Stairs

[Friday29th]

What is the best way for a toddler to go downstairs and what age can they go downstairs on their own

Mine are adults now, and I know baby and toddler advice changes all the time, but when mine first started, they faced the stairs and came down backwards as it were.
If a foot slipped the worse that happened was a bumped nose, not a fall to the bottom.

This will lift you off unanswered threads though for some more up to date advice.

Thank you that makes sense

Mine slid down backwards for a bit then she just learned quite quickly to walk down holding on. I think age depends on their ability. Mine could get herself up and down stairs safely by about 16MO I think and I removed the stairgate as it was just making her more unsafe tbh as she would just mess about with it

Yes, backwards. My toddler is 2 and I wouldn't let him go downstairs without being there.

It also depends on your toddler and their character and risk awareness. Mine is a crazy one and seems to have no clue that he could kill himself.

My youngest Is 2 and a half and has been going up and down the stairs by herself since before she was 2.

We started off my practising walking up and down the stairs a lot with me right beside her. She walks down holding on to the bannister. Whenever I am on the stairs with her I make a point of holding on myself and showing her that I hold on and am careful too.

My little boy is 2y4m. From about 18m he took an interest in going downstairs but mostly just sliding down on his bottom which he still does sometimes but generally since 2 he's been capable of using his legs to go downstairs but holding on to the side/bannister. I still don't like him going up or downstairs without me around as have had some hairy moments where he gets over excited so rule in our house is not on his own but depends on your parenting comfort levels and perhaps layout of your house

Just to clarify I wasn't just leaving mine to stroll up and down the stairs without supervision at 16MO lol I just mean I allowed her to negotiate the stairs under close supervision. I think you have to get the balance with kids sometimes and ask yourself what's the worst that could happen as being able to risk assess independently is a big part of their development. Mine is very coordinated although appropriately cautious and I put this down to allowing her to explore things and find her own limits x