Children and Stair Safety

Many homes will come with a staircase or two and this is something that can get quite dangerous, especially if you have young children in the house. Stairs, however, are not only dangerous for kids but can also be a safety hazard for adults as well.

Toddler and Infant Stair Safety

So what needs to be done when it comes to stair safety? The first thing you need to do is invest in a safety gate. A safety gate is a locked gate that you place across the stairs so that young children cannot get down the steps without supervision. As soon as your child is able to roll or crawl away, then it’s time to invest in a safety gate. It is a good idea to place one at the top and the bottom of the staircase to avoid any falls in either direction. Furthermore, think outside of your house as well. Do you have a patio or deck? If so, then you may need to put a gate here as well.

Children love climbing stairs. Well, mine do anyway. As soon as your baby is able to crawl they will be crawling to the staircase at every chance. Teaching your children about the stairs is a good learning skill and something that should be done. However, only allow your kids to play on the stairs and practice climbing up and down when you are right there, monitoring them or holding onto them if they are still not too steady on their feet. As your child gets older and more confident they should be able to walk up and down the stairs by themselves. This may take a couple of years of practice depending on when your child learns to walk and how often they are practicing their stair climbing skills.

Stair Safety for Adults

Stairs can also be dangerous for adults, especially patio staircases that lead outside. Many homes that come with balconies will have staircases to access the front yard or backyard. However, after a cold or rainy day, these steps can be incredibly slippery and dangerous. Make sure you always use the railing when you are climbing the stairs. It can be particularly hard to walk down slippery stairs when wearing high heels or carrying several bags. Don’t risk a fall which can lead to broken body parts and other serious injuries.

Another danger when it comes to staircases in homes is tripping over items that are left on the staircase. Walking up and down the stairs with a basket full of laundry and tripping on a toy that has been left there can leave you and the clothes tumbling. Make sure you teach your kids not to leave items on the stairs, even at the bottom, and try to always keep your line of vision open when walking up and down the stairs.

Finally, and perhaps the best tips for stair safety is to always ensure that your stairs and the railing are safe. As time goes on stairs can start to creak and even breakthrough. Furthermore, there are some stairs that will not have carpeting on them and instead will have just wood and no backings. These can be extremely dangerous for trips and falls, especially for little feet. Make sure your stairs are up to par to avoid any problems and any potential injuries in your home.