Crawling, walking, and running are the toddler milestones we are all familiar with in terms of huge muscle feats, but what about climbing? It may appear that watching your child scale furniture serves no use other than to raise your heart rate. Climbing, on the other hand, has been shown in studies to help young children develop spatial awareness, enhance balance and coordination, and even aid cognitive development. After all, figuring out how to climb on top of the kitchen table requires a lot of problem solving!
When do babies start climbing?
Climbing has been a natural stage for your baby since they began to pull themselves up. It’s understandable that once they’ve mastered defying gravity and standing without support, they’ll want to do it again and again. Consider it from your child’s point of view: they can now: see the world from a completely different perspective, they can enjoy the thrill of balancing that big head in the air (much like the first time you rode a bicycle), and they are ecstatic to be able to do what everyone else has been doing for their entire lives!
After standing, there’s the high pleasure of walking and jogging, followed by the adrenaline rush of climbing. (Actually, the first climbing begins immediately as they start crawling…the stair problem!). It will take another year for your little one to be able to drag their entire body onto a tall bed, and climbing on low tables, sofas, and attempting to scale the dresser will follow soon after. (Climbing playground slides will have to wait a few years…and then there will be trees!)
How do I keep my climbing baby safe?
Maintain consistency in terms of what is and isn’t permitted. Install gates to keep your wiggle worm out of potentially dangerous areas of your home. Remove any cords that could strangle them or that they could pull on as they try to climb and tug down a lamp or television! To avoid danger from furniture falling over, ensure sure any large pieces of furniture are firmly attached. Make sure their crib mattress is set to the lowest setting. If kids continue to try to escape, it’s time to upgrade to a “big kid bed.”
How can I help my baby learn to climb?
Providing safe climbing chances is the greatest approach to assist your infant learn to climb. Although it may be nerve-wracking to watch your baby climb, there are advantages to assisting them in practising this ability in a safe environment.
How do I encourage my baby to climb?
When you see they’re interested in climbing—for example, if they’re trying to climb up onto the sofa or take on a more difficult task at the playground—focus on providing safe opportunities for them to practise their skills. This might be accomplished by enrolling your child in an age-appropriate gymnastics class or by removing the cushions from the sofa and allowing them to practise climbing in the living room.
When they reach the top, you can gently nudge them, forcing them to extend a hand to hold themselves or readjust. The idea is to educate your child how to recognise when they are losing their balance so that they can learn to rebalance and avoid falling. Encouragement from you, like everything else, goes a long way toward increasing your child’s morale.
Should I be worried if my baby isn’t climbing?
When it comes to teaching your child to climb, ability isn’t the sole consideration. Their temperament and personality can also influence whether or not they climb! Although it is a question of convenience, your child does not have to climb to the top of the playground on their own if they do not want to.
Shy children may climb slowly and cautiously, while adventurous children are always testing the boundaries. At the Olympics, you may feel as though you are living your life to the fullest: stronger, higher, and quicker! As usual, talk to your child’s medical professional if you have any concerns.
FAQ
When should babies start climbing?
Your freshly minted toddler may begin climbing stairs at the age of 12 months, and during her first and second birthdays, she will continue to explore her surroundings. Most toddlers can climb up and down furniture without assistance by the age of two.
How do I encourage my baby to climb?
Toys that encourage toddlers to be active, as well as pillows, couch cushions, and soft materials that youngsters may stack and climb on, should be placed in that area. Having a buddy nearby may also help your toddler from climbing.
Can an 18 month old jump?
To begin, consider when and how toddlers learn to jump. Highlights: Once infants have mastered running, they will begin to play with jumping. Between the ages of 16 and 18, children are usually ready to leap and will begin by jumping in place.
What age do babies start climbing out of crib?
Most commonly though, babies will begin to attempt to climb out of the crib between 12-24 months old.
