Teaching them to do go DOWN the stairs

Our girls are 15.5 months old and we may be starting this a bit late but we have just moved into our new house (the one we were in for the last 3 months was one level). Our new house has 2 sets of stairs. They absolutely love going up them. They have also really picked up going down BUT that is because for the past 3 days since we have been here, my DH and I have both been home and we each go down with one. One likes to go down backwards, the other faces forward. So, when you are alone and they are just learning, how do you do it? Do you help one down first and then leave them at the bottom behind the gate (assuming you have a gate) while you get the other? Please help! Thanks!

 

we just started going down the stairs the other week. I tried showing them but they really didn't care for that. Somehow they both decided to get on their tummies and slide down the steps backwards. I know I shouldn't do this but I let them play for a while on the steps, while I am sitting at the top of the stairs. Once I have decided that they have had enough fun, I move myself down the stairs blocking the pathway for them. They get the idea that it is time to go somewhere but are not happy about it. I usually put one over the gate and then the other. We don't have gates at the bottom and top of the stairs yet but our downstairs is gated off at the foyer. If my DH knew how much I let them play on the stairs he wouldn't be too happy with me. I just figure they have to learn on their own sometime. My mom told me I had learned how to get down the stairs after I had tumbled down them. HTH

 

Since the last week of January my girls at (19 months) have really picked up on going down the stairs. At first I tried to teach them going down on their tummy. Then all of a sudden they decided to start going down face forward scooting on their bottoms. They come down together and I stand in front of them as they are coming down. Don't worry too much, they will get better. HTH

 

I walk in front of both my two and they walk down holding onto the wall ( walk backwards right in front of the first one and the other is right behind them). Before that I would hold both their hands and walk down. Mine never really wanted to come down backwards or on their bottoms, they just want to walk down.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Feb 19 2008, 09:22 PM) [snapback]630248[/snapback]
I walk in front of both my two and they walk down holding onto the wall ( walk backwards right in front of the first one and the other is right behind them). Before that I would hold both their hands and walk down. Mine never really wanted to come down backwards or on their bottoms, they just want to walk down.



This is exactly how we do it too! :icon_biggrin:

 

Hello! Max just started going down on his own in the last week. I sometimes have one on each knee and then went down bumbity style and Max has started doing it by himself! He holds on to the spindles on the stairs and sits down and bumps his way down while I hold his hand on the other side and he loves it. Eowyn still gets distracted going up the stairs so I doubt she will figure out how to go down the stairs for a while!

 

I know we do this extremely early in my home. My boys were 9 months when they started mastering up and down the stairs, by 18 months they could walk up and down them with no problem at all. Molly just turned one and she is able to go up and down them on her own as well. We have had to show all 3 of them to go down on their bellies, feet first. THe way we would do this was to put them on their tummies and tug at their feet. They learned quickly.

 

We started ours at 14 months because we had a gate in the foyer for a long time. They were physical ready and so I have been practicing with them going up and down. They also have class at "My Gym" which is a big plus for us. My daughter, Rianna learned quickly going up and down (onto her tummy). But my son, Justin prefer to walk down like we do. He still think it is a game when I tried to turn him around onto his tummy but tries to kick his feet and crawl upstairs. I tried 2 ways onto the tummy or butt and he still refused! Ugh!

I do hold his hands when he walk downward to the bottom of the stairs but if I am doing some errands around the house. I can't always be there every time that why I have a gate at the bottom and only do it w/supervision. I've been thinking of buying an extra railing for kids (I've seen the new catalog from "One Step Ahead" www.onestepahead.com I don't know if it worth to buy it?)

We have a gate at the bottom of the stairs for now. Once they transition from crib to twins bed, I'll have to get a new gate for top of the step. And if they ever get out of their room, they don't understand the dangerous if playing by the top of the stairs. They both already push each other when they want to go upstairs to nap or bedtime.

Diana w/Rianna and Justin (16.5 mos)

 

I stand lower than them both and let them both come down at the same time. One is now walking down the stairs and the other one will go belly or bottom down, depending on her mood. When we are both home, I make sure to practice walking up and down the stairs with my second DD, as PT wants her to work on that.