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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to try and stop an 18month old from climbing on the sofa

36 replies

CatSwag · 05/05/2015 19:07

youngest has been at it allday

constanly wanting to climb on and off the sofas, then wanting to walk about on the sofa

I ouldn't mind if he just wanted to sit on them, but we have a hard wooden floor and worried about his head

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 05/05/2015 19:09

Good luck! If you find a solution, please let me know!

Victoria2002 · 05/05/2015 19:11

YABU, their heads are harder than you think.

peppapigonaloop · 05/05/2015 19:11

I reckon Put cushions/duvet on the floor and leave him to it..pick your battles!

Galvanized · 05/05/2015 19:12

Yanbu - but pick your battles! We insisted on teaching DC how to safely get down (feet first) off the sofa. "strict" about being careful.

googoodolly · 05/05/2015 19:12

YABU, pick your battles! Just watch him and put cushions or a duvet on the floor to soften the blow. They're hardier than you think!

DoItTooJulia · 05/05/2015 19:13

Ah. You'll both get used to it.
He will get used to thud and the dull ache when he falls off again. You'll get used to the fear and panic and certainty that there'll be tears at some point. Usually when you've left the room to go for a poo.

RigglinJigglin · 05/05/2015 19:17

Velcro on toddlers bum, failing that gaffer tape to the spot.

Toddler DD has a 'cwimbing step mummy' which is driving to want to burn it, burn it with petrol.

McFox · 05/05/2015 19:18

If you find a solution, please let me know. My dh was at home with 10 month old ds today and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to him throwing himself off the sofa, climbing the TV stand and jumping off, assembling storage boxes in the bathroom in such a way that he could climb into the bath, and attempting to scale a 7ft bookcase.

All this at 10 months! We're doomed.

RigglinJigglin · 05/05/2015 19:18

^driving me

2 full days of climbing the mini step to get to the sink is having a detriment to my mental wellbeing! Hmm

EatDessertFirst · 05/05/2015 19:19

What googoo said. My DS (5 this year) especially has never grown out of this. A few bumps and bruises but no hospital visits as yet.

Original poster
CatSwag · 05/05/2015 19:43

thanks for the replies, it really is exhausting, he's been at it allday
I actually can't wait for him to go to bed tonight tbh

OP posts:
Mrswhatsisname · 05/05/2015 19:45

It's a thankless task! Mine wereboth jumping off the windowsill today. Made the mistake of moving the coffee table to hoover so it made an attractive step. They're 6 and 2. The gut clenching fear that they'll hurt themselves horribly relaxes a bit as they get older but so far hasn't left. My two year old regularly scares the crap out of me - absolutely no fear.

3littlefrogs · 05/05/2015 19:52

Take the cushions off the sofa, cover them with a blanket or duvet, then he can have a lovely game climbing up and jumping off. He will sleep better if he is able to get utterly exhausted.

At least he hasn't discovered sledging down the stairs on a tea tray yet.

fortunately · 05/05/2015 19:52

Agree to pick your battles.

My DD climbs everything and is fearless. She constantly has a bump in the middle of her forehead.

I've decided fuck it, she's unlikely to injure herself badly just jumping off the sofa. I can live with a few bruises and so can she.

I draw the line at sitting on the dining room table though, purely because if I allow that it's one short step to the house turning into a complete zoo.

maddening · 05/05/2015 19:55

Teach him to climb down safely is better ime

LetThereBeCupcakes · 05/05/2015 19:59

Mine had followed DH up the loft ladder by that age. Yours has a lot to learn! Grin

TracyBarlow · 05/05/2015 20:02

My 3 boys love the sofa. It's their best toy. They take all the cushions off and it is a bouncy castle, a train, their works van, a den....

I'm just goi,g to let them completely wreck it then buy a new one when they're older. Life's just too short to get worked up about these things.

YouMakeMyHeartSmile · 05/05/2015 20:06

My 18 month old falls off ours all the time! Also wooden floors. She usually just brushes herself off and gets back up Smile

jeanmiguelfangio · 05/05/2015 20:12

My 2yo has learnt to get off safely now, but still manages to fall off. Althpugh she does seem to have a knack of landing on her butt and laughing. Hasnt put her off yet. She does sit mind you, when she isn't going 'I jumping mummy'
mine attempted to climb her table today, the sofas are a dream! The same with off the bed, she has learnt to do it properly so that helps, although she still kinda misses sometimes. All part of the fun! Remember those times we helped them crawl, and walk? Yeah what were we thinking

toptomatoes · 05/05/2015 20:15

We just have a rug pushed up against the sofa to give the toddler a softer landing.

mrsmeerkat · 05/05/2015 20:22

Yep. I have one of these climbers. Just have to let him at it. He's getting bored of it

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/05/2015 20:24

Up and down is fine but walking about isn't imo, we used to discourage our ds from doing it. The playground and park is for climbing.

MintJulip · 05/05/2015 20:25

I think your better off buying those gym matts and putting them under the sofa.

FlaviaAlbia · 05/05/2015 20:31

Yeah, agree with putting foam mats down. I have an 18mo and a corner sofa and he loves running from one end to another. They learn to get down safely pretty quickly but the foam mats are good for your peace of mind in the meantime! I got ones that join together like a jigsaw from Tesco.

Chunkymonkey79 · 05/05/2015 20:36

I let my 16 month old get up, have been very firm in telling her 'sit down'. She knows what this means now and although she tries her luck, does sit down if told.