Help me monkey-proof these stairs
April 27, 2015 7:24 PM Subscribe
I'm a single mother of a 2 and a 4-year-old. Recently, my dad decided to look into buying a condo to rent to me, so that my kids would be in a better school district when my daughter starts kindergarden next year. Yay! The problem is, he has found a condo that he is in love with, right across the street from a top-rated elementary school; BUT - it's a two-story, and my older child is a budding acrobat.
Here are pictures. The problem is the top half of the staircase itself, and the tiny landing area at the top. My daughter will climb absolutely anything climbable, and has stacked toys to scale a 6 foot block wall. My dad seems certain we can find a way to extend or add something to the wall to keep her safe; but I'm wracking my brains. Help me metafilter!
Assume for the purpose of speculation that expense isn't an issue.
Is there a way we can buy this house and make it safe for two small, adventurous children?
Here are pictures. The problem is the top half of the staircase itself, and the tiny landing area at the top. My daughter will climb absolutely anything climbable, and has stacked toys to scale a 6 foot block wall. My dad seems certain we can find a way to extend or add something to the wall to keep her safe; but I'm wracking my brains. Help me metafilter!
Assume for the purpose of speculation that expense isn't an issue.
Is there a way we can buy this house and make it safe for two small, adventurous children?
It wasn't pretty, but I had a friend in a similar situation with his children that put up a curtain net. It was on a wire at the top and could be pulled back when not in use. When in use, he would pull it across and hook the bottom to the wall with I think a carbiner.
posted by AugustWest at 8:04 PM on April 27, 2015
posted by AugustWest at 8:04 PM on April 27, 2015
I used two of this gate, one atop the other. Placed in the hallway a good bit back from the top landing.
The notes say, "It isn't a substitute for semi-permanent metal gates especially at the top of a stairway, for which it is not recommended."
Worked ok for us.
posted by j_curiouser at 8:05 PM on April 27, 2015
The notes say, "It isn't a substitute for semi-permanent metal gates especially at the top of a stairway, for which it is not recommended."
Worked ok for us.
posted by j_curiouser at 8:05 PM on April 27, 2015
Does your 4 year old climb simply for the sake of climbing, or is her climbing goal-oriented, e.g., was she attempting to scale the wall because she couldn't use the gate? Does she climb to get things that are out of her reach?
I'm asking because the stairs look remarkably safe for children, i.e., carpeted, not too steep or long, no open/dangerous railings, although you might need a simple child gate (that your older child could open) at the top or bottom to corral a toddler.
(I had a similar set-up when my kids were little and my son was a climber, but only for escape purposes.)
posted by she's not there at 8:59 PM on April 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm asking because the stairs look remarkably safe for children, i.e., carpeted, not too steep or long, no open/dangerous railings, although you might need a simple child gate (that your older child could open) at the top or bottom to corral a toddler.
(I had a similar set-up when my kids were little and my son was a climber, but only for escape purposes.)
posted by she's not there at 8:59 PM on April 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
In that case, it's tempting to suggest turning that high wall into a climbing wall, but that wouldn't be helpful.
In other words, I can't improve upon what's already been suggested.
Hope this works out for you--the place looks lovely.
posted by she's not there at 9:12 PM on April 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
In other words, I can't improve upon what's already been suggested.
Hope this works out for you--the place looks lovely.
posted by she's not there at 9:12 PM on April 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have seen staircases retrofitted with an elastic mesh for child safety - none of these look attractive in the photos but I think if you chose the right netting it wouldn't be that noticeable.
posted by Wantok at 10:17 PM on April 27, 2015
posted by Wantok at 10:17 PM on April 27, 2015
Best answer: You might consider some decorative wall divider panels screwed to the railing/wall. Something with no purchase, but translucent or perforated to let through light and air.
Exactly. Any journeyman carpenter can put up a four foot high lucite barrier along the top of the balustrade, and you can take it out when the kids are older. Or something a bit more aesthetic and interior designed than raw 2x4s and plastic panels, but still the same idea.
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:28 PM on April 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Exactly. Any journeyman carpenter can put up a four foot high lucite barrier along the top of the balustrade, and you can take it out when the kids are older. Or something a bit more aesthetic and interior designed than raw 2x4s and plastic panels, but still the same idea.
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:28 PM on April 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Seconding "the stairs look remarkably safe for children." I think I don't understand what you're trying to prevent?
posted by kmennie at 4:53 AM on April 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by kmennie at 4:53 AM on April 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I can certainly see some kids I have known and loved trying to climb and ride that bannister and falling, so I get it. Since your dad owns the place, you're lucky that you can probably make some semi-permanent fixes without aggravating the landlord :-)
First order of business is to gate the top and bottom with regular stairway gates.
Second you need to address that 'gap' on the second floor at the top of the stairs that is still open, to the left as you look down the stairs. I second the plexi or temporary slats or something. It may be a very small job for someone who can envision and execute (which may make it hard to hire for), but it can be done.
