Navigating Stairs

I would teach her to use the stairs going both up and down. But for the times when you can't be at her side, for safety's sake, install a child gate and the top and bottom so she can't experiment on here own. There's nothing wronge or stange about her wanting to go up and down the way she sees everyone else do it. She probably has very good cooridination do even do one stair. My 16 month old goes up but has never tried going down, probably because of the gates. I still carry him down and maybe now I will think about changing that.

Definitly get a gate. Finding her one stair down and proud of herself is nice, but scary. I would hate to find her at the bottom!! Crying from a fall!!!

Hi M.! This is J.. Sounds like you have a very smart
and independent little girl there! Yeah, had one of those, too!
Well..it's only a suggestion, but you might be able to put up
a kid-height handrail on your stairs, and show her how to use
it. Later on, you can take it down and patch the holes.
What do you think?
:>) J.

The more you say no, the more she will want to do the stairs. Are your steps carpeted? If they are,make it a fun game. Teach her how to slide down backwards on her tummy, feet first. If your not comfortable with this, I'd invest in some gates to put at the top and bottom of the stairs. Then she will be safe and you will feel comfortable.

i would get the gates and put them up. don't let her get hurt. she should only do th stairs with you or aomeone else there.

get two baby gates; one for the top of the stairs and one for the bottom.

My suggestion is if she wants adventure and you want less worries put a baby gate 2 or 3 steps up from the bottom...that way she can climb steps and you can have the peace of mind that if she slips or misses a step she won't be badly injured, nothing a hug and kiss from mom can't cure.

I would teach her to do it with you but I'd put up gates so you don't have to worry all the time. We have a 2-story house and we have gates at the top and bottom. My son is able to do the stairs by himself now (he's 2 1/2) but we are keeping the gates up for now for peace of mind as the stairs are steep--and we don't want him roaming the house at night :)

Gates can be expensive so check Craig's list!

Let her do it! Just stay near her so you can catch her if neccessary. I would also recommend breathing deeply so she doesn't pick up on your anxiety.

Children learn about themselves and the world primarily through their movement, and the greatest gift we can give our children is confidence in themselves- let her move, and celebrate her accomplishments with her. Now, if she goes over boundaries (like climbing over the railings, on the roof, etc) then that's another story!
It sounds like you have a healthy and adventurous little girl!

I would keep gates at both ends at all times. When its time to go up and down then be right there with her. You would kick yourself if something happened.

Safety, Safety, Safety!! That is your job. As a parent there are somethings we need to learn to let then control then there are something we need to direct. Going down the stairs for me was a do as I say. Safety is our first concern is a phrase use often in my home and car. Walking up and down the stairs when mom is by your side is fun, but when navigating them alone they need to be safe, but going backward on ther tummy feet first like she already is. Until they are around 31/2 or so they really don't have the eye feet control necessary to navigate steep stairs on the way down. I say make a game of it! Let her know that it is ok when mom is right there, then hide around the corner and tell her when she can't see mommy she needs to come down on her belly. Repeat several times a day till she gets it, which may take 100 times or so. Good luck and have fun!