When can a child climb the stairs alone? Read the 7 tips

by Joost Nusselder Updated on: November 6, 2023

Every parent will have to deal with it sooner or later: the scrambling toddler. Once the first step is reached, the staircase turns into a source of entertainment.

For the children then; for the parents it is often a cause for concern.

This is not unfounded: more than half of the admissions to the Emergency Department of children and young people are the result of a fall, in which children between 0 and 4 years old relatively often fall down the stairs.

When is it then responsible to let children go up and down stairs alone? And how can you ensure that this is done as safely as possible?

Here we list a number of tips and tricks so that your climber can climb the stairs in no time!

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From when can a child independently climb stairs?

Some children are already climbing the stairs from crawling, so pay attention! First it is with hands and feet and from the age of two they are often upright and they have to hold on to you or a banister. If things go well for a while, most parents let them walk independently without supervision, often from about the age of 3. A toddler can already climb the stairs without holding on.

It's different for everyone, some are more protective than others. The development of every child is of course different. While one person already takes the first steps at 5 months, the other takes it a bit more slowly.

Fortunately, that is very normal, says the Netherlands Center for Youth Health. And so it is with climbing stairs.

So when it comes to climbing stairs, the key is the guidance and observation of the parents.

• Is your child easily distracted, or does he or she not yet have such a good balance? Then it might be wise to hold on to your hand for a while.
• Is your toddler already walking at a steady pace, and does he or she already have a good grip on the banister? Then learning to climb stairs will probably be a bit faster.

There is therefore no fixed milestone regarding the age your child must be to be able to climb the stairs alone.

However, there are ways to support your child and to make the stair climbing process as safe as possible.

And it is useful to practice some of these already with your toddler on the hand, or on all fours.

We share a number of them with you here.

Seven tips to practice climbing stairs

Unfortunately, most houses are not built with child safety in mind. It is up to the parents to make adjustments and see which methods work best in their particular case.

1. A good start is to teach your child to walk the wide side of the stairs. Here you have the most room for a possible misstep.
2. Always start practicing together with hands so that nothing can happen.
3. It is also advisable to teach children to use the banister, provided they can of course reach it.
4. Always walk upstairs after your child so you can see exactly where your toddler is going to stand and if they are making a mistake.
5. Other aspects that can contribute to safe stair climbing is to not leave any items lying on the stairs and to keep the route as clutter-free as possible.
6. Sufficient light can also help you find the right step.
7. In addition, bare feet often provide the best grip. Teach your child not to climb the stairs with socks or slippers to prevent slipping.

It is also known that most children can often climb the stairs but do not yet have the right balance to get back down safely.

Teaching your child to sit down can possibly solve that problem.

What can you do to make the stairs safer?

There are of course also a number of products that can offer you some extra help.

Install a security profile

One of the easiest things you can do is create a safety profile, for example, that you can install at the end of each step.

This ensures that the steps are more noticeable and unconsciously allows you to put your foot on the step better.

An advantage of the safety profile is that it can often be adapted to the decor and design of your home.

A rubber adhesive strip is one of the easiest ways to apply this to your stairs, and this one from Yachting Blue are a very handy choice:

(view more images)

Furthermore, a non-slip mat is another option to make wooden stairs in particular less slippery.

These mats are available in different materials and are generally easy to install.

To be one of the top rated brands this one from Vica International. Easy to apply by means of an adhesive strip and available in different colors:

(view more colors)

Install a child's stair railing

You can also make your stairs extra safe by installing a children's handrail at the height of your toddler. The recommended height is around 60cm.

There are even different models that do not require screws and are easy to mount to the normal handrail such as this one from Mippaa:

(view more images)

Install a stair gate

A stair gate should be installed to ensure the safety of children. It prevents young children from accessing stairs, which can create a potentially dangerous situation. Children do not yet have the stability and coordination to safely climb or descend stairs, and a fall down the stairs can cause serious injuries.

By install a stair gate, this risk is significantly reduced, providing peace of mind to parents and caregivers. It is an effective way to make the playing environment safer for young children and prevent accidents.

The overall best stair gate is by the way this A3 Baby & Kids SafetyDoor Stairgate, made of robust metal and provided with a beautiful powder coating.

Concusion

In short, climbing and scrambling cannot be prevented, but it can be made safer.

By means of a number of tricks and aids you can teach your child step by step how to get up and down the stairs the safest way.

Where some children need a little more guidance, other children will pick up these skills a little faster.

Do not worry and keep stimulating your child.

If your child is very afraid of walking up the stairs, it is of course advisable to call in a child therapist to determine whether there is any fear of climbing or heights behind it.

Apart from all tips, it is of course paramount that the parents lend a helping hand until necessary and keep an eye on their child.

The most important thing is for your toddler to discover the world in a safe way!

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.