What age do babies understand going backwards down the stairs?

[Plantlady10]

I have a nearly 9 month old who has mastered climbing up the stairs/up things, but of course wants to go head first down things too. I try practicing 'feet first' down the stairs but often he'll get upset and want to start going up again if he's facing backwards

Is he too young to understand, or do I just keep trying?

Thanks

Will he do down on his bum?
I assume you're trying to get him to go down backwards for safety? I found encouraging a bum shuffle down stairs helped. I'd do it too and he found it really funny.

We taught ours from 6 months. Never unsupervised, of course. But he was climbing at that age so everything he climbed we encouraged him to climb off on his tummy, feet first.

On and off the sofa was a good way to encourage sensible habits and he was quickly coming down stairs safely once he'd mastered it.

Mine never did. He just walked up forwards and down forwards. Obviously at the beginning he held our hands or we were in front to help.

He just didn’t get the turning around or down on bum thing, and tbh we have lots of outdoor steps here at house and in town (built on hill), so it’s better he did standing up so he wasn’t constantly soaked or cold.

They learn quick. He’s 2 now and has been confidently using steps alone for ages. His nursery is multi storey and they are all taught to hold wall and walk down also

Before I read your message, I'd guessed about 9 months in my head, but it was a long time ago. He'd been crawling for over 3 months by that point.
I agree on and off the sofa is a good starting point.

Mine both just did bumping down on their bums.

Long time really 9 months is still very young - I would say around the time they are also confidant walkers - I'd say mine were around 15 months - now at 18 months they'll either go on the bum or backwards

Just keep going with 'feet first' consistently. He will get it. Our daughter cracked it at around 13 months and turns herself round automatically now (obviously would still never leave her alone to do so!!)

DD learned quite quickly after crawling but that’s probably because we had two steps down into our kitchen so it was easy (and very necessary!) to keep reminding her all the time.

DD is 3 and still prefers to go down our stairs on her bum cos it's faster! She shoots down them

Keep trying - my niece could go down herself when at 11 months or sooner, so won't be long until he gets the idea

I would just supervise and be there to catch! He'll work it out soon enough!

Stair gate top and bottom so that he can't do any solo adventures just yet!