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Climbing on Everything

rsideemdrsideemd member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
LO just turned a year old this week. And she has discovered that she can climb on things (her walkers, piano, etc.). We tell her "no" and try to get her interested in something else, but she keeps going back to those toys. I don't know what else to do other than taking the toys away and putting them in another room. But she's not going to learn it's wrong if I hide everything from her. Her pediatrician said there's not much we can do at this age, so I was just wondering if someone else had some advice. We're both scared she's going to fall and hurt herself, because of her climbing.

Thanks.
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Re: Climbing on Everything

  • cmt115cmt115 member
    i just keep my eye on LO and grab him when he is going towards something bad. or i let him climb and just stay behind him for support. probably not the advice you were looking for but like your pedi said, i don't think theres much you can do at this point. its just exploring. 
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  • rsideemdrsideemd member
    theresat858 said:
    Um, just let her climb on things over a soft surface?  Buy a play mat...  I move things to our carpeted area if DD is climbing, but climbing is part of how they learn and explore. I wouldn't discourage it entirely.
    I don't worry too much if it's something that is stationary. It's mainly the toys with wheels that I worry about. She's on the carpet when she's playing. And I know it has to do with development and her learning balance. I'm just being a worrier I guess. I don't want her to get hurt.
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  • sunshinelove1sunshinelove1 member
    Just let her climb while you supervise and help if appropriate. She will climb on everything she can find soon enough, so you might as we'll help her with the skills. It is a scary stage though!

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  • ASmallWonderASmallWonder member
    rsideemd said:
    theresat858 said:
    Um, just let her climb on things over a soft surface?  Buy a play mat...  I move things to our carpeted area if DD is climbing, but climbing is part of how they learn and explore. I wouldn't discourage it entirely.
    I don't worry too much if it's something that is stationary. It's mainly the toys with wheels that I worry about. She's on the carpet when she's playing. And I know it has to do with development and her learning balance. I'm just being a worrier I guess. I don't want her to get hurt.
    I know it's hard but the honest truth is that, despite your very best efforts, she WILL get hurt at some point.  Of course we try to limit it as much as we can.  "No" loses its effectiveness if you overuse it so IMO, you try to save that for big things.  Try redirection.  That's not a climbing toy.  Let's XYZ."  Even better if you can offer her a different climbing opportunity because she's less likely to feel you're stopping her if she's still getting to climb.
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  • zbeesma86zbeesma86 member
    we bought a play mat from Target and have it down in our main room where she plays. It's foamy so if she does fall it will keep her from hitting the hardwood.

    But absolutely let her climb around! Be there, for safety. But it's a good thing!
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  • ALHickok1ALHickok1 member
    I always just let DS climb unless it was dangerous. I was always right next to him. DS was always into wanting to climb, he learned to get up the steps before he was really crawling by about 6.5 months. He scared me at times, but I knew he was exploring and I always made sure someone was around if he wasn't contained in a pack 'n play or sleeping.
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  • shoesontoesshoesontoes member
    And this is why I call DD "monkey".

    I basically let her have at it, unless it seems particularly dicey. Gymnastics class and swim lessons help a lot to tire her out, too! :)

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  • DiveFrogDiveFrog member

    DD 16months is on EVERYTHING, there is absolutely no way I could stay sane and keep her off of everything that could potentially hurt her.

    We really only enforce that she will not play on the stairs (they are all wood and steep) and she will not climb/stand on tables (dining room/end tables/night stands). Otherwise, we pretty much let her go wherever she wants and just stay close as necessary.

    Sometimes the natural consequences are the best. We have a low glass end table in our family room that DD managed to climb onto...the top just sits on the base. She learned pretty quickly it was not a stable place for her and it moving scared her. She hasn't tried to climb on that table again.

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