Toddlers & Stairs: When They Climb & How to Stay Safe | Parenting Hub
Most toddlers climb stairs from 12–18 months. Here's the developmental progression and the home safety setup that prevents the most common falls.
Stair climbing follows a clear stair-by-stair progression. Falls from stairs are one of the most common toddler injuries — gates, supervision and teaching the climb all matter.
Typical progression
- 12–15 months: crawls up stairs with supervision
- 18 months: walks up holding a hand or rail (two feet per step)
- 2 years: walks down holding a hand
- 3 years: walks up alternating feet; down alternating by 3.5–4 years
Safety setup
- Stair gates at top and bottom until age 2
- Top gate must be hardware-mounted, not pressure-fit
- Teach 'feet first' bottom-shuffle for coming down before they walk down
- Practise on a single step before tackling full flights
- Keep stairs clear of toys, clothes and clutter
When to see a doctor
Talk to your GP if a toddler over 2 years cannot walk up stairs holding a rail, frequently falls without an obvious reason, or shows leg weakness or limping.
When to seek help
- Can't walk up stairs with help by age 2
- Frequent unexplained falls
- Limping or leg weakness
- Loss of stair skills
Common questions
Pressure-fit or screw-in gates?
Always hardware-mounted at the top of stairs. Pressure gates can be pushed out by a lunging toddler. Pressure gates are fine at the bottom or between rooms.