What age to walk down stairs independently

[TeenAndTween]

DD2 is 10 and we are finally getting to see OT next week.
She still cannot walk down the stairs 'adult style' without using a bannister.

I can't find info on t'internet as to when this would 'normally' occur.

At what age could your child walk down the stairs alternating feet confidently without holding on to something?

[TeenAndTween]

Coolas yes, but there is a big difference between like to and need to.

I know it is still a long way off, but in 2 years she will be at secondary and she will get mown down in the crush if she still can't do stairs confidently by then.

[ladeedad]

How is her balance otherwise?

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

DS is nearly 12 but I would estimate he has been able to do this for a minimum of 4 years. 10 seems quite old to not be able to do this. Hope the OT can come up with something.

[TeenAndTween]

She was prem. Her balance is poor-middling, has trouble with stepping stones, balance beams stuff like that. Her fine motor skills are passable, not great. Can't skip with a skipping rope; can swim well, but maybe not so well for someone who has had 6 years of lessons. Suspect her ball catching is below age but hard for me to judge.
Older sister (age 15) is awaiting a dyspraxia assessment.

So, when should a child usually be able to walk downstairs without holding on?

[Stillwishihadabs]

4

[hollie84]

We don't have a bannister and DS has been walking down for a while now - so 3-4ish.

[Pagwatch]

I was going to suggest dispraxia.

10 is late. To be honest I would take her to OT too. ds1 had some issue which he overcame quite quickly once they were identified.

[TeenAndTween]

Still 4? really? alternating feet?

[socially]

DS can do this and he's 2.

[hollie84]

I'm assuming DS alternates feet - I'll make him walk downstairs in a minute and report back.

[lljkk]

I would also think 3yo, Teen&Tw, sorry. But my youngest is now 6yo and I never thought about it. Certainly for at least 2 yrs now with youngest. High speed tummy slides before that and sliding down the skirting board while holding onto the bannister also the rage at about 6yo.

[TeenAndTween]

She was seen by 'balance doctor' in Reception and signed off 18 months later. Last year when she turned 9 we asked to see them again, and she was referred to OT which has finally come through.
She is way less accident prone than her big sister.

(Just thought, I hope we don't have to wait a year for sister to be seen, aim was to try to get an assessment before having to make 6th form choices.)

[3pigsinblanketsandasausagerole]

Both my son's from about 3 possibly younger for ds1

Dd 18 months and not allowed to come down on her own

[BuckskinnedAstronaut]

Without touching a wall or a banister, socially?

I know DD2 was expected to be able to do alternating feet at three (she didn't get a tick in that box because our home stairs are very steep and she's very little; subsequently got it ticked off on other stairs) but that didn't specify not holding on.

[s88]

2.5 . now 5 and runs up and down !

[hollie84]

Have just checked and 4yo steps both feet onto each stair rather than one per stair iyswim.

[TeenAndTween]

Just to clarify, as I'm amazed at some of the early ages.
I mean alternating feet, only one foot on each stair, just like an adult.

[ChillingGrinBloodLover]

It depends on the depth of the stairs too - but I'd say a normal set of house stairs around 4, yes.

I hope the appointment with the OT can start you down a path to help your DD.

[TeenAndTween]

Thank you hollie , DD2 can do stairs no bannister with 2 feet per step, or adult style with bannister.

[PandaNot]

Dd can do this at nearly 7 and probably has been able to do it for a while but I always tell her to hold the bannister if there is one because she often gets distracted and misses a step if she's not careful!

[ChillingGrinBloodLover]

Teen it's hard to explain, but yes, most 3 year olds can use stairs 'like an adult' as long as each step isn't too high. So it's the height of the step that stops most of them, not the one foot on each step ability... iyswim.

[ChillingGrinBloodLover]

I am now having trouble myself with going down stairs one foot on each step 'like an adult' because I have done my ankles in so many times they don't 'bend' properly. It could be something physical like that too.

[TwoLittleTerrors]

DD can do this and she's 3.5yo. I am not tracking but she has been able to do it for a while. But yes that would be two feet on each step as obviously she's not big enough to do it otherwise. So I dont think those saying 2-4yo are lying.

[hollie84]

I think most 3 year olds can walk downstairs with alternating feet if supporting themselves with a rail or wall... not so sure about completely unsupported, but probably not that long after.