Third, and perhaps hardest, is that if you really have monkeys, you will need to hand-hold and accompany on the stairs for the time being. I mean, if they're likely to bolt and scamper up over the divider while walking up the stairs, you just need to supervise and train. You could put stickers or a colorful handrail on the 'safe side' to encourage them to stay to that side. You could train with rewards for each time they climb safely. You could let them fall short distances a few times (that carpeting looks cushy :-)) so they realize they don't like that. Etc. There are ways to teach and coach them on it, but for a little while (with each) you may simply need to be their guardrail.
In my experience with four boy monkeys, you don't need to line the entire stairwell (but there are some nice options here if you are considering it). The kids will truly get it eventually, and if you've gated the top and bottom effectively, then they won't be playing there, per se.
posted by cocoagirl at 5:59 AM on April 28, 2015
First order of business is to gate the top and bottom with regular stairway gates.
Second you need to address that 'gap' on the second floor at the top of the stairs that is still open, to the left as you look down the stairs. I second the plexi or temporary slats or something. It may be a very small job for someone who can envision and execute (which may make it hard to hire for), but it can be done.
Third, and perhaps hardest, is that if you really have monkeys, you will need to hand-hold and accompany on the stairs for the time being. I mean, if they're likely to bolt and scamper up over the divider while walking up the stairs, you just need to supervise and train. You could put stickers or a colorful handrail on the 'safe side' to encourage them to stay to that side. You could train with rewards for each time they climb safely. You could let them fall short distances a few times (that carpeting looks cushy :-)) so they realize they don't like that. Etc. There are ways to teach and coach them on it, but for a little while (with each) you may simply need to be their guardrail.
In my experience with four boy monkeys, you don't need to line the entire stairwell (but there are some nice options here if you are considering it). The kids will truly get it eventually, and if you've gated the top and bottom effectively, then they won't be playing there, per se.
posted by cocoagirl at 5:59 AM on April 28, 2015
We moved into a place with stairs when my daughter was almost two. We really worked hard for a few weeks to teach her safe stair climbing. And then she was fine. Can you explain what you're worried about? Is there a hazard we can't see in the pictures?
posted by chocotaco at 5:59 AM on April 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by chocotaco at 5:59 AM on April 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Those stairs look very safe as it is, unless there's something I'm not seeing in those pictures. Only things I'd add would be a soft mat at the bottom on the wood floor in case they do tumble down; and maybe install a banister on the wall so that there are hanging-on options on both sides (also this will halve the amount of dirty hand grease that will get on the white half-wall.) You can add a gate at the top if you're really concerned about them taking even a small tumble, but honestly I think you'd be courting more danger from an adult tripping over the gate.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:18 AM on April 28, 2015
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:18 AM on April 28, 2015
Some sort of decorative paneling might work. Depending on the budget something custom made in iron or wood could look great, or even simple decorative wooden slats. Not 100% sure from your question if you are trying to just block the landings or down the stair railing as well, but plantation shutters might work in that top area, as you could open & close them to let in light and air flow. I'm with the others though on the whole those look like pretty safe steps for kids.
posted by wwax at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2015
posted by wwax at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2015
Response by poster: I have no idea what happened to my earlier response, looks like it was deleted. My fear is her climbing onto the banister/wall itself and attempting to stand or slide on it, and falling all the way to the wood floor below. I'm not particularly worried about the younger child, who is more typical in behavior, but the older one is a sensory thrill-seeker who LOVES to climb anything and everything that can be climbed.
posted by celtalitha at 10:03 AM on April 28, 2015
posted by celtalitha at 10:03 AM on April 28, 2015
My folks enrolled me in "gymnastics for preschoolers" class around that age because I insisted on climbing everything and then jumping off of it. They figured if I was going to fall, I was going to learn how to do it as safely as possible.
I'm certainly not advising you to not make that staircase safer. You can install a gate or plexiglass wall or any other kind of barrier in that staircase, but she'll find other things to climb if she's anything like I was.
My sister was enrolled in the class as well, and it literally saved her neck a few years later when she had a bad fall out of a treehouse. If she hadn't had the trained reflexes from that course, she would likely have broken her neck instead of just her arms.
posted by burntflowers at 6:17 PM on April 28, 2015
I'm certainly not advising you to not make that staircase safer. You can install a gate or plexiglass wall or any other kind of barrier in that staircase, but she'll find other things to climb if she's anything like I was.
My sister was enrolled in the class as well, and it literally saved her neck a few years later when she had a bad fall out of a treehouse. If she hadn't had the trained reflexes from that course, she would likely have broken her neck instead of just her arms.
posted by burntflowers at 6:17 PM on April 28, 2015
oh, I see what you mean now. I think your best bet in that case is going to be getting some acrylic stair rail panels (easily googlable) cut to size, and putting them flush with the inner side of that staircase but a few inches higher, preventing easy access to the top of that surface, so it's not unsightly but does make it pretty much impossible to climb up there. And then you also have to put a proper banister along the wall so that people have somewhere to rest their hand as they go up and down.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:25 PM on April 28, 2015
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:25 PM on April 28, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by nickggully at 7:50 PM on April 27, 2015 [2 favorites]