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Up, Up and Away!
Dealing with Climbing Toddlers By Jennifer Dawn Hans
Terri Pilcher, a mother of four from Bel Air, Md., learned recently that safety restraints aren't foolproof. "I was at the grocery store two weeks ago and turned my back on my toddler to talk to the cashier for a few seconds," Pilcher says. "He was strapped into the seat on the cart, so I thought he'd be fine. I turned back around, and my son was on the checkout belt."
Fortunately, Pilcher was able to whisk her son to safety before he was injured, but the experience taught her that even a safety belt is not enough to deter her little one from making a great escape when he feels the need to explore.
"For parents, it's a balancing act; allowing toddlers to explore their world which they must do to further brain development while trying to keep them safe," says Dr. Mary Ann LoFrumento, a pediatrician and author of Understanding Your Toddler (Halo Productions, 2004). "First thing parents need to understand is that toddlers do not know that they can be hurt. The second thing is that they have no impulse control. So they just move from one thing to the next, oblivious to all the danger around them."
To minimize the number of dangers present in your home, it's necessary to childproof as much of your home as possible. Get down on your hands and knees and try to see your home from your toddler's vantage point, Dr. LoFrumento suggests. Remove as many dangers as possible.
Unwavering supervision is another absolute must. "Always be one step ahead of your toddler or a few steps behind," Dr. LoFrumento says. "And make sure all childcare providers (even grandparents) follow the same safety guidelines."
Dr. LoFrumento suggests parents designate a few rooms in their homes as "exploring rooms." All breakables should be removed, while toys and other safe household items re hidden about. The room should also include plenty of soft cushions, corners and rugs to ease any bumps that may occur along the way.
Dr. Spooner says a good romp at a well-designed playground also can do wonders. With soft beds of wood chips and safety-engineered equipment, children are free to explore in an environment fostering safe discovery.