Stairs
bosha711
member
How much freedom are you giving your toddlers when it comes to stairs - mainly if you have a full flight of stairs in your house?
I let DS go up & down on his own with me following behind or ahead. At least once a day, though, if he sees the gate at the bottom is open, he will take off up stairs on his own just b/c he knows he's not supposed to.
MH is extremely strict on this & will put DS in time out if he goes up/down on his own. I am more lenient, though b/c I feel like he is capable so long as he goes slowly & so long as he lets me know he's going to go.
I think that if he does it knowing he's not supposed to, he will run up quickly, which is more dangerous. If he's allowed to do it, then it wouldn't be a big deal & he wouldn't run, which would of course, be safer.
So what is your opinion?
(Our stairs are not carpeted, FWIW.)
Re: Stairs
Oh, and mine are wood.
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We don't have a gate (we moved into this house when she was 15 mo and good at stairs) and she pretty much has free reign of the stairs. I don't always follow behind her.
ETA: Our stairs are carpeted with a landing in the middle. I guess I'm the slacker parent here, but we haven't had any major issues!
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MH needs to loosen up, is what it comes down to, I think! lol.
DS started climbing the stairs at 9 months old & it's been a disagreement ever since! Now DD is climbing & it's double the argument.
Audrina goes up and down when ever the gates are not up and I trust her. She knows she has to keep her hand on the railing when going down.
P.S. you kids are adorable in your siggy pic. I have been trying to be around more often but we have just been so busy!
K is 14months now and she is doing really well with stairs too. Hopefully we can get rid of gates by the end of the year.
We have one long flight of hardwood stairs - no landing. I still go ahead of him when he's walking down and follow behind when he's walking up. He's a bit clumsy and still slips sometimes, but it's usually only one step. I worry he will slip and fall down the whole flight of stairs, so I still spot him.
I think I'd be a little more lenient if there was a landing halfway and if DS wasn't so clumsy =P
Stairs are off limits to DD on her own for the most part. The 3 getting from our garage are fine, but we have a flight of stairs for the basement that are carpeted. The railing still seems to high for her, and they are open ( with no wall on one side) for half the steps. She gets silly and laughing many times in the stairs. She is doing better but we still follow her. She also has no need to be in basement alone. She knows stairs are a big no no in our house.
we have carpeted stairs with a landing in between. O has fallen down them twice...ALL the way down...while DH was right in front of him. he is not allowed to go them alone. we stand right behind him while he is going up, and right next to him/in front of him while his going down.
we have a gate separating the living room and the stairs. he knows how to open it, but gets a stern talking to if he does.
Our stairs are hardwood, with a carpet runner. We have a gate at the top, but mostly use it at bedtime/naps to ensure he doesn't come downstairs.
DS can go up and down by himself, but we usually accompany. He can get distracted, especially when he's excited, going too fast, or carrying something - like a toy or his blankie.