He has learned to climb the sofa. He has not learned to get down feet first

moss_wave_834417 Apr 2026

Our son started climbing onto the sofa about a week ago. Going up is slow and careful. Coming down is a headfirst dive towards the floor, every time, with a big smile, whether or not an adult is within reach. We've put a mat in front of it, which he treats as encouragement. Daycare says he does the same off the low steps in the play area and they are 'working on it'. Did you teach the turn-around-and-slide-down move, or does it come on its own? And how long before I can sit on my own sofa again?

2 comments

sage_camera_343117 Apr 2026
Ours isn't climbing yet, so this is from her daycare rather than from home. They teach the babies to go down the low step backwards by turning them round every single time, saying the same word, 'feet', and placing their hands on the step. The teacher said it took weeks of repetition before any of them did it on their own. I can't say whether it works for every child; I've noted it down for later.
- moss_wave_834417 Apr 2026
  'feet', every single time. we can do that. problem is he's faster than both of us and he's airborne before anyone gets the word out
- moss_wave_834418 Apr 2026
  update for anyone else reading at 2 am with a teething baby: two days of 'feet' and turning him round. this evening he went down backwards on his own, once, then looked at me for applause. back to diving after that, but it's a start
gentle_chai_336417 Apr 2026
Mine did this too. The backwards slide came at some point, I can't remember when, but I do remember the dive phase lasting long enough that my mother-in-law moved the coffee table out of the room for good. Clear anything with corners and you'll worry less.