How do you handle a toddler climbing the table like a monkey all day long?
Toddler are curious creatures with a knack for taking on challenges with great enthusiasm and zeal. Climbing on the table is super thrilling for them and an adventure they MUST embark upon.
It’s not so thrilling for the parents though. Watching your little one wobble their way to the chair and then clamber to the top of the table while dangerously close to the edge of the table is anything but fun for a freaked out parent.
Alas, welcome to the world of toddler parenting!
Here are some techniques to keep in mind and implement in dealing with a toddler climbing the table. But before that, its important to understand why do toddlers climb in the first place?
Why do toddlers climb?
Toddlers climb as part of their natural exploration and development. It allows them to engage with their environment, practice motor skills, improve balance, and enhance hand-eye coordination.
This post is about handling a toddler climbing the table.
Toddler Climbing the Table – 7 Fail Proof Strategies You Should Try
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1. Fulfil Desire to Climb
If you have a toddler climbing on everything, the first thing you should do is accept that your child has an innate desire to hop, skip, climb, jump, move around and be active.
Not only that, but climbing actually has many benefits for your child that you’d probably never even thought of.
Climbing is an excellent way for young children to build strength, flexibility, and balance. It is also a way for young children to learn about their environment and to gain confidence.
Verywellfamily
So if you don’t want your furniture, particularly your dining table, to be at the mercy of your little one’s antics, it’s best to provide safe places where your child CAN jump.
This can be done in several ways. Here are some ideas you can try out:
- Give them soft cushions or pillows which they can stack up and climb
- Get them safe climbing/jumping equipment like a mini trampoline or mini slide to use indoors or for the backyard
- Enroll them in a gym class
- Assign a particular area of the house that’s just for climbing. Place a rug there for safe landing. Then add safe props such as large cardboard boxes and soft cushions which they can jump, roll and climb all over
If you’re looking for ideas, here is a detailed post I wrote on some amazing toys and gifts for toddlers who love to climb.
2. Toddler Proof Your Home
With an enthusiastic, energetic little toddler climbing everything in his surroundings, it’s super important to make sure you’ve toddler proofed the whole house.
For dealing with a toddler obsessed with climbing here are some things to consider:
- Is she using the couch to climb onto the coffee table? Try changing the placing of the coffee table
- Is he climbing the chairs and using those to get on to the table? Some parents place the chairs upside down on top of the table away from reach. Others store the chairs away in a spare room after each mealtime
- Refrain from using table cloths on the dining table. Your toddler can tug at the cloth and contents on the table can fall on top of him
- Remove center pieces and glass vases or anything interesting that might temp your little explorer to climb the table for a better look
Here are some other safety tips to keep in mind when dealing with a toddler obsessed with climbing furniture:
- Anchor heavy furniture (like shelves) to the wall using furniture anchors. These help prevent heavy furniture from falling onto a child who is trying to climb
- Try to keep ladders and step stools out of sight of your toddler
- If you have window blinds with cords in the home then make sure the cords are not within reach of your child (blind cords can pose a serious risk of strangulation for little children). This can be done by having a tie down device on the wall or mounting a cleat to keep the strings out of reach
- Crib safety is something to look out for. If your child has learnt to climb then he will try at some point to climb out of the crib too. It may be time for you to try to transition from a crib to a toddler bed. You can read my post on 10 Brilliant Hacks to Stop Your Toddler Climbing Out of the Cot if your little one is climbing out of the crib.
3. Teach Child How to Safely Climb Down
Despite your best efforts, your child WILL find ways to climb furniture.
Whats the best way to keep him safe? Teach him how to safely climb down.
So next time you catch your toddler on the table, instead of picking him off it make it into a teachable moment.
Teach him to flop down on his belly and slide off backward until his feet touch the chair. And then to do the same thing with getting off the chair.
This doesn’t mean you’re encouraging the behavior but rather giving him tools to keep safe when he lands himself in trouble.
4. Supervise Your Toddler Climbing Furniture
There’s no substitute for supervision. Toddlers can indulge in the most dangerous of activities without batting an eyelid.
And if your toddler is jumping on the couch or climbing on furniture, falling head first on the floor can cause head injury.
So particularly while your child is in the climbing obsessed stage, it’s best to keep a watchful eye over them.
Toddler Climbing Furniture – 7 Tips for Parents
5. Expend Energy Outside
Is your toddler climbing everything?
