Houston, we have a climber.

Amy is really wanting to climb things. (Sarah to a lesser extent.) If I take out the folding kitchen stepstool (a tall one with two steps and a seat) she is up it in seconds. She's also learning how to pull herself up on the coffee table on her belly and then shimmy over to the couch, although so far (thank goodness) it hasn't occurred to her to stand on the arms or back of the couch.

How did you respond to this? Is it better to give them something safe to climb on, or to say "no climbing in the house" altogether (if that is even possible)? Are they capable of learning (for instance) that it's OK to climb on the couch, but not on the dining room table?

Yikes, there is so much higher up that I don't want her to reach! To say nothing of the dangers of climbing itself -- like falling, tipping furniture over, etc.

 

Amy is really wanting to climb things. (Sarah to a lesser extent.) If I take out the folding kitchen stepstool (a tall one with two steps and a seat) she is up it in seconds. She's also learning how to pull herself up on the coffee table on her belly and then shimmy over to the couch, although so far (thank goodness) it hasn't occurred to her to stand on the arms or back of the couch.

How did you respond to this? Is it better to give them something safe to climb on, or to say "no climbing in the house" altogether (if that is even possible)? Are they capable of learning (for instance) that it's OK to climb on the couch, but not on the dining room table?

Yikes, there is so much higher up that I don't want her to reach! To say nothing of the dangers of climbing itself -- like falling, tipping furniture over, etc.

 

Wish I had the answer to this one. We keep putting boundries up and he keeps going. Kenna climbs a little but not nearly as much. I have gates everywhere. We even took away the kitchen table bc I was afraid they were going to fall off.
Here is Mitchell's latest antic and I can't figure out how to stop him. I put a gate up for the kitchen but with my older two they leave it open and I am terrified he will get hurt with something up there...

Sorry this wasn't any help...but just wanted to say I feel your pain and hope someone has some good answers!!!

 

When ours first started climbing, I did find them sitting on top of the dining room table a few times. Each time I told them no and put them on the floor. That seemed to work. We let the climb on the couch or on chairs. We don't really have much else to climb on. Ryan occasionally will put his feet up on the bottom drawer in the kitchen, but I am quick to tell him no and he is usually pretty good about stopping. I would say decide on what you won't allow and just be consistent each time.

 

Mine are climbers as well. They are constantly trying to get on top of the back of the couch or pushing a toy over to the arm of the couch and using it to crawl up over the arm of the couch, or trying to crawl up on top of anything they can. It is very frustrating. When they first started getting on the couch they would just run back and forth and just about fall off. I had to put put pillows all around the couch until they learned how to get off the couch without going head first. Now that the couch has been conquered, they are trying to climb on other things. They even try to climb on their activity tables! These two are way more fearless than my son ever was and, although I am glad they are trying new things, I don't dare take my eye off of them for long because I just don't know what they might decide to do next!

 

The way I saw it, climbing is in inevitable part of growing up. They're kids, they're going to climb. You can say no til you're blue....they will climb, so why not do what you can to make it safer for them and help them learn what is safe and not safe. Takes time, patience, and consistancy. When the girls first began climbing on to the sofa...or at least trying I would help them up. They would try to go down while on their backs and I would tell them, to do it the right way and help them do it that way (i.e. carefully slide down while on their tummy). That worked out so now they know how to climb down "the right way". So when I found that they could get up on the sofa but struggled, I knew I couldn't stop them from trying to get up on the sofa so I made it safer for them but getting my little step-aerobic platform (perfect) and setting it in front of the sofa for them to use to help themselves up. It made it easy and safe for them to do so. So that was exciting and new to be able to get up on the sofa all by themselves that they wanted to stand and try to run from one end to the other. I taught them that this was unacceptable by teaching them "on your butt". Okay, so maybe there is a nicer phrase out there but I smile and say it nicely and they do it. Now, if they insist upon not listening then mommy loses the smile and gets firm with it, but after about 3 months of this now, they might stand up and lean their back to the back of the sofa from time to time but they don't get crazy now and then don't try to run from one end to the other. Emily decided to try to start climbing into the dining chair where the tile flooring is. This makes me cringe, but again, there is NOTHING I can do about that. They see us sitting in those chairs and want to do it to..understandably. I try to keep the chairs pushed under but if she does want to climb up, we supervise. Other than that, there's no other crazy climbing like cribs or other furniture.

 

Welcome to my world!! Kyle climbs on EVERYTHING. I have to make sure the chairs are pushed totally under the table or he is on the kitchen table in 2 seconds flat. He has used the step stool for the older kids to get up on the breakfast bar and counter. HE climbs onto the couch then up the back of the couch, onto the coffee tables whatever he can.

I have no solution for it yet.

4jsinPA, wow! what a video! thanks for sharing. That's where Kyle is moving to next I fear!

 

OK, I guess there is no easy solution!

So far we have done OK with teaching Amy how to get off the sofa safely. I also try to follow my Dad's rule (which drove me crazy when I was little) that Mommy/Daddy won't help you get up onto something, because if you can't do it yourself, you shouldn't be doing it. Also, the chances are higher than you'll know how to get down (at least after the first few times).

4jsinPA, that's a crazy video! I showed my DH and he said, "Yikes."

 

Consistency is key. Yes, they are capable of learning what they can and cannot climb but it may take a while. Mine now look at the forbidden whatever and say "no-no" while shaking their heads. They usually will then refrain from the act they were thinking of. Not always, though. Sometimes they will clearly know they shouldn't and then they do anyway and grin at me when I stop them.

Pick your battles and then redirect, redirect, redirect... DH doesn't understand why I'm so tired when he gets home after a day of "doing nothing but watching the boys". They test me CONSTANTLY and their abilities to go upward far exceed their abilities to get down safely. Wish I could tell you it gets better but we're not there yet so I'm hoping it will eventually.