What age is acceptable to remove child safety gates on stairs?
My daughter is 3 years old and stays with her grandparents one night a month. They have a very tall staircase that has wood, no carpeting, and her room is upstairs, while they sleep downstairs. My mother thinks our daughter is old enough to not use the gate at the top of the stairs any longer, but my husband and I are concerned that she’s still a little wobbly (especially after just having woken up) and there is a danger there. I’ve looked online for any info but would like some feedback from others who might have a similar situation. The thought of her falling scares me to death. How do you know when a child is old enough not to need safety gates?
When she can go up and down the stairs consistently by herself without falling, she’s old enough to not use the gates. My niece is 3 and every time my sister thinks she no longer needs the gates, she ends up falling down the stairs.
June 14th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
When she can go up and down the stairs consistently by herself without falling, she’s old enough to not use the gates. My niece is 3 and every time my sister thinks she no longer needs the gates, she ends up falling down the stairs.
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June 14th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
if she is still wobbly on the stairs then tell them that they need to leave the gate up so that there is not an accident
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June 14th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
16, just kidding. If YOU and your husband feel the time is not right then do not remove it. It is your decision.
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June 14th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
It really depends on your child. As you know every child is different. My daughter is 20 months and will not go up or down stairs unless someone is holding her hand. She’ll stand next to the stairs and call for someone but will never touch them alone. That being said, she walks up and down them like a pro without any issues. Since she’s a very petite girl I won’t let her use the stairs alone, however I feel is she was taller I wouldn’t have any issues.
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