A toddler climbing tables, chairs, sofas and other furniture pieces is telling you something – he has lots of pent up energy and needs to use it somewhere.
Try to take your toddler outdoors frequently. Let him play in the backyard or at the playground equipment in your local park.
When kids get a chance to expend their energy outdoors and come home tired, they are less likely to wreak havoc indoors. Another great idea is to get them outdoor toys that help them have fun and also use up their energy.
And if your child is always breaking things then it’s a good idea to get toys that are specially designed for breaking. You can check out my post on super fun toys for toddlers who love to break things.
Related Post:
25 Ridiculously Cool Gifts for Toddlers Who Love Outdoors
Parent’s Favorite Energy Burning Toddler Climbing Toys
SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Play Set
Little Tikes First Slide Toddler Slide, Easy Set Up Playset for Indoor Outdoor Backyard
6. Use Distraction Rather Than Saying No
You know what happens when you keep telling your kids NOT to do something? Yup, they do it more and more. And that’s because they are trying to get a reaction out of you.
Trying to stop a climbing toddler is not likely to work. A better approach is to learn what motivates your child to climb, look for ways to redirect that urge and do whatever you can to lessen the risks of injury.
verywellfamily.com
So instead of saying “No, don’t climb on the table!” try to distract them towards something more interesting. It could be a bird you spot outside the window or perhaps a yummy snack in the kitchen.
Toddlers have a very short attention span so this one tactic usually works wonders when you’re dealing with many toddler behaviors.
A great way to keep toddlers busy and engaged is to give them a busy book. A Busy Book is a superb way to not only keep little ones out of trouble but also helps parents buy some extra time in the day and is an activity that educates and teaches in a way that is fun!
The SweetnSour Busy Book contains activities that involve matching, sorting, counting, tracing and phonics. Each worksheet has been carefully crafted and designed to keep kids engrossed and entertained at the same time while learning essential age-appropriate skills.
You can check out our best-selling printable – the Sweetnsour Busy Book over here. Promise you won’t be disappointed 🙂
7. Know That it’s A Phase
In the end, please know that this is a phase and it too shall pass. Once toddlers have mastered one skill, they quickly get bored and move on to the next challenge to take on.
So in the meantime, try to sit back, relax and enjoy watching your little climber conquer new heights.
Are you struggling with toddler discipline? With tantrums, meldowns and whining? Positive parenting Solutions has a FREE webinar for parents which is jam packed with practical, tried and tested hacks that SERIOUSLY WORK.
Learn why kids behave the way they do, how your personality contributes to many of the power struggles you face on a daily basis and the one simple strategy that can help restore the peace in your home.
FAQs About Climbing Toddlers
Is it normal for toddlers to climb on furniture?
Yes, it’s perfectly normal for toddlers to climb on furniture. Consider your child’s tendency to climb as a natural part of their evolving mobility. As they progress from holding their head up to sitting up and crawling, climbing becomes another opportunity for them to refine motor skills, balance, and hand-eye coordination.
What age do toddlers start climbing?
Toddlers typically start climbing around 12-18 months old, though it can vary. It’s important to ensure a safe environment and supervise them closely during this developmental stage.
Why is climbing good for toddlers?
Research shows that climbing has many benefits for a toddler and plays a critical role in developing motor skills. It hones skills like agility, balance and hand and foot coordination along with increasing muscle strength.
What age do toddlers stop climbing on everything?
Almost all toddlers go through a climbing phase. They want to climb anything and everything in sight. This phase (roughly) lasts from the age of 12 – 22 months.
How do I stop my toddler from climbing on the table?
The best strategy is to fulfill your toddler’s desire to climb by providing safe places where he is allowed to climb. Another tactic is to expend your toddler’s energy through outdoor play which will help him burn off pent up energy in a healthy way.
How do I keep my baby off the table?
Many kids climb onto chairs to get access to the table. So the best way to keep your baby off the dining table is to remove the chairs. You can either place the chairs upside down on the table or place them in a spare room after each meal.
This post was about handling a toddler climbing the table.
Here are some other posts on common toddler parenting delimas:
5 Genius Strategies to Stop Your Toddler Slamming Doors
6 Ingenious Ways to Stop a Toddler from Jumping on the Couch
6 Fascinating Reasons Why Toddlers Draw on Walls (And How You Can Stop Them)
9 Genius Tactics to Stop Your Toddler Destroying the House
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