When could your child use the stairs?
How old was your child when you got rid of the gate to the stairs?
Three, but you have to teach them to hold the railing and take it slow. But when they are younger they will do the crawl up the stairs. As for gate at the top of the stairs it is really your best judgement to when you believe your child understands the danger of the stairs or defiently until they are able to stand for minutes at a time without falling or wobbling.
May 19th, 2010 at 3:52 am
My nephew is 2 years old and he can go up and down a couple of stairs at a time, but sometimes he gets overly excited and trips. Personally, I would wait until they are 5 or 6 just because kids are easily distracted and easily excited and they trip and fall a lot.
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May 19th, 2010 at 3:57 am
I would say….Four is the perfect age.
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May 19th, 2010 at 4:47 am
My kids are 4 and 2.5 and I started leaving the gate open. I close it when they are wound up, or when our large dog is bouncing around though.
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May 19th, 2010 at 5:22 am
Ok that last answer was just weird!! You dont have to wait untill you child is in kindergarden to let her use stairs…..WOW, If thier carpeted let em go up the stairs once they can crawl with you there of course, once thier walkin shell know how to do it…
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May 19th, 2010 at 5:35 am
Three, but you have to teach them to hold the railing and take it slow. But when they are younger they will do the crawl up the stairs. As for gate at the top of the stairs it is really your best judgement to when you believe your child understands the danger of the stairs or defiently until they are able to stand for minutes at a time without falling or wobbling.
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May 19th, 2010 at 6:01 am
Around 2 – 2 1/2 mark. But I set firm rules on stair use. My son even now his 4 must ALWAYS hold the hand rail when using the stairs. Not an accident to date.
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May 19th, 2010 at 6:07 am
whenever u think they should.
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May 19th, 2010 at 6:22 am
I don’t think age matters so much as ability. My daughter was a very early Stair Master and we haven’t kept the gates closed since she was about 15m. But we do keep them up for the few occasions when we need to confine her.
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May 19th, 2010 at 6:44 am
My older son was crawling up the stairs by 5 months, 1 week and down the stairs by 5 months, 2 weeks.
He could walk up and down using the railing by 8 months, 1 week (he was walking by 7 months old)
And he could walk up and down the stairs without using the raling by 11 months old (he was very steady on his feet and big for his age, so he was capable of doing it). Also he’s acted alot older then his age since about 6 months old or so, and at 11 months old was more like a 2, 2/1/2 year old.
I still kept the gate up though so that he wouldn’t accidently fall down the stairs, and i still have them up, but not for him, i know have them up for my twin boys.
Hope this helps,
EDIT: Oh i wanted to add that til he was 18 months old i was alwasy there when he went up or down the stairs, i didn’t just let him go up or down whenever.
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May 19th, 2010 at 7:17 am
8 months
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May 19th, 2010 at 7:59 am
My 19 month old can walk up stairs using the railing. He scoots / crawls down them backward on his belly.
That said, he’s no expert, and it will be a little while longer until we take the baby gate down. I don’t want him to attempt to go up or down if I’m not there to make sure he doesn’t fall.
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May 19th, 2010 at 8:14 am
I would say when they are confident enough on their feet to make it up and down the stairs by themselves; that would depend on your child. My 18-month-old sister can go down the stairs by herself (with supervision) while holding the railing, but can’t go up them yet.
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May 19th, 2010 at 8:25 am
The oldest is currently 2 1/2, and is comfortable on the stairs and can comfortably go up and down on his own. However, we still keep the gate at the top to keep him and his brother from going down unsupervised or falling.
The youngest just turned a year, and can crawl up the stairs (starting around 10 or 11 months) but needs constant supervision. He can safely go down one or two steps, like are what is in between the living/dining area but not large staircases.
I think a lot depends on the child and how comfortable and well they do on the stairs.
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