My 14 month old DS is the climber from...well you get the idea. He is driving me insane!! They have the little tikes cars with the tall roofs on them, he climbs to the top. My oldest DS has a bunk bed, he climbs to the top. I found him doing a little dance on the counter top yesterday, he scaled up there while my back was turned using a kitchen chair and a bar stool. He got stuck in the bathroom sink, he used the commode to climb up on the counter and sat in the little bitty sink. He climbs on the back of the couch. He always climbs up on the kitchen table, I tuck all the chairs in and I even started moving them away..he still gets up there.

Has anyone had a climber?

What do you do?

By Lauram on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 06:39 pm:

I'm right there with you. My advice- grin and bear it- and don't take your eyes off him!

By Mommmie on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 07:49 pm:

Take him to an indoor climbing place! There are little bitty kids doing it - scaling the climbing walls twice as fast as the adults!

By Marg on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 07:53 pm:

I'm with Laura, my youngest dd is a climber. It started at 12 months out of crib, playpen, anything! The playpen and bed went, and I placed a mattress on her bedroom floor so she could sleep on it. And if she rolled out, she was only inches from the floor. No playpen, it became a thing to climb on!

At night I would put the gate at her door(I could still hear her because of the monitor).

At 18 months that stopped, she climbed out. She would raid the cupboards and fridge at night while we were sleeping, yes, she would do it. I got no sleep. We wanted a fourth child, but at my age, I didn't know if I could handle it, seriously!

She has stopped it, but she still uses our bar stools to get to unreachable cupboards! She is a regular monkey.

Mine was from 12 months until current, she is 3 yrs 8 months. 32 months worth! Very tiring and exhausting.

Like Laura said a constant eye!

She is getting better, she is taller and happier with her heighth. Her behavior has changed drastically for the better within the past 6 months.

I used to pull my hair out. But I realize now, she is very independent and loves her independence. She also has sisters ages 11 and 8 and she really believes she should be able to do anything they do. They do include her in about everything which is very helpful and what wonderful sisters they are! I do stop things that I know will become disastrous, lol!

Just try to be patient, and btw, I got rid of my bunkbeds. Too many monkeys jumping on the beds!

Good luck!

By Happynerdmom on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 08:59 pm:

I had two climbers. One day when my ds was around 18 mos., I walked into the living room and found him halfway up the shelves that went from floor to ceiling! I agree with the posts above...not really much you can do but keep an eye out. As they get older, they get even more daring! But, as mentioned, I think it can indicate some pretty positive character traits!

By Coopaveryben on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 09:16 pm:

Did anyone anchor dressers and other large heavy things the walls?
Maybe it does have a lot to do with trying to keep up with his brothers, he too thinks he has to do everything they do.

By Ladypeacek on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 07:47 am:

Yep, i got one of those, mine is 19 months. He climbs up bookshelves, tables, counters, you name it. It is VERY tiresome too. I spend all day pulling him down off things, he likes to get on the back of the couch and jump. i am just waiting for the concussion!

By Bellajoe on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 12:59 pm:

My ds used to do that also. Now that he is 3, he doesn't climb as much.

Just make sure everything is bolted or anchored down, so nothing tumbles down on him. There is no stopping these climbers! Keep a watchful eye and pray this phase doesn't last too long

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 06:27 pm:

Wow, neither of my girls did that! LOL! Guess I was lucky!

By Fraggle on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 07:05 pm:

My youngest DD was a climber. I tried to find some things she could climb on safely-it helped get some of that energy out. We would make stairs out of the cushions from the couch if we needed something at home. The climbing the slide also helped. Getting out and going to places that had equipment for young children also helped get some energy out. Other than that like everyone else said-keep a watchful eye and anchor all of the bookshelves and dressers in his room to the wall.

By Debbie on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 10:50 am:

I had a climber. Yes, you definitly want to anchor heavy things to the walls. We did this with all dressers and big things that we thought might tip over. I also had to watch him closely for awhile.

My ds was 10 months when he started walking and was climbing soon after. One day I walked into the kitchen and he was hanging from my light fixture. It was the kind that has a long bar between two lights. He used the stools at the island to climb onto the island so he could reach the light. Needless to say, the bar stools went in the garage after that. My ds is 3-1/2 and has outgrown climbin, but he is definitely more daring then my older ds. However, he has such a wonderful, cheerful and loving personality. God must have blessed him with this so I won't kill him

By Happynerdmom on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:43 am:

LOL Debbie! I've always said God made toddlers so cute so that we'll let them live! (And teenagers so difficult so it will be easier to let them go!)

By Momaroze on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

If it's not one thing it's another. Doesn't get easier only gets different! Good luck and hope you have good vision LOL (how corny was that)

By Coopaveryben on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 03:58 pm:

I love that Michelle, that is too cute.

I have been sick all day, so I had them in the bed with me this morning. I look up and he has used the head board to climb into the window sill and is just standing with his face pressed on the glass. A SECOND STORY WINDOW-Yikes! I guess we will be moving the bed when my DH gets home.

By Fraggle on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 04:07 pm:

That just reminds me, we keep all of our windows closed on the bottom even in the summer time and just open them from the top. If you can't do that then I have seen a kind of gate that can go across your window. Yes, and move all of the beds and any other furniture that can be climbed up away fromt the window. Hopefully he will be through the climbing stage soon! Good Luck.