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Original poster

To ask how to deal with an 11 month old climbing on EVERYTHING?

46 replies

coffeeforone · 03/10/2019 09:00

DS2 has been climbing on everything since he started crawling at 6 months. First stairs all the way up, then chairs, toys, sofa. Now on to tables etc - he climbs as high as he can get basically. We've had to get rid of the stair gates as it was more dangerous having them there! He climbs into and out of the bath, screams blue murder when we try to stop him trying to climb on the toilet!

He is 11 months and his cot is on the lowest setting with not a single thing inside - but he is trying to climb out and almost did this morning! No idea how he does it as he isn't even walking yet just crawling, cruising and climbing everywhere!

Any tips would be greatly appreciated! It's exhausting- We have to helicopter him constantly to make sure he doesn't fall (touch wood he hasn't fallen yet!). He is totally different from DS1 who stayed in his cot until he was almost 3 and never even tried to climb out. I don't think DS1 could even manage it now at 3.5, even though he was walking by 11 months. HELP!! The cot is the biggest issue as he's not supervised at night.

OP posts:
earlynightneeded · 03/10/2019 09:01

You don't I'm afraid 😫 my dd was exactly the same. You just lose your hair with stress til they grow out of it!! And get rid of anything sharp and baby proof the house as much as possible. I try and keep all the doors shut apart from the room we're in that helps x

ElizaPancakes · 03/10/2019 09:06

My twins used to climb out of their cots at the same age. Also weren’t waking independently.

We removed the cots and they slept on the floor on mattresses, because we hadn’t anticipated it happening quite so early and put the money for nice beds into a bond!

They were on the floor for around 6 months and then got proper beds.

Original poster
coffeeforone · 03/10/2019 09:07

Yes I've found shutting doors helps a lot, much as he hates being confined to one room! I turn my back for a second and he is at the highest point he can get to looking very pleased with himself! He can also climb out of any high chair that only has a 3 point harness and just sits on top of the tray table! We have the ikea one which was fab for DS1 but useless now!!

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 03/10/2019 09:08

I'd also be trying to climb out if I was stuck in an empty cot.

Original poster
coffeeforone · 03/10/2019 09:15

I'd also be trying to climb out if I was stuck in an empty cot.

It's empty as he always throws everything out including blanket and pillow, his dream sheep and a couple of teddies. It does have a couple of toys attached to the side and lots of stickers on the wall. He sleeps well but when he wakes up he doesn't shout for us straight away. When hear him babbling away at the wall animals etc when he's not practicing his climbing! He's happy in his cot he just likes to climb!!

OP posts:
CandyCrush321 · 03/10/2019 09:18

We had the same issue and DS was not ready for a bed yet so we kept him in the cot but with the base of the cot actually on the floor with the mattress on top. That was a couple of inches lower than the lowest setting so he couldn’t climb out. Not sure what type of cot you have but if that is possible for you it may well get you a few more months of reassurance.

Mrsducky88 · 03/10/2019 09:22

If you had a climber you aren’t going to stop it. The only thing I did with my LO was teach her how to get up and down safely- she’s 2.5 now and still loves to climb, she has fallen a couple of times but it’s rare and never injured herself apart from the odd bruise luckily. Ideally try and channel the climbing at soft play/park etc so slightly less done at home (definitely didn’t stop my LO completely though) I would get rid of the cot and either have mattress on the floor or low bed.

FinallyHere · 03/10/2019 09:23

I understand from DM that I went through a similar stage. It is considered a sign of intelligence in our family. 😀

The phrase 'this phase, too, will pass' was considered helpful.

Original poster
coffeeforone · 03/10/2019 09:37

Thanks all! Think we need to consider sleeping arrangement mattress on the floor is a potential solution but he sleeps in a different room to us and I wouldn't want to close his door - if he wakes up when we are asleep then what?

OP posts:
paintedfences · 03/10/2019 09:42

Get a video baby monitor and put three mattress on the floor I'm afraid. one that the camera moves all the way around if you press the buttons so you can keep an eye on him. You're supposed to do proper bed or mattress on the floor as soon as they try to climb out as cot is not safe after that.

paintedfences · 03/10/2019 09:44
  • the mattress. And you'll have to close the door I'm afraid, again not safe if he's crawling around so much. Just go in as soon as he's up and looking for you, that's totally normal.
Geneve · 03/10/2019 09:49

I also have an 11-month-old climber. She can't climb out of the cot because she's in a sleeping bag - is that an option for you? Restricts the movement a bit. Otherwise just concentrating on trying to teach her to climb back down bum first. They've had to move furniture at her nursery to stop her climbing on that!

