Toddler in a MH

[eabc5454]

Hello:

We went out this weekend (the weather was spectacular), and came across a problem. Our 18-month-old granddaughter came to visit at camp. It immediately became clear that the stairwell was dangerous to toddlers. As with any danger, it became a toddler magnet. How do you protect kids on the stairs? We are afraid she will take a header off the top.

Thanks, and happy camping!
Elizabeth

[Pangaea_Ron]

I have just put a nylon webbing strap with plastic side release buckles at each end in the MH. I will attach it around the screen door grab bar (newly installed) and the vertical grab bar just inside the door, to help keep a falling child from continuing down the stairs and out the door.

[tatest]

My motorhome will likely have a gate across the opening before an unready toddler visits. A gate is probably a good idea for older folks too, keep them from accidentally steep off into the hole.

The safest way to deal with the attraction and the hazard of stairs, for a toddler, might be to teach the child how to handle stairs.

My toddler grandson is stair aware, has been climbing stairs since before his first birthday, even before he could walk, so it was necessary to teach him how to crawl back down. A few months short of two, he now walks up and down some stairs, crawls others if they seem like too much. RV stairs, he would quickly figure out he needs to crawl or get some help.

In just a few hours you may learn about some of the other attractive hazards a RV interior offers to an inquisitive toddler.

[michelb]

Hatman wrote:
We travel in our DP motorhome with our 20-month-old daughter. I cut a piece of plywood that goes from the passenger seat to the dash and keeps her out of the stairwell, as well as away from the door. While we have a stair cover, it's pneumatic, so it won't continue to function after we're parked for any length of time. Plus that still gives her access to the door, and she's becoming quite adept at opening darn near anything. 🙂 The plywood works great, and is easily stored behind the passenger seat when not in use.

Funny that you say that about the stair cover. We recently bought a DP and the air driven step cover isn't working so that was one of the first things I wanted to fix ... until it occured to me that, as you mentioned, it will only work while there's pressure in the air system so really not particularly useful when we're parked and when we want to use it.

Depending on the age of the child, it's a good idea to block the access to the door itself - I think if you open the door, it's a 4-5 foot drop from the step cover to the ground in our mh. Also not a bad idea to block access to the cockpit, since like every time I leave after a being parked for a few days, the wipers, the various switches, etc have all been flipped.

[Hatman]

We travel in our DP motorhome with our 20-month-old daughter. I cut a piece of plywood that goes from the passenger seat to the dash and keeps her out of the stairwell, as well as away from the door. While we have a stair cover, it's pneumatic, so it won't continue to function after we're parked for any length of time. Plus that still gives her access to the door, and she's becoming quite adept at opening darn near anything. 🙂 The plywood works great, and is easily stored behind the passenger seat when not in use.

[bass_n_bob]

we used a child/pet barrier and just stretched it out to lay flat on the floor and it covered the step area. After one year our grandchild knows to stay away from the step. Cheap easy fix that works.

[michelb]

Our first mh had a cover like Dutch's. Our 2nd didn't so we used a baby gate between the counter and barrel chair (which locks into place so the baby gate stays tight).

The other thing we did was use a buggy cord to keep the screen door from opening if it was pushed against (the regular door won't open unless you use the handle but the screen door will open with enough pressure). Basically just snaked the bungy cord from the handrail on the steps, through the screen door hole to reach handle and then wrapped it around the grab handle outside.

[willald]

...When our children were toddlers, we were camping with a TT, so didn't have steps inside to worry about. By the time we got our MH (last year), our kids were well past the toddler stage, so inside steps are not really a concern.

Now, accidentally pushing the screen door open and falling out and down the steps outside...THAT is a major concern we had when our kids were toddlers, and still do somewhat today even though they're bigger.

Easy solution to that, though, that we've done with all our RVs: Install a 'hook and eye' latch to screen door, right above the slider. Can easily latch or unlatch it from inside or outside, is high enough a toddler can't reach it, yet makes sure screen door will not swing open when you don't want it to. I highly, highly recommend this modification for anyone that camps with smaller children. I actually just helped my BIL install one of these on his 5th wheel, as his children are a bit younger than ours.

[beckid]

We put pillows in the "well" so the grandkids don't fall in. But we also watch like hawks too... One of them fell out the door of the parked TT a couple years ago. We also have a baby gate from Big Lots.

[Dutch_12078]

pappaone wrote:
Dutch can you post some pictures of how you hinged the drop in panel. My MH has a panel too and your idea sounds like something I'd like to do.

Rich

The hinges are just ordinary 4" strap hinges, Rich. You can just see them peeking through the carpeting in the photo below. I sliced the carpeting just enough to slip the hinges in and screw them down, and then glued the carpeting back down. The next two pics show the stop and latch setup. The stop is just a door stop mounted on a block of wood to get the spacing right. All of the hardware came from our local Ace Hardware store, but similar items should be available at Lowes, Home Depot, etc.

[doxiemom11]

We also had a stair cover that came with our motorhome. It is covered with the same carpet as the rest of the living room. We used that with our toddler grandson but found that in warm weather when you want the door open, if they lean on the screen, it will open and allow them to tumble out. We had to just keep both doors closed as he is still (age 4)is unable to open the outside door because you have to pull up on the handle and he isn't strong enough. I guess maybe you could put a fastener high up on the screen door so it couldn't be opened by a child if you can figure out something to use on the metal framing. He also had a great interest in the drivers side and all the buttons and levers. That was a problem too. Child gate between the seats took care of that.

[Mr_Mark1]

I had no idea that the stairwell would be an issue until my great niece came over. She was about 4 at the time (10 now) and she stepped back at the entrance area and fell into the stairwell. We all jumped up and she was fine but it sure sounded terrible. We have an automatic cover (at least we and Dennis have one, LOL).... I'm much more aware of the smaller children that come over and make them aware of the steps.

One way or another, a step cover should be made and used over the stair area with small children around.

MM.

[pappaone]

Dutch can you post some pictures of how you hinged the drop in panel. My MH has a panel too and your idea sounds like something I'd like to do.

Rich

[wny_pat1]

And I installed a screen door lock to keep the cats inside. Think it would work for toddlers too. Just attach one of there:

1 and 1/4" Half Turn Button found at any hardware store, to the screen door so it can lock to the door frame. That way the toddler can't push open the door and fall out! One word of caution, if your outer and inner doors lock together, somehow disable that function, or you may find your self locked out of your coach. Don't ask how I know this!!!

[Dachristianman]

My daughter was just learning to walk and we discovered that when she grabbed the door handle and pushed up, the door opened. Fortunately we discovered this while parked as she took a tumble out the door onto the ground.

Needless to say, we kept both locks engaged after that. Wish there was a third lock higher up that we could engage.