Climbing everything - how do I keep her safe????

[Beach Mama]

In the last few days we have found Izzy on;
the dining room chairs sitting, then standing, then crawling on the table
crawling along the tv cabinet next to the plasma(OMG if that fell on her )
on the desk in the kitchen - got up there by climbing the pram to get to it then sat on DH"s tool box and pulled everything out of her nappy bag,
on the couch - that's fine but she likes to run and throw herself onto the cushions - what if she misses?

I know it is normal toddler behaviour but how do we keep her safe? I nearly have a heart attack if I see her have a near miss. A few people have said, oh if she falls she will learn, well I'm not prepared to watch her fall from a 1 mt high table just so she will learn especially as she could break an arm etc...

She hasn't gotten back up near the tv again because I was really firm with her and used a nice but firm voice telling her not to do it.

So do we just ride it out???

[PinkPalace]

Ashley has been doing this too tanstar.
What we do is we bought her things for outside that she CAN climb on to teach her where is good and bad climbing.

As for the couch. she is allowed to climb up but has to sit on her bottom once up or we take her off. Only took a few times removing her from the couch whilst standing until she learnt! now she will only crawl or sit.

The reason he are teaching her not to stand and run is because we are also transitioning her into a big bed. And she wanted to stand and run off the single bed. SO the same... telling her beds are for crawling or sitting only. and repetitively placing her back onto her bottom when she stands.

It is a hard one but i think consistency and getting her something to climb on outside on the grass - whether it is a slide or a few boxes etc - it really doesnt matter what it is as she will climb anything! lol

[*Efjay*]

ah, all of mine have been climbers.
Just yesterday in the park a dad was commenting on how confidently she scaled the climbing stuff & then was even more surprised when she climbed up & over a bouncy thing that isn't actually meant for Climbing!

Anyway, I have resorted to placing dinning chairs on the table when not in use, anything she can use as a step up is put away etc. For the climbing aids that I can't put away such as kitchen draws pulled out like steps!! She just gets a firm NO & pulled off them. Mind you it seems like I was saying that & pulling her down 50 times a day. But she seems to be catching on about what is & isn't ok.

I think just ride it out, continue to be firm with what she can & can't climb on & remember to not let her get away with it once if she isn't allowed at all.
Also, when you find her in a less then safe position, don't run at her to get her down. Just calmly go & get her & say NO, hop down. After all she got up there & she has balanced her self. But mummy running at her in a panic might frighten her or catch her by surprise resulting in that fall you where trying to avoid.

Good Luck!

eta - Also, as much as we don't want our children to use the house as a climbing gym, take her to the park where she can & just be there to catch her but let her climb & learn etc. The better she is at it the less likely she will fall & hurt herself when you have your back turned.
After all, I would rather she do it because she can & know she isn't likely to fall then to have her try & not have that balance & confidence needed & fall.

[Beach Mama]

Thanks ladies! I think we need to establish what is ok. DH has been letting her run/stand on the couch but I don't like it because if we go to someones house she does the same thing So I think we need to both be consistent with it and let her climb some stuff that is safe. Not that you will agree but I'm glad I'm not the only one!