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

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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

My 15 mo is always told 'no feet on seats' and he's learnt not to climb on the sofa and any other chair.

He still tries his luck frequently though.

If there is anything under any windows that your dc can climb on, then now might be the time to move it out of the way!!!!!

I'll gladly swap your "walking around on the sofa" 18mo for one who constantly opens the freezer, then proudly presents me with ice lollies. And reminds me to say "thank you" as he does so.

Norah, you need a fridge and freeze lock. Essential imo! Easy to fit, I got mine from Mothercare many moons ago

Dd started this at 9months. It took about a month to teach her to climb down safely, but I just kept a really close eye on her and bought foam mats from mothercare that fit together like a jigsaw. There is no point trying to stop them, and unfortunately yes they will fall a couple of times, but at 18months your dc is more than able to learn to climb down safely.

I guess I'm the lone voice here, but YABU to say 'try'. Just say no, and keep on saying no. If they can get away with walking on the sofa, when they know you disapprove, they'll end up walking all over you. Who's the parent here?I've got children who love physical play, but a sofa isn't a climbing frame. why not put them out in the garden if they start?

It's a baby not a dog carlajean You can't just put an 18mo 'out in the garden' every time he does something you don't want him to.

I'm sure you're going to roll your eyes at what you see as permissive parenting, but if I'm busy in the house I wouldn't have time to supervise him, it's been raining here for a week so I'd have to put all his wetgear on and the garden has steps, a greenhouse and holes in hedges. Overall, he's far safer on the sofa.

Despite this, he's a good natured child who is obedient 90% of the time and gentle with younger children. I don't think he's going to grow up walking all over me just the sofa

Mine was sliding a chair over, climbing on the kitchen side and standing on it to get to the treat cupboard at that age. Not a stealth boast, her evil brother must have taught her. Limestone floor in kitchen too. Arghrrr.

I actually think is good for their development. I work with an occupational therapist who recommends lots of upper body work etc. Many moons ago children would have climbed trees and all of that.

There is research to state we are wrapping children in cotton wool when they need rough and tumble. Bilateral work using left and right side of the body.

Didn't mean to get all serious but they are little explorers at this age.

Mine -21 months- now uses dining chairs to climb onto the kitchen worktops. I draw the line at that but have largely given up stopping him climb and jump on the sofa. He fell off and cried a couple of times but funnily enough has been more careful since.

We have a large corner sofa. Best toy ever. HOURS of fun. My only ban is on using all the cushions (like seat pads and back of sofa) to make forts because it's a pain in the arse putting it all back afterwards.

Stick the cushions on the ground to break the inevitable falls, and leave him to it.