How to Keep a Child Safe on the Stairs

Alicia Betz

Sun, May 4, 2025 at 11:30 p.m. UTC

4 min read

Little toddler walking down the stairs. — Credit: Halfpoint/Getty Images Credit: Halfpoint/Getty Images

Before I had kids, I never realized just how many things in my home were dangerous. From sharp corners to windows on the second story, I babyproofed it all. Stairs, of course, are a more obvious hazard, and one that you really need to take care to babyproof well. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), stairs are one of the leading causes of injuries for small children.

Keeping your child safe on the stairs involves both blocking their access to stairs when they’re not attended and teaching them how to safely navigate stairs on their own. Sometimes, babies surprise us with how quickly they get moving or how far they can roll across the room while you run to the bathroom or make a quick snack. It’s always best to babyproof before you think you need to, but you’ll definitely want to have it done by the time your baby is crawling.

As for when to remove baby gates from the stairs, most manufacturers only recommend using gates up to age 24 months. After that, your toddler might be able to figure out how to open or close the gate, which could pose a major safety risk around the stairs. At this point, you’ll want to really focus on teaching them how to use the stairs safely.

How to Keep a Child Safe on the Stairs

1. Install a baby gate.

Childproofing your stairs is relatively simple. You’ll want to install a wall-anchored baby gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. Make sure you mount them to the studs so they are secure. Additionally, don’t use freestanding or pressure-mounted gates at the top or bottom of the stairs. These can more easily fall over and present a falling or tripping hazard.

2. Use non-slip surfaces.

Another way to keep your child safe on the stairs is to install carpeting or a runner to help prevent slips. If you don’t have carpeting on your steps, avoid allowing your child to use the steps in socks to help prevent slips and falls.

3. Adhere to code.

Older stairs might have spindles that are far enough apart to allow a child to get their head stuck. Check the local codes in your area, but in most cases the spindles should be no more than 4 inches apart. If yours are farther apart, you’ll want to do some updates to make them closer together.

Make sure your railing is securely fastened to the wall as well. In some cases, codes may require railings on both sides of the stairs, and in other cases, they may only require one. For extra security, fasten the railing to the studs.

4. Keep steps and railings clear.

If you’re like most families, you’re probably constantly dealing with piles and clutter, and you might place a pile of things on the steps that needs to be taken up or down. This can present a tripping hazard, though. Avoid leaving any items on the stairs. Instead, consider placing a basket near (but not on) the stairs where things that need to go up or down can accumulate.

Decorations on railings can make it more difficult for kids to get a good grip. Avoid wrapping holiday garland or other decorative items around the railing or spindles of your steps.

5. Install lighting.

I’ll be honest: The steps to my basement could have better lighting. If you have dim lighting on your stairs, consider installing extra overhead lights or even stair lights. This extra lighting can help prevent your kids from slipping or missing a step.

How to Teach Toddlers to Use Stairs Safely

Once, when my daughter was a toddler, we found her (thankfully safe) at the bottom of our stairs after someone had forgotten to shut the gate. It was then that I realized that I needed to teach her to safely go down the stairs by herself should she ever find herself in a similar situation again.

As soon as your baby is crawling and exploring stairs, teach them to go down the stairs feet first on their belly. Supervise them and let them practice so they can get better at it.

Once your child is old enough to walk up and down the stairs, teach them to go one step at a time and to use the railing. Discourage them from carrying anything while walking on the steps so they can focus on the stairs.

As kids get older, discourage them from playing on the stairs. Teach your child to always walk (don’t run) on the stairs, and discourage them from skipping steps or jumping on the stairs.

This post originally appeared on Cubby. See it there: How to Keep a Child Safe on the Stairs