How do you teach toddlers to walk up and down the stairs?

[MGMidget]

My little one (almost 18months) can successfully go up and down the stairs on his hands and knees. I encourage him to do this for safety reasons (in case I turn my back on him when stair gate open etc). However, I am wondering how and when to make the transition to helping him learn to walk up and down stairs. He is now a good walker and starting to run. He can step up a small step by himself (e.g. in our garden he can step up onto the decking) but the stairs are a bit high for him. Obviously I don't want to undermine all the good work I have done ensuring he goes up and down the stairs safely when I'm not looking but on the other hand he's got to learn to walk up and down steps at some point. Just wondered what other mums had done with their toddlers?

I would continue to let him climb up and down stairs for as long as he wants to - when he is ready, he will stand up and walk up holding on.

Why the rush for him to walk - there is nothing wrong with climbing them?

I never even thought about this with DS1 - and he is now 2.8 and sometimes, he still climbs, sometimes he comes down on his bottom and other times he will walk whilst holding the wall/bannister - I didn't teach him that, he just did it himself when he was ready.

He'll do it by himself when he's ready.

Agree with CeeBee! Both my dds took stairs at their own pace - and stood to go up/come down when they were ready (both after 2yrs). They didnt' really need teaching at all, just hand holding until they were old enough and steady enough to manage. I wanted them to learn to hold on to the rails for a while as a transitional stage - and that was about all I taught them to do.

You don't need to teach him! Give him some credit . Seriously, he'll learn on his own when he's ready.

agree witht those who say he'll do it when he's ready - I've recently decided not to buy a gate for the stairs here after DS3 walked upstairs, and before I realised he was up there walked back down with an empty bubble bath bottle in his hand. DH saw him walk down the other day too and even he said there was no need for one for the stairs as I think he's now no more likely to fall down the stairs than me, DS1 or DS2. He's 21 months btw.

my DS1 nearly 5 recently tried to show his wee brother who is nearly 2 how to walk down the stairs instead of his usual lying down on his belly and sliding at speed down the stairs. The result was a wee body in a big heap at the front door and his top teeth through his bottom lip. DS2 now will not go up or down stairs without holding someone's hand or being carried back down them. i now have to re-do all my mum's hard work and teach him stairs again [hmmm]. Kids tend to know themselves when they are ready to try something new so i wouldn't worry too much.