My ds is now 21 months and he can scale anything, we have tried doubling the gates but he climbs over them still! Not to mention it is a real pain having to take them down everytime someone needs to get past. My concern is the stairs, he does not crawl up and down stairs like most kids, he has to walk up and down and although he is pretty good at it I am not ready to hear him fall since he is still fairly small for the steps. I have NO idea what to do to deter him. I chase him away fromt he gates ALL day and can't get anything done cuz i can't look away for one second! What to do?

By Colette on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 05:05 pm:

I had a climber too. I'd take the gates down if you can't keep them off of them, otherwise they are liable to fall with him on them. My dd used to do that, and get up on the rail of her crib and jump off.

By Emily7 on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 05:23 pm:

My sister had to attach a piece of wood that swung for the adults.

By Gammiejoan on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 05:29 pm:

I remember posting a year or so ago about the problems we were having with my younger grandson climbing into all kinds of dangerous situations. We never did come up with a "majic cure." Instead we just had to keep a very close eye on him in addition to removing dangerous situations when we could. Thank goodness he isn't constantly climbing now, and he doesn't keep us quite as busy looking out for his safety. He will be three years old next month. The only advice I have is to do what you can to keep him from getting hurt and hope that the climbing behavior will decrease once he finds other things to keep his attention.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:28 pm:

As far as gates. They sell a taller version of them. For the girls and my niece we went out and bought thin pieces of wood and we put them (used brackets and screws) in the gate so it covered the mesh. The taller gates make it harder for them to reach the top to pull up and the wood makes it so they can't get their little toes in the mesh..

You could also hang a temporary half door. Just take a sheet of ply wood, taller than ds, that will fit the door frame. Put a couple of hinges on the side way from DS and some form of latching system. Then paint it the same color as the door frame.

I honestly do not know why they haven't come up with a better baby gate. Climbing them has been an issue for everyone I know. And even dogs figure out how to get over them adventually.. Go figure. And good luck.

By Palmbchprincess on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:56 pm:

I've got climbers too! They have bruises all over them right now from their escapades. They have been climbing out of cribs, and hanging like monkeys from the sides. I have no advice, just that this too shall pass! I figure God equipped children with enough safety features to survive toddlerhood, so just try to keep an eye on him whenever possible, and prepare for the knots and bumps!! One thing I found VERY helpful, especially with Shane, is to find something for him to "help" with while you do your chores. Shane is a "pleaser", he wants to make everyone happy, so I was constantly fighting to keep him away while I cleaned. Now I just hand him laundry to put in the dryer, give him a towel to "clean" the floor, or a bowl and spoon to "cook" with mommy. The distraction can keep him from climbing and getting into stuff. Maddie is another story. A snack or DVD is my only hope for safe distraction!

By Melanie on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 09:34 pm:

All I can add to what has already been said is that kids are made of rubber. LOL. DD wasn't a climber, but she did insist on walking down stairs from a very early age. I let her and she became very good at it. Not many tumbles. Hang in there...he will be good at the stairs in no time.

By Marcia on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 10:23 pm:

My oldest was a climber. I bought a Little Tikes small waffle climber and put it in the living room. It gave her lots of time to safely climb, and kept her very busy.

By Kittycat_26 on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 08:20 am:

That is too funny Crystal. You are using the same solution that I came up with for Timmy. He is my right hand man and that has been the only way to "tame" him. He loves to do laundry and has a step stool so he can help me cook.

As for steps, I made a game of it by sitting on my butt and bouncing down them. Now he'll do the same thing. It hasn't stopped him from going up and down but it has made it a little bit safer.

What independant little children we all have!