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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How would you deal with an 18 month old who keeps standing up on sofas and nearly falling headfirst over the arms?

14 replies

HeinzSight · 09/02/2009 21:27

I end up having to launch myself across the room to stop her going head first on the deck. She has fallen a couple of times but has been lucky and landed on our rug or the beanbag. I know I should ignore distract, but I'm worried she's going to really hurt herself. We have wooden floors.

She thinks this is a great game! Help!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Twims · 09/02/2009 21:29

Sounding mean - could you not let her hurt herself - she won't do it again.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 09/02/2009 21:31

I don't know. Do you know how to stop a 20 month old standing up in her highchair and nearly falling out?

Letting her fall doesn't learn her.

Original poster

HeinzSight · 09/02/2009 21:33

she has hurt herself a few times, it hasn't stopped her!

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Original poster

HeinzSight · 09/02/2009 21:34

SheSells, it's a nightmare isn't it, you can;t turn your back for a second! I've got another one on the way too!

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MarlaSinger · 09/02/2009 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 09/02/2009 21:38

Oh god I couldn't cope with another. Sympathies and good luck

I can't leave dd2 anywhere. She climbs and escapes everything, her cot, her highchair, her playpen, she can open doors and even unlock them if she gets her hands on the keys.

charmargot · 09/02/2009 21:48

I say "sit down or get down". If she doesn't sit down I put her on the floor. If she goes back again I do the same. Obviously if this routine is repeated more than once at a time it becomes a game so time to distract with something on the floor! Do same with high chair (I use straps for other children, not my own) and with other children I look after in my home.
It takes a long time to work, but will eventually - saying that my 20 month old went head first off the end of the couch tonight - I saw she wasn't really hurt so asked her why she did such a silly thing!? (answer - because I let her!! I could see her standing, but for some reason let her off as she looked so funny with her bare bottom after sitting on the pot)
You should NOT ignore or she'll keep doing it! By all means distract, but do tell her she shouldn't be doing things that are going to hurt.
Consistency is the key to being able to turn your back for many seconds!!

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 09/02/2009 21:52

Straps do not contain dd2. She either wriggles free or undoes them. Depending on her mood. She often gets help from dd1, while my back is turned.

I do take her out of it and put her on the floor when she does it, but that doesn't stop her as this is what she wants.

I am giving up the highchair soon and will buy her a little plastic chair like dd1's.

charmargot · 09/02/2009 22:07

Ah, I know what you mean about the high chair. My daughter tries to get down when she's had enough and so wants to be lifted down and I don't want her down yet. We have a no pudding til we've all pretty much finished dinner rule (usually have 2 other little ones at table as a child minder - if I bring pudding out for the early finisher suddenly we've all had enough dinner). I then have to distract with a song, beeping nose telling her she just has to wait etc until eventually I think the others have had enough and so bring out the pudding.
If she wants out and this doesn't affect anyone else at the table I'd just get her down before she has a chance to stand.

blueshoes · 09/02/2009 22:38

My ds 1.5 years was constantly falling down stairs from overbalancing. Finally one day, he fell headfirst from the top of the (carpeted) stairs to the bottom. Guests just saw this streak shooting down the stairs, silence, then screams. He was fine. He finally internalised the message ...

gigglewitch · 09/02/2009 22:40

crash helmet and padded suit?

playpen (worked for mine)

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 09/02/2009 22:41

Cushions on the floor?

jabuti · 09/02/2009 23:05

i block our sofa with her toy boxes during the day. decision taken after she fell twice on her head in less than 15 minutes. telling her to sit only worked temporarily. the minute i turned my back she was up again.

Original poster

HeinzSight · 10/02/2009 12:10

This is a really difficult one isn't it. I do know from past experience (DS1 now 12!) that the more I say no, the more a game this becomes. I tried piling up cushions, pulling up the chair cushions at an angle but she manages to climb over them. I told her no very sternly yesterday and pulled her down I then shut her on the other side of the gate to me, she dissolved into tears, and I almost did too!

I need to find a way of either restricting access to chairs/sofas or piling up cushions everywhere!

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