Am I too chilled about 2 yo falling

↑ imaima

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 11:59 am

amother Peru wrote:

My son got very badly cut falling off a chair that he was climbing on and he hit the corner of a piece of furniture. It needed lots of stiches and left a major scar.
There’s just no climbing on furniture in my house. It’s also hard to get a kid to understand that it’s ok at home and not ok at friends and family and most people won’t want him climbing on their furniture.

Yes
It can be falling of furniture and bumping into other objects

amother

Anemone

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 2:20 pm

I don't think a couch is a big deal (my kids jump on the couch at home and know not to do it elsewhere) but other furniture can be dangerous, even if bolted. I hurt myself pretty badly falling off a chair as a teenager (I am short and was too lazy to get the stepstool out). Yes, it's ok for toddlers to fall (they're called toddlers for a reason! They're not so steady on their feet!) But there's a limit. You let them fall if it'll be a lesson learned without actual injury. Otherwise you do need to be on top of them. Also, you need to think of the item too. Toddlers can be very destructive and can cause a lot of damage in seconds. Hopefully you care about him causing damage to himself, but if that's not enough, also have a bit of concern for property damage, yes, even your own.

amother

Daisy

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 2:30 pm

amother OP wrote:

Why is climbing equipment more safe than climbing on furniture?

Because climbing equipment is built with safety in mind. It considers a child's fall and is built in a way that lessens the impact.

If your kid climbs onto the table and jumps around there, he can fall headfirst onto the floor. That can be a serious injury even at a 4 ft drop.

If a child climbs onto the back of reclining chair and pushes too far, he can fall backwards with the back of his head taking the full impact.

It's not only the height of the fall that matters. It's how the child falls.

dena613

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 7:45 pm

I can think brain and spinal injuries chas veshalom, as well as stitches and broken bones.

Also, in terms of the bookcase, if its not bolted to the wall properly, it can fall onto the child chas veshalom.

amother

Bottlebrush

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 10:41 pm

Put a soft mat or cushion under the area where they will jump. Climbing and jumping is very beneficial for children, just make sure the area is safe enough.

amother

Ebony

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 10:42 pm

We’ve had very serious injuries from falling off furniture. And they were only climbing because other family members were watching them.

mizle10

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 10:45 pm

dena613 wrote:

You can add knocking out teeth to the list

amother

Babypink

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 3:04 am

amother Ebony wrote:

We’ve had very serious injuries from falling off furniture. And they were only climbing because other family members were watching them.

My DS broke his shoulder bone from falling off a couch while he was sleeping (when he was about 3).
I could have so easily put a couple of chairs in front of him - I don't know why I didn't.
(BTW he's 16 now b"H).
Letting kids run around and trip over here and there is fine, but allowing them to climb furniture and fall can cause harm.

ora_43

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 3:33 am

Could he get hurt, yeah. Are you too chilled? I don't know. It depends on his abilities and on what precisely you're letting him do.

You can't give a kid a healthy childhood without letting them do things here and there that could lead to injury. Like, a kid can't learn to sit in a chair without, at some point, being on it as a 'new sitter' who might fall off. They can't learn to climb without falling and figuring out where their limits are.

Restricting a kid's movement and teaching them to fear climbing and exploring also has risks.

So, no real advice here. Just - be aware that head injuries can be very serious, and that a chair falling on top of a child can really hurt. And make sure everything he climbs on is really and truly secured to the wall. But as long as your kid isn't pushing himself too far, let him climb.