Baby Physical Development: Walking Down Stairs

Teach your baby how to be a stair master!

Submitted by
Laura

Even if you live on one level or have your stairs gated well enough to keep even your partner away from them, sooner or later your kid will have to face a set of stairs. Give baby's physical development a leg up on the process by acting as her "step coach."

You
Your child
Stairs:
Preferably carpeted.

Sit your child at bottom of stairs while you sit two steps above her.
Scoot down stairs feet-first, saying "Feeties first!" while your child watches you.
Now, place your kid two steps above you, facing you.
Place her feet on step below, steady her as you help her scoot down the safe way, saying "Feeties first!" until it rings in your head. If you're musically inclined, turn the directions into a song—if not, consider rapping your instructions. (Or just go ahead and say it. Either way.)
Shower your kid with kisses and praise any time she even comes close to putting her feet on the step below her.
Practice three times a week for about a week and next week she'll be teaching the kids at Gymboree a thing or two about climbing down off of that big purple cube.