This is getting to be outta control

stever · April 2011

Our downstairs space has basically looked like a bunker for the past year. All books and chotchkies moved to to higher shelves, the mirror above the sofa removed, media childproofed, chairs kept out of the way when not in use.

It's pretty full on. My little climber is all over the freakin' place.

Well today we reached a new logistical crisis: he can climb over the gate to the stairs. It must be nearly 3.5 feet high, but he can pull himself up over. WTF?

The issue with stairs isn't a safety issue so much as DH working up stairs and needing M to stay away so he can get some work done.

Anyhoo, our temporary solution was to move dining room table so that it's in front of the stairs.

Seriously? Is my kid the only one that climbs this much? Or are DH and I just really inept?

robynlesley · April 2011

You're not inept... Mikey is just an adventurous climber.

stever · April 2011

robynlesley:
You're not inept... Mikey is just an adventurous climber.

Thanks Robyn. I'm really at a loss and have been feeling like we missed some memo about effective childproofing.

kikijbunny · April 2011

When my sister was a toddler I remember how all of the dining room chairs had been removed from the dining room, because she would climb onto the table and then try to hang off the chandelier. Then one day we heard this scraping noise coming from down the hall... my sister was dragging a chair from the other room so she could get back up on the dining table.

I know that's not particularly helpful, but at least know you are not alone!

stever · April 2011

kikijbunny:
When my sister was a toddler I remember how all of the dining room chairs had been removed from the dining room, because she would climb onto the table and then try to hang off the chandelier. Then one day we heard this scraping noise coming from down the hall... my sister was dragging a chair from the other room so she could get back up on the dining table.
I know that's not particularly helpful, but at least know you are not alone!

That's why our chairs are stashed in the closet. At first he pulled them out from under the table then, when we moved them across the room he'd pull them back over.

And it's incredibly helpful knowing we're not freaks for packing up all our furniture. Stick out tongue

peeper72 · April 2011

We have chairs in the closet too. The top of our refrigerator and desk hutch look ridiculous because everything goes higher and higher out of reach.

I have a friend who swears her husband put a stop to this by letting the baby play only in her room. Our house isn't big enough for that kind of confinement, for one thing. Secondly, I will happily sacrifice the appearance of my home decor in order to to let my actions speak to my child that she is part of our family.

You're not alone!

stever · April 2011

peeper72:
We have chairs in the closet too. The top of our refrigerator and desk hutch look ridiculous because everything goes higher and higher out of reach.
I have a friend who swears her husband put a stop to this by letting the baby play only in her room. Our house isn't big enough for that kind of confinement, for one thing. Secondly, I will happily sacrifice the appearance of my home decor in order to to let my actions speak to my child that she is part of our family.
You're not alone!

M.Amy · April 2011

Wow! That is amazing. Matt hasn't considered climbing over the gate yet (thank god!)

Peppernut · April 2011

Yeah, thank goodness Margaux is short, because she is a total monkey. Yesterday I was trying to nap while MIL watched her, and I hear a "Gah, nonononononon!" Margaux had climbed some bookshelves to get to the bag holding my late FIL's medications and needles. Luckily she was caught before she got hurt...

No more naps for me.

carladillon · April 2011

We have a bunch of crap stored on our top bookshelves. Thankfully, she hasn't started climbing yet (knocking on the biggest piece if wood I can find).

leslieb923 · April 2011

Oh, you girls are scaring me! Thomas isn't walking yet (I think soon though) but already I can see him plotting how to climb out of the pack and play! Yikes!

superaunt · April 2011

holy hell does this thread frighten me!

i guess it's a good thing Sabrina goes to daycare all day so she can get it out there! ; )

daisydana · April 2011

Oh my! Mikey the Great Adventurer! Awesome that you are thinking of putting your dining room table in front of the stairs. Except for the state of your living area. But... go Mikey!

stever · April 2011

leslieb923:
Oh, you girls are scaring me! Thomas isn't walking yet (I think soon though) but already I can see him plotting how to climb out of the pack and play! Yikes!

Yeah, we haven't put M in the PnP in about a year. Instead we use it to store his toys. That'll have to stop soon as well since he can almost climb INTO the PnP. Ug.

stever · April 2011

Peppernut:
Yeah, thank goodness Margaux is short, because she is a total monkey. Yesterday I was trying to nap while MIL watched her, and I hear a "Gah, nonononononon!" Margaux had climbed some bookshelves to get to the bag holding my late FIL's medications and needles. Luckily she was caught before she got hurt...
No more naps for me.

Yoiks. And that's why we don't let my dad and step-mom babysit - step-mom keeps her meds in a bowl by the sofa in the TV room. Just sitting there.

stever · April 2011

daisydana:
Oh my! Mikey the Great Adventurer! Awesome that you are thinking of putting your dining room table in front of the stairs. Except for the state of your living area. But... go Mikey!

Not thinking about it, it's there. Blocking our front door, making it hard for me to get to the bathroom and requiring DH to jump over the banister if he wants to come downstairs. We look like we're moving.

stever · April 2011

superaunt:
holy hell does this thread frighten me!

i guess it's a good thing Sabrina goes to daycare all day so she can get it out there! ; )

I think it's good that she can run around too! The main reason M wants up the stairs is because he knows his dad's there, but it's also because he's bored.

And watch out, because this thread shows that the climbing is definitely not just a boy thing Surprise

NewMrs07 · April 2011

Thankfully, Adrian hasn't climbed out of the crib or PnP yet... I'm dreading the day he does b/c those are the only 2 places where I can put him and go take a shower or something w/o worrying too much. But he does climb just about everything else: our bed, the sofa, the coffee table, the chairs, and the glass dining table (yikes). I have to watch him so he won't climb the glass table but luckily, telling him "no" a gazillion times seems to finally be working. I still have to watch him but he doesn't do it as much as before.

Now, his obsession with the cable box and DVD buttons... that's another story *sigh*

Dragonflyer · April 2011

I should post a picture of Finn's head right now. He looks like he went through a windshield minus most of the cuts. He has a cut on his nose and on his forehead. 4 giant bruises on his head, a black eye, a bruised cheek......

not only does he climb but he falls off the other side. Seriously thinking about a helmet with a face mask at this point

ateytelb · April 2011

We have gates with vertical slots at the bottom and top of the stair case. My very active 3 y.o. can't climb over the gates yet.

fiazo · April 2011

Wow that's crazy! You can't turn your back now. Sienna just learned how to climb up on the chairs, but usually when I scold her & tell her she's going to get a big booboo she most of the time stops. I feel like my living /dining room/ kitchen are one big playroom. the insane thing is I pick up after her all day long. I wish we had a bigger house already.

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