Tumble Proofing Stairs

On the tile at the bottom consider putting a small rug with a very thick mat under it so that it's not so darn hard if somebody does fall.

I took the gate away around 18 months. My son has mastered the stairs. I would buy a thick mat and put it under a rug for the time being. On our tile, i just bought the thick foam puzzle mats and put a rug over it, it padded the tile......but he only fell once from the second stair

Our son was 9 months old when we moved into our split-entry with ceramic on the landing. He rolled down the stairs inside of 2 days. And again within the first week. Up went baby gates. BUT we took them down around 18 months because we were constantly going up and down. He never fell down them again.

At 2-1/2, your daughter has tons of abilities that will be negatively impacted if she doesn't learn that not everything is perfectly safe. Take off the gate and teach her the proper way to fall. Put a cushy rug at the landing and send her on her merry way. She may fall, but she'll learn quickly not to do that again.

You are not a bad parent for giving your child a life lesson. And I can assure you that your childhood was not pain-free.

I have not tried this myself, so take with a grain of salt:
- see if you can get a non-slip gel mat. They make those for professional kitchens for example where people have to stand all day. I would imagine they could help taking the bite out of your tile.
- think about adding another low handrail. I have friends who have done this in their house and love it! It's toddler height, so the kids don't have to stretch to hold on to the regular one.

Good luck!

Have you considered a bathmat that has the rubber grip on the back side to prevent it from sliding?

I know it's not the most attractive option, but it seems that safety is your main concern, not aesthetics.

We have a tall staircase, and we've been lucky to have only minor spills down it. If you're concerned, I'd keep her on her rear end going down if she's not 100% steady for the time being.

My thinking is that at 2 1/2 I'd still have enough of a concern that I'd just wait a bit before doing away with the baby gates. Ceramic tile is unforgiving and at 2 1/2 she is most likely going to have a spill given that toddlers are still pretty clumsy and impulsive.

It's nothing brilliant, but getting a bath mat could help. They have the rubber grip stuff on the back so it won't slide (as much), but still will soften the tumble a little. Since your stairs are shorter, she won't have as much opportunity to gain speed.

I'd keep the baby gate as well, why risk a bad fall? You could take it down if you're right there, but as soon as you arent watching she could climb up and fall back and REALLY get hurt....as you mentioned....you answered your own question I think.

.

I think that any surface has the potential to hurt when someone falls, but that there is more danger in trying to put something at the bottom of the stairs to cushion a potential fall. I would just make sure that she knows to be careful when going up or down (have her sit or crawl or use the railing).

Hi Erin,
I would leave it longer as well. even thou your daugter has mastered the stairs - kids oddly like to 'play' on them a lot. and distraction becomes an issue.

do you have any friends over with smaller babies?

sometimes I wish we still had ours so when I tell my boys to 'stay out of the kitchen' or whereever - I could literally close the gate at the top of the stairs from their playroom. we have a 'no' coming into the kitchen while mom is making dinner rule, for sanity and safety. :)

or for when they are bickering.. to keep them separated.

have a good day,
-marg.