Toddler Climbing on Chairs? 8 Ways to Make Kitchen Chairs Safer

One day your toddler is happily sitting at the table. The next, they've figured out that a kitchen chair is a ladder. They climb up, stand on the seat, lean on the back, and the chair starts to tip.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Climbing is a normal part of toddler development. Many kids start climbing in earnest between 18 and 24 months, according to What to Expect. The goal isn't to stop climbing altogether. It's to make sure the chairs they climb don't fall over with them.

Why toddlers climb kitchen chairs

Toddlers climb because they're building strength, balance and confidence, and because the counter, the table and the window all look more interesting from up high. Kitchen chairs are the perfect height, they're everywhere, and they move. A toddler can drag one across the room and climb it in seconds.

The problem is that kitchen chairs are built for an adult sitting still, not a 25-pound child standing on the seat and pulling on the back. A standing or climbing child can tip a chair backwards or sideways with very little effort.

How common are chair injuries?

More common than most parents think. A study of U.S. emergency departments found an average of about 40,900 chair-related injuries to children 3 and under every year, and falling was the cause in 87% of them (Clinical Pediatrics study). In high chair falls, two-thirds of the children who were hurt had been climbing or standing in the chair just before they fell, according to Nationwide Children's Hospital.

8 ways to make kitchen chairs safer for a climbing toddler

1. Make the chairs harder to tip

Most kitchen chairs tip backwards because all the weight ends up over the two back legs. Widening the base of those back legs makes the chair much harder to rock over. That's what we designed the Jackaroo Leg to do. It straps onto the back legs of the chairs you already own, so you don't have to buy new furniture.

2. Push chairs all the way in when they're not in use

A chair tucked under the table is harder to climb and has less room to tip. Make it a family habit to push chairs in after every meal.

3. Keep chairs away from counters, windows and stoves

Toddlers usually climb with a goal in mind. If a chair can be dragged next to the counter, the stove or a window, it will be. Keep chairs at the table, and don't leave tempting things like snacks, phones or knives on counters right above them.

4. Set one clear chair rule

Pick one simple rule and repeat it every time: "Chairs are for sitting." When your child stands up, calmly help them sit or take them down. Consistency matters more than the exact words.

5. Give them a safe place to climb instead

Toddlers need to climb, so give them a "yes" option. A sturdy step stool, a low climbing toy or a pile of couch cushions on the floor lets them practice without a hard fall. What to Expect recommends safe outlets like play gyms and step stools so kids don't build their own climbing structures.

6. Buckle them in when they're in a booster or high chair

The number one thing parents can do to prevent high chair injuries is to use the safety straps every time, according to Nationwide Children's Hospital. We've also written a full guide on keeping a booster seat from tipping over.

7. Anchor the other furniture they'll climb next

A child who climbs chairs will soon try dressers and bookshelves. KidsHealth recommends making sure every piece of furniture a child might climb is sturdy, and anchoring tall pieces to the wall with brackets.

8. Protect every chair, not just one

Toddlers don't pick the "safe" chair. They pick the closest one. If you stabilize only your child's seat, they'll climb the one next to it. That's why many families protect the whole table. A 4-pack of Jackaroo Legs saves 15%.

Our story

We started Jackaroo after our son Reuben tipped his chair backwards at dinner and we ended up in urgent care. He was okay, but we never wanted it to happen again. You can read more in how to stop kids from tipping over chairs.

The short version

• Climbing is normal, so plan for it instead of fighting it.
• Make chairs harder to tip by stabilizing the back legs.
• Push chairs in and keep them away from counters and windows.
• Give your toddler a safe place to climb.
• Protect every chair at the table.

See how the Jackaroo Leg works.

Greg Dunn is the inventor of the Jackaroo Leg and a dad of three, including twins.