Climbers; my son is 17 mths and is an extreme climber. He will climb anything and everything and if he can't reach it with his knee or pull himself up he will push a chair or get a toy or use anything to help him get up to where he wants to go. At first we thought it was great problem solving and him just showing his independence but it's gotten to the point that it can be rather dangerous especially when it's really high. We have tried telling him no, pulling him down, light taps on the hand and time outs, but the problem is his just too young to understand. We have even let him fall from a short height thinking that it may scare him alittle to stop but he was right back at it he didn't even cry. And how ever short the time sometimes you need to leave him for 2 min to run to the loo or help the other kids and the min your back is turned he's at it. Anyone else have an extreme climber ? How did you combat it ??? Iam so worried his going to climb something slip and seriously hurt himself.
I want to encourage and nurture his independence but how do I stop him climbing.
Extreme climbing toddler
Extreme climbing toddler
Posted in:
Baby & Toddler
3 Replies
I used to have to take my toddler to the loo with me. Basically if I went somewhere he had to come too.
I'd also make sure book shelves etc and tied to the walls as a precaution.
My son was such a climber he climbed out of his cot and out a bedroom window at 11months! He was a confident walker by the time he was 10 mths. It was exhausting as he had absolutely no fear what so ever.
With constant redirection and teaching other play skills he grew out of it eventually but took constant monitoring to keep him alive in the meantime!
I tried kinder gym etc
I have a joke with my son - he was walking at 9 months and climbing walls at 10 months. While I laugh now at the time it sent me insane. I would just continue to pull him down, say no and time out. It wasn't easy but eventually worked. The other helpful thing I found was I would take him places (when he was about 16months old) he could freely climb. Parks where he had ropes to climb on or trees, it really settled him down with things like getting on the kitchen bench. He is 4 now and still climbs like a pro (he can stack and balance things well too to climb on) but it is very rare. I love his ability to balance, making him dance it out was another little thing that worked (because of his balance he is quite a good dancer).
I thought of the swings and have taken him a number of times but he won't climb their, he won't climb at anyone else's house ect either it's only at home where he feels comfortable.