With a split level house, there are lots of places with steps, where we might put up a baby gate. But likewise, we couldn't stand our house with that many gates, so we have to install them judiciously. We have elected to block only the downward fall from our main level, out of the kitchen. We figure that if we have Helen up or down a flight of stairs, we will just keep her under closer watch and away from the steps.
That all works fine and dandy, until she gets ambitious. I left her alone in the kitchen this morning, and went up to the boys' bedroom with John to get something. I heard a squawk, turned around, and there she was, grinning at me from the 2nd step.
Now, she has been there before, because John, despite our warnings of severest physical punishment, will sometimes lift her up there. But he was with me today. Which means the obvious problem for us, of course. Bored with pulling up on furniture, and now apparently bored with the one-hand-on-furniture stand and balance ("so last week, Mom") and even the cruise a few steps along the furniture ("so yesterday, Mom"), Helen has decided to learn how to climb steps.
We really can't put another baby gate in at the bottom of that staircase. So, we will just have to hope that she also gets quickly bored with idea of climbing. Maybe she will get distracted by learning a different skill - like actually making consonant sounds? Nah. Speech is over-rated. Locomotion is apparently where it's at.
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