How can I stop her from climbing on the chairs?

Question

My 20 month old has gotten into the habit of climbing on the chairs, and standing on them. She's so quick too. It's enough for me to turn my head for a second, and there she goes.

I tried distracting her, telling her it's dangerous, saying no... I don't know what else to do. I watch her all the time, but there are things that need to be done. And it only takes her a second to get up on the chair.

Answer 1

She may be enjoying scaring you; toddlers love getting a reaction.  They also love to test themselves physically, trying to run, etc. and climbing is right up there!

If you don't want your chairs on the table or can't gate off the area, then the only option is to teach her she isn't allowed to do that.  And the only way to teach anyone to leave anything alone is to provide a negative consequence for not doing so.

You can respond by putting her in a playpen for a few minutes every time she does it, or swatting her on the butt (there is nothing wrong with a slap on the butt when a child is endangering themselves or others, regardless of what all the holier than thou folks with unruly children will tell you, lol!) -- just some negative consequence to her.

It can also help to provide her a safe place where she is allowed to experiment and try out those climbing skills she's acquiring; I bought my two year old granddaughter a plastic slide about 3 feet tall, it has three steps she can climb and then slide down.  She absolutely loved it, and though of course at first I was right there so she couldn't fall, it didn't take her long to master it and tell me "back up!"  I do bring it into the living room when I'm babysitting and no one else is home, too, but that might just be a grandma thing . . . .

One more thought; maybe she wants to sit where the big people do -- she's probably about big enough for a booster seat, so you could get one with a seat belt and when she attempts to climb up, strap her into her booster seat -- she'll figure out pretty quick that the climb onto the chair will just get her strapped down safely -- if she wanted to sit at the table that will be ok, but if she just wanted to climb, that place won't be a good one once she knows that climb just gets her put in a booster.

Answer 2

What's the problem? Just make her take her shoes off first. she doesn't *need* watching every second of the day. Just don't leave the chair where she can reach the kitchen knives.

Answer 3

If you are busy doing other things then you should use a gate to keep her from the room where the chairs are. That way you can get your things done without worrying about her getting hurt. If you are not busy and she goes to the chairs then tell her no and distract her, if she goes back to the chairs tell her no firmly and close the gate so she cannot get to them. If she cries just let her cry and go about doing something else until she calms down. Wait a few minutes then re-open the gate. If she goes back to the stairs then repeat the above every single time. This will let her know that you will not allow her to do it no matter what and eventually she will stop trying. You have to be consistent and make sure you catch her everytime because if she makes it up onto a chair then it's a step backwards and she will think she can again.

If you can't use a gate for whatever reason, then either set up a playpen in the living area for "time out" and place her there when she continues to try for the chairs for 2 minutes each and every time she tries to get on the chairs. If you are busy doing other things then get her involved in something first in whatever room you are in and close the door so she cannot get to the chairs.

EDIT: putting the chairs on top of the table is a terrible terrible idea. The child can pull the chair down on top of themself. I don't understand what some people are thinking here. You also don't remove the chairs, the child needs to learn when you say no, it means no. Removing the chairs will solve the problem but won't teach the child anything. And a 20 month old certainly understands what "no" means.

Answer 4

My two children did this too.  You need eyes on the back of your head to watch what they're doing.  It really is the worst age for having accidents in the home.  They are exploring everything around them without any sense of danger.  

I always made sure I had them in the same room as me, stairgates and even locking doors is the only way to ensure they don't wonder off.  If I was doing something like preparing dinner or doing the dishes I would always put them in the playpen or their highchair.

They pull chairs over because they want to see what is going on in all those areas where they cannot reach yet.  A good tip is to get one of those plastic stools that you can buy for toddlers who are toilet training to reach up to the toilet and sink.  They are lightweight, are slipproof and are not to high up off the floor in case the child falls off.  My daughter got a nice bright pink one that she stuck stickers of her favourite characters on and she carried it everywhere with her.

Answer 5

My daughter's 12 months and doing this, so I know how you feels! It's so difficult to find solutions, but I put all the kitchen chairs in the barn, so she cant climb onto the table like she was doing (an just bring a few in when we need them), and bought a playpen which she promptly took apart. I put folded up old duvets around things like the sofa in case she falls, but the biggest sucess was teaching her to turn round and go down on her belly feet first, so she can get down without falling because at least if she does sneak up on to the back of the sofa, I know she can get down! But when she does and I catch her, I just tell her "no" because it's dangerous, and put her on the floor, she climbs back up, I tell her again etc etc etc

Good luck!

Answer 6

Haha. My brother-in-law has the same problem, except his daughter climbs on the table too! He's turned all the chairs upside down on top of the table. makes a fantastic conversation piece.

Answer 7

I agree with one of the other answerer's,try keeping the chairs away.I know this might sound strange but if necessary put them in another room,until she becomes old enough to really understand the dangers of climbing because right now its exciting to her.She does not fully understand what NO means.

Answer 8

For now, Try turning the chairs upside down.  I would still focus on teaching her what "no" means, so don't stop correcting her.  

Answer 9

buy stair gates they are invaluble for me!!!!! have one on every room except the bedrooms for their own safety. the kitchen a gate is on because of the obvious hazards, the front room gate is purely on to stop the dog going in so not a must, dining room one is to stop them getting in there when i am not in there, the stairs are obvious ones, bathroom again is obvious as so many hazards in there as i learnt with my first dauhter, she climbed out her cot and into the bathroom where she took some decongestant capsules she thought were sweets- spent the next 48 hours at the emergency department!

I strongly reccomend stair gates!!!!!!!!  an expense maybe BUT well worth it!!!

Answer 10

you see I would just get really cross with her as it is a safety issue. Everytime it would be a harsh "get down".

Although the minute discipline is mentioned on Y!A its like a magnet for thumbs down which i find astonishing.  

Answer 11

push the kitchen chairs under the table or remove them till needed. For arm chairs and couches, teach her how to get up and down safely. She will most likely have a couple of little falls but that is how they learn to be more careful

Answer 12

you probably won't, let her go , surround the chair with cushions and pillows, eventually she will tire of this and move on to something else, my daughter was the same but the more I tried to stop her the more she would laugh and go for it, so I made her surrounds a little safer, just watch her from the corner of your eye,she'll be ok.