Help!! Anyone know a good way to baby-proof a bunk bed ladder??

[Anonymous]

OMG, DS2 (12 months) is such a climber. I can't keep him off climbing up his brothers bunk bed ladder. I keep telling everyone to make absolutely sure the bedroom door is shut at all times, but people keep forgetting and I've ran in there terrified over a dozen times so far to find him playing on the top bunk. I found a product called ToddleLock, but it's $50. Wondering if there is a DIY way to do it (other than removing the ladder of course)

[Anonymous]

Get two pieces of plywood and some zip ties or bolts. Attach the plywood to the front and back of the ladder for the first 18 inches or so. Then your older child can still step over it and climb up, but the baby can't. Shouldn't be more than about $10 all-in for materials (Home Depot or Lowes will cut the plywood for you for free).

[Anonymous]

Remove the ladder. I bet your kid can still climb up to bed. Even if he can't, keep the ladder in a closet/under the bed during the day.

[Anonymous]

Is the ladder screwed in to the bed? The one we used to own had hooks rather than screws -- the hooks were secure when ladder in place, but you could easily remove the ladder as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remove the ladder. I bet your kid can still climb up to bed. Even if he can't, keep the ladder in a closet/under the bed during the day.

I can't remove the ladder, it's a really heavy ladder that is attached to the safety rail. It's not one of those light, separate ladders you can just take off and lay in the top bunk unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

I would remove it or get a baby gate that auto closes for the door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remove the ladder. I bet your kid can still climb up to bed. Even if he can't, keep the ladder in a closet/under the bed during the day.

I can't remove the ladder, it's a really heavy ladder that is attached to the safety rail. It's not one of those light, separate ladders you can just take off and lay in the top bunk unfortunately.

Ugh. Then the plywood solution might work.

Or you could do what we do to our bird feeder pole to keep the squirrels out: Grease it heavily so they just slide right back down.

[Anonymous]

AHA! They make a product just for this!!!

http://www.toddlelock.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AHA! They make a product just for this!!!

http://www.toddlelock.com/

OP specifically said that cost $50 and she was looking for something less expensive or DIY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remove the ladder. I bet your kid can still climb up to bed. Even if he can't, keep the ladder in a closet/under the bed during the day.

I can't remove the ladder, it's a really heavy ladder that is attached to the safety rail. It's not one of those light, separate ladders you can just take off and lay in the top bunk unfortunately.

Ugh. Then the plywood solution might work.

Or you could do what we do to our bird feeder pole to keep the squirrels out: Grease it heavily so they just slide right back down.

haha, I like this idea

[Anonymous]

Is it an option to just turn the bed around so the ladder side is against the wall?

[Anonymous]

Plywood or plexiglass -- like Ikea

[Anonymous]

We had the same problem. I used an old sheet to wrap around the bottom two rungs of the ladder to close it off. Same concept as the plywood a PP mentioned. It lasted us until about 22 months before his legs were long enough to climb it. By then he could go down safely on his own and we just kept a close eye and discouraged climbing.

[Anonymous]

We had the same problem. Taped some cardboard to cover the first two steps.

[Anonymous]

Two Foam Boards (Arts & Supply stores, Walmart, Target) + zip ties = problem solved!


My first ladder steps are a 12" off the ground and I used 20"x28" boards. Boards come in different sizes and usually sets of two. They can be cut to size with an Exacto knife in less than 5min. Works like a charm and cost me less than $10.