Gates and stairs

Tapthathank · June 2013

We moved into our new house (yay!) and we have more sets of stairs in this house. It's a 4 level split. We mainly hang out with DS on the main floor - which has the living room, kitchen and porch. We have a gate that leads downstairs, but nothing leading up to the bedrooms.

I'm worried that if I'm upstairs for a moment and he is hanging out in the living room, he will try to climb the stairs and fall down. Should I put up a gate at the bottom of the stairs? But then how will he learn how to climb the stairs? (We have a cat, so I want the kitty to be able to come and go as he pleases).

Tula214 · June 2013

I think you should definitely put up a gate. When he time comes, he can walk or climb stairs with you there to help. Cats can jump right over gates, too. That should be no issue.

mamahawk12 · June 2013

We've never had a gate that goes up the stairs and it has never been an issue or concern with either child. For times like you mentioned, I make sure DS is in his bouncer/high chair/etc. If it will be longer than that, I just bring him with me. So far he's shown zero interest in the stairs and my older son never did either.

megmb24 · June 2013

DD has just become obsessed with the stairs! We had to add a gate at the bottom, but it really is a pain. I want to get one that has the door thing so I don't have to step over it. I might wait until we move though.

bigbootyjudi · June 2013

I'd put up a gate.

God forbid something happen and it's all because you didn't, KWIM?

Your cat will be just fine. Both my cats jump over this just fine:

I took this 5 seconds ago, so excuse G's mess. I opened it so you can see what it used to be - just an iron gate with huge gaps inbetween. SO used black zip-ties to attach a piece of wood he had spraypainted black over it (he has yet to spraypaint the inside - it started raining the day he was doing all of this). The stairs are directly under that, without a landing, so my cats jump from the top of that gate all the way down to the first or second stair without a problem. It took all of .02 seconds for them to figure it out.

ETA: This seems ghetto, I know, lol. It actually looks a lot better than it seems like it would and we live in an apartment, so it's a temporary fix.

sdlaura · June 2013

We added a gate at the bottom. She'll still learn to climb stairs because we can leave it open. She can already climb from the bottom of the stairs to the top, which is why DH wanted it. I don't think we really need it since we keep a good eye on her, but he feels more comfortable knowing she won't climb half-way up in the 10 seconds he turns away - she's fast.

Tapthathank · June 2013

Thanks for the replies ladies. I just ordered another gate! BBJ - I can't see the picture you posted!

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