What do you do with a climbing toddler?

hlao23 · #1 09-09-2009, 09:15 AM

DS is 16-months-old and has just started climbing everything! He's gotten to the point that he realizes he can grab things to step on to help himself up to whatever he's wanting. I've gotten rid of many of the things that are enticing him but I can't empty every single surface and bookcase in my house (can I? Do I have to?)

We were playing a "game" of "keep-away" the other night while I cooked dinner. He would drag his chair over to the side of the island opposite where I was working so he could attempt to grab the tools/ingredients I was using. I would quickly move them to another location as he was stepping up then he'd step down move his chair to where I had moved and start again.

I love seeing the new skills he's learning but - OMG!

TLee4 · #2 09-09-2009, 01:53 PM

I remember starting time-outs with my first son a bit younger than that. We only did them for the "transgression" of climbing up onto the kitchen table (which he was obsessed with doing) because it was a safety issue. We would put him in the pack n play for time-out. It worked pretty fast. DH's reasoning was "if you can teach a dog to stay off of the furniture, he's at least as smart as a dog".

Good luck!
Terri

LaraW · #3 09-09-2009, 03:50 PM

If you have a high chair, you might try putting him in there where he can see you. You could even give him some utensils to play with so that he doesn't feel left out. He probably is just interested in what you are doing and wants to see.

DanaSD · #4 09-09-2009, 04:21 PM

we have a Learning Tower which allows my son to be at the same height as us. I put him on one side of the island and I work at the other. I used to give him playdough or a basket of play dishes while I cooked.

cchhbb · #5 09-09-2009, 05:47 PM

Both of my boys are/were excellent climbers. One thing I would recommend is quickly securing tall objects to the wall. A child in my neighborhood pulled an entertainment center over on himself while his mom was in the shower and had serious injuries. There are straps you can purchase that will allow this.

I bought some things that were for climbing. I had a slide in the playroom for awhile and several large foam type blocks that the boys could climb and roll down. They really enjoyed that.

By the age your son is, both my boys could climb out of our pack and play. I started using a booster with a lap belt in the corner for time out.

I bought a very sturdy step stool for the kitchen that the boys would stand on at the island to help.

I remember telling our Dr. at DS1's 15 month appointment that he had climbed on our dining room table and was hanging from the light fixture while I went to the bathroom. She suggested not going to the bathroom alone anymore and I did take him with me a lot of the time.

Good luck.
Cheryl

karen w · #6 09-09-2009, 06:23 PM

This is a tough age! My DS's were very early shakers and climbers. DS#1 walked at 8 months old and just shy of a year he was climbing all over everything. DS#2 walked at 9 months old! Yikes! Anyway, I did end up making one room which was right near my sight if I was in the kitchen totally "toddler climb proof" and he was gated in that room during times I could not be within immediate grabbing distance. This worked for awhile as at the time we lived in a very small apartment. Fortunately, for us when we moved into a bigger space, we did not have much furniture to fill it for a long time except the bare basics so it was not an issue, but we still kept the kids in a safe room with gates on either end. And it was not like prison. . . this was a large family room(20x20) with lots of toys etc.... and I was usually there at all times or at the very least I could see them.

Also, I found that they do figure out what "no" means at this age, but you have to be persistent and not lazy about it. In other words, if he is doing something that he should not, you look him in the eyes, give him a stern "no" and then get up and take him away from that situation. I found if I did not physically get up and take him away from the situation, he though it was just a game. And you will likely have to repeat doing that many times before he "gets" it but he will if you stick with it.

Good luck,
Karen

hlao23 · #7 09-11-2009, 12:32 PM

Thanks for all the tips

I'll have several different things to try out now. I probably do need to find something that brings him up to my height in a safe way that also gives him something to do.

The persistance point is a very good one too. Cooking is just one of those places I've had a hard time with the redirecting him or implementing a time out. I just need to plan better so I'm not needing to grab him when my hands are covered in shredded cheese or pizza dough!

skinnyme5456 · #8 09-12-2009, 09:54 AM

Although you love him to death, your only solution at this point is to establish rules and boundaries. Playing "keep away" while cooking only makes it more appealing and interesting to him. Sometimes a gentle "no" is the best solution.

oskie · #9 09-16-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaSD

we have a Learning Tower which allows my son to be at the same height as us. I put him on one side of the island and I work at the other. I used to give him playdough or a basket of play dishes while I cooked.

I love our Learning Tower. It lets DS climb up to see what's going on, instead of him blindly reaching up to grab things or tugging at my legs the whole time I'm trying to cook.

He brings his play food and wooden "knife" up to cook while I do and he loves to help in whatever way he can. You'd be surprised what they can help with at such a young age. If you're covered in cheese while you're making pizza, let him sprinkle some on top or have him stir the dough ingredients together. (ok, so "stirring" means that he holds the spoon and kinda swivels his shoulders around, but he thinks he's helping!)

It's a delicate balance - they're just so curious at this age and you want to encourage that, but you have to keep them safe. In our house, the stove area is totally off-limits, but everything else in the kitchen is ok. Yes, he has made some big messes, but he helps us to clean up.

As for the bookcases - can you use the bottom shelf of one of them for his books? That way he has his own shelf to use for his stuff and you can redirect him there when he wants to take things out of the bookcase.

claire909 · #10 09-18-2009, 07:58 AM

When my daughter was at that age all the things which were kept down went up, where she can not reach. that was our only chance to control her. because at this stage they cannot understand what is right action and what is not.

meno123 · #11 09-19-2009, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claire909

When my daughter was at that age all the things which were kept down went up, where she can not reach. that was our only chance to control her. because at this stage they cannot understand what is right action and what is not.

this is one good thing to do once you have a toddler on you home...
in addition, make sure all the outlet has a cover to keep your baby safe from poking the holes of the outlet...

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