    					Thanks again,
    
    					Andrea
    

     OUCH!  That bathtup fall sounds like it wasn't much fun. Hope
    he was OK.
    
    I'll get that info to you.  Just to describe it a little better
    to you, it's a net with 4 plastic pieces that act like a frame 
    reaching a peak (so that your child can still stand in the crib
    and not feel "trapped"). I don't quite know how it attached (ties,
    velcro, ?) to the crib, but it looked pretty nifty.
    
    julie
    

    I can't help with a preventative idea, however I can tell a few
    stories.  Apparently I was a climber before I could walk.  I was found
    almost at the top of the stairs (crying since I didn't know how to get
    back down), on the stove, on the refridgerator...My mother had a 6 yr.,
    5 yr. and 3 1/2 yr. to watch in addition to me.  
    
    I still love climbing trees...
    
    My brother is in the Air Force.  In the family housing where they
    lived the buildings had concrete floors covered with carpet.  Because
    at least one child on the base had died by climbing out of the crib and 
    several were injured, they chose to put their child on a thin mattress 
    on the floor beside their (low, but not as low) bed.  Now this isn't
    meant to scare you, but it's something to keep in mind since
    occasionally awful things happen.
    
    Please let us know what you decide.  Aaron's only 7 months now, but
    there's always the possibility he's going to be like his mom!
    
    sandy
    
    

    The day my second child climbed out of his crib he climbed
    out of his play-pen too.  The next day I put both pieces
    of furniture away.  They were of no use.  You see, he'd
    already climbed on the kitchen table and pulled the hands
    off the clock.  I also caught him trying to take the
    light-bulbs out of the dining room chandlier (he climbed
    on top of the table there too).  All this before he 
    could walk.  I placed a large bulky sleeping bag over
    the heath (1 step high) so he wouldn't hurt himself in
    case he someone decided to rock-climb the brick-work on
    the fireplace.  I tried to keep that guy in eye-sight
    all the time.  That guy has two angels and was born
    with a turbo-charged crawling action!  He is 8 now.

    Mesh Tent Info:
    
    from "One Step Ahead", 1-800-274-8440
    
    The cost is more than I thought... $89.95 for the crib tent, $74.95 for
    a play yard/play pen tent (smaller).
    
    It attaches with Velcro, and has a zipper front for getting the child
    in and out of the crib.  Made of fire retardant material, and meets the
    strictest safety requirements.
    
    I think, that since your child is only 9 months old, this would be 
    a wise investment.  He probably won't mind the "confinement" much and
    might get used to it (since a crib itself is quite confining - and
    most kids get used to that if that's all there is).
    
    Good luck with your climber!! ;-)
    
    Julie