Venger · 03/10/2019 10:03

I'd also be trying to climb out if I was stuck in an empty cot.

Cots are supposed to be empty for safety reasons. No bumpers, no toys, no quilt or blanket for under ones, etc.

I had a climber and its exhausting!

For stairs, teach him how to come down safely either bumping step to step on his bum or lying on his tummy and sliding down feet first. Make sure the bottom of the stairs is clear of anything he can collide with if he did fall.

For the highchair, a set of traditional harness-style reins. Boots do a set for a few quid and the strap/leash part is removable leaving you with just the harness. Fasten the existing highchair straps to the harness so he can't climb out.

For the cot, remove the bars on one side so he can get in and out without having to climb. Remove any hazards from his room and double gate the doorway so he cant get out during the night (one gate fitted on top of the other) or buy a tall gate.

If you haven't done so already, bolt heavy furniture to the walls so it can't be toppled. Move any heavy objects (lamps, ornaments, etc) that could be grabbed as a potential handhold and pulled over onto himself. Try keep furniture away from windows if possible, if not possible then make sure windows are locked and blind cords aren't dangling. Basically, he is going to climb and you're only human, you cant 100% supervise him for 100% of the time and he is probably going to slip past you at some point so you need to make the environment as safe as possible for him.

It passes. Unfornwtuely my DC moved onto leaping off things after they got over the climbing stage Hmm

Ninkaninus · 03/10/2019 10:06

You watch them like a hawk and don’t rest for even a minute, sometimes for years at a time. Fun times! 👍👍

Climbing is something children have to do, it’s important for their development.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 03/10/2019 10:08

Mine also climbed before he could walk - walking actually helped a lot, as it gave him a different focus for his attention! He was also about 13 months when he could understand 'do it backwards', which made a massive difference - he seemed to grasp quite quickly that he was only allowed to go down the stairs if he did it backwards and otherwise he gets picked up, for instance.

He can't climb out of his cot because of his sleeping bag - have you tried that?

Original poster
coffeeforone · 03/10/2019 10:13

Thanks @Venger Some really helpful tips!

I like the idea of a taller/double safety gate on his room rather than closing the door. We definitely need make sure all furniture is secure to the walls etc! I think as DS1 didn't really attempt any climbing I've let my guard down on home safely until I'm now seeing DS2's dangerous spiderman antics.

OP posts:
nestisflown · 03/10/2019 10:14

Like a pp has suggested I would start by getting the tall stair gates. But unfortunately there isn't much you can do except baby proof all the rooms he has access too. All furniture secured to walls, try not to keep furniture close together (I.e. a chair by a tall cabinet) so he doesn't attempt to climb from one to the other. Remove furniture such as shelving for the time being . Keep your windows locked. I was like this as a baby and my mum lived in constant fear.

Original poster
coffeeforone · 03/10/2019 10:15

We've never used a sleeping bag - do you think 11 months is too late to introduce one?

OP posts:
nestisflown · 03/10/2019 10:15

Ahh sorry @venger only just seen your first post. You said it more thoroughly than I could have!

myweechickens · 03/10/2019 10:16

@coffeeforone

I had a climber, she started walking at 8 months. I'm afraid to say that at 5 she isn't any better, she goes to gymnastics to try and work some of it off and could probably scale Mount Everest unaided. I had a trampoline and those crash mat things, she didn't have a lot of floor play in fact at one point I even had one of those plastic climbing things with a slide attached in my small living room. It's a nightmare but needs must

LisaSimpsonsbff · 03/10/2019 10:16

Obviously I'm biased on this as I have an early climber who was an average walker, but I think people go on and on about early walking being the 'oh you'll have to watch out now' thing, but early climbing is much harder work!

nestisflown · 03/10/2019 10:16

Tbh i wouldn't use a sleeping bag- restricting him would be more dangerous if he's not used to it, as he'll still try to climb but with his legs trapped.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 03/10/2019 10:18

We've never used a sleeping bag - do you think 11 months is too late to introduce one?

I'd give it a go - you can buy one cheap supermarket one first and you can upgrade if he's willing to accept it. If it works I think it'll help a lot, but he might just hate it so you'd have to see

Thehagonthehill · 03/10/2019 10:18

You just have to adapt and try not the let them kill themselves.My DD shuffled out of the door (not yet walking)once and by the time I got to her she was 10' up a scaffolding ladder trying to get to her dad.
Sleeping bag worn until she was in a bed stopped climbing there.We cut all blind cords.She also wore dungarees a lot as you can grab and lift a child to safety in those.
easily.
This stage passes and they discover new and more interesting ways to terminate themeselves.

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