Baby gates

1199boo

Hello ladies,
My husband and I were wondering, with a two story house with bedrooms upstairs, how do you make sure your toddler doesn't fall down the stairs? We know putting a baby gate upstairs would possibly fix that problem but what happens when she learns how to open it?! She already walks and we have taught her how to climb the stairs with us behind her but how do you teach or do you teach a 13 month old to go down the stairs?

Arielle27

You can practice walking with her, but you definitely want gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. They are childproof so there is very little chance your kids will be able to open them any time soon... Our near-3 year old knows how to open ours but still physically cannot.

Arielle27

Oh and our 17 month old has only just started trying to walk down the stairs on her own, holding onto the wall. She can only manage a few at a time and we obviously never let her try without us there with a hand on her or arm in front of her.

jf198400

You have to have gates at both the top and bottom of all stairs.  My DD is turning 3 and still cannot open ours.  You can't really teach them how to go down, they will figure it out on their own.  DD didn't figure it out til she was 18months, but DS could do it at 12months.

1199boo

Thanks ladies for the advice! We finally were able to switch around the gates and put the one that swings open after being unlocked at the top of the stairs.

ballstar

Our playgroup teacher (35-year L&D nurse w/ 3 adult children) was talking about this just yesterday. She said to teach your toddler to get on his or her belly on the stairs and basically crawl backward down to the step below. She said this is much safer than holding their hand or having them walk alone because your momentum won't be possibly sending them off balance, and if they slip or stumble, they'll already be closer to the ground (the step) than if they were standing.