Talk to me about stairs - Page 2

[Courtney-Ostaff]

I'd get gates, just in case. Hardware mounted!!!  They're much more difficult for a wee one to push over.  And, if you're worried about the wee one climbing over them ('cause my daughter totally could, but she just doesn't bother), stack two, one on top of the other. That will put paid to that issue!  Depending on the kind you get, it can be an easy latch for you.  Plus, since you're having another one soon, once you have the hardware in place, you don't need to worry about the gates for the next one. Issue will be moot.

[corasmom]

I think gates would be a good idea especially after the new baby starts to move. That being said, I also think it's important to let your child go up and down the stairs supervised. It's not off limits unless you aren't around.

[AFWife]

Update: We went back to the house to take some measurements yesterday. DS wanted to go up the stairs (and we were going to because the bedroom we needed to look at is up there) so he stood at the bottom and waited for us. He wouldn't go up alone. It was the same with the way down.

[SubliminalDarkness]

At that age, we had a gate at the bottom, but not at the top. We had one at the bottom so we could contain him on the same floor as us, as I didn't want him having full run of the house yet. 

I would also add that I strongly discouraged, actually flat out disallowed, him walking up or down stairs, even if holding hands with an adult. A child that young is simply not consistently coordinated and balanced enough to do it safely on their own, and there will come a time when the child will try to do it when alone. 

[2Peaches]

As a pregnant mama, I recommend getting gates just to make your life easier.....I just had my second and dd is 5 today, so stairs were not an issue...but if she were a toddler it sure would be.  When I am nursing the babe that is when the older one likes to do dangerous things because she knows I can't physically stop her :)

[arounds]

I was a bit freaked about stairs when we moved into a house with stairs with a 9month old. My husband insisted on teaching our son to use the stairs.  I was really unsure about it,  However, 8 years and 3 kids later, I think that teaching kids to use them is the best idea.  My kids have all learned about stairs early on and are agile, adept, confident people. When we have had guests who with young kids who don't have stair experience, we'll use baby gates, and it's shown me a huge difference in the kids understanding of safety. The kids w ho have baby gates (generalizing I know) have not shown any caution, while my kids know their limits.