need help with climbing toddlers

Lisa - posted on 06/30/2010

I agree with the others, I don't think there is anything you can do to stop them. My twin girls are 21 months and have been climbing on everything. The toy box with the shelves on top, the rack that holds toy bins, EVERYTHING. They even watch my older son and move toys in front of cabints so they can reach the counters and the sink. You just have to keep a close eye on them so they don't fall and get hurt.

Lisa - posted on 06/24/2010

My girls, now 4, are climbers too, one of them started at 8 months! We always talked about "Safety first" (rather than "No"), and said it if they were starting to climb something unsafe and repeat as we'd redirect them to something reasonably safe - for us, that meant we had a 'sacrificial' sofa, kept the area around it clear and cushioned. Also a kangaroo climber outside. After lots and lots of repetition, we'd be able to say "Safety first!" and they'd rethink their plans on their own, sometimes giving us a mischievous grin but they'd back down.

Some things were too tempting - a stack of drawers in the kitchen with nice bar handles made a perfect ladder - so we had to remove the handles for a while. Make sure you secure all tall climbables, dressers & drawers. Watch out for stacks of drawers -- they can pull them out and make stairs, then when they climb them the whole thing topples over!

If you have stairs, teach them to climb on those safely and you may be surprised how competent little ones can become.

I have a video of one twin at two climbing onto the kitchen counter to get treats out of the upper cabinets. I never expected to need to babyproof stuff over 4' high, but I've gone up to 6' due to my climbers!

Good luck, it does get easier as they communicate more & listen better.

Kisha - posted on 06/24/2010

Mi twin boys are 21 months and all they does is climb up on any and everything in their paths. We take them to the park and they love it but when we get back home they still climb on everything. and they fall and it still doesn't stop them. When they start climbing up in the chair I tell them no they look at me and say no no and still do it. good luck with getting them to stop and if you get them to stop please please let me know how you did it.

Linda - posted on 06/18/2010

My twin boys are now 6 and I remember going through that phase well ;O) I can only say what we did and that taking them to parks with climbing frames. We went to one park that had a huge spiders web climber and helped them climb some of the lower parts. We also took them to inside playgrounds where it was safe to climb. Unfortunately, it is a phase-my eldest (who is 10 now) went through it around 2 yrs until he was about 4. My twins went through it alot faster 2yrs until just after they turned 3......mind you then it wasnt the climbing it was the fact they wouldnt sit in there stroller anymore argh! Now there 6 its a matter of wearing them out during the day with all the energy they have! GOOD LUCK, perhaps create some backyard climbing obstacles that are safe to get rid of that excess energy. It is a phase hopefully it wont last too long :O) Take care and I hope the phase runs its course quickly!

Denise - posted on 06/17/2010

I agree it won't stop. My twins are 3 1/2 and my son taught my daughter how to climb. I constantly removed them from the unsafe objects. And yes they finally stopped climbing on them, but it seemed like an eternity. All I ever did was remove kids, from the tables, chairs, etc. It drove me crazy. They now like to climb on the on the big kid climbers at the park which scares me to death. Wish I had some good advice. Maybe a small Kangaroo climber if you have the room.
Good luck!!!

Luana - posted on 06/16/2010

Sorry girls but they wont stop!!! my boys are now 6 years old and they still climb everything ! other moms go nuts when they see my sons climb to the tops of trees at the parc. at first i tried to stop them but now i just tell them to be carefull and keep an eye on them all the time. when they were smaller we made sure to secure all bookshelf and stuff like that . Hang in there !

Pip - posted on 06/16/2010

My twins are 23 mths and have been climbing everything for a while now. I thought it would stop but it hasn't LOL

Laura - posted on 06/16/2010

my twins are only 11 months but they are climbing everything...i mean my son climbed out of the bath the other day hen i wasnt looking, they climb their bikes, the stairs the stairgate etc.....i had their area that i have gated in....its under the stairs,,, that way they can climb over things etc but cant hurt themselves.....i dont know ho to stop thembut i suppose better if i keep them safe..hope i help ♥

Misty - posted on 06/16/2010

LOL, I hate to tell you but I don't think it's possible to get them to stop. My girls are almost 2 and they have been climbing on everything for a while and I never can get them to stop. They are in toddler beds bc one climbed out of the crib at 19 months. Good Luck!!!