We had an open wood stairs and a concrete set of stairs. Nothing you do will make them safe, but, the kids can be trained to be safe.

Show them how to back down on their belly. It's hilarious to see a toddler lay down on the floor four feet from the stairs and back up till they get to the stairs.

Lighten up. Kids will be kids. Regardless of what goes on those stairs, kids get hurt no matter how many things you think you've done to protect them.Besides they are fast learners, one gets hurt the rest will know not to do that. We have all learned the hard way. Today it is from others faux pas via internet

I agree. Insist on a no running in the house rule, and hope for the best. Sometimes kids will manage to get hurt just being kids. You can wrap the entire stone staircase in bubble wrap, and they'll end up hurting themselves falling out of a tree.

When my now 15yr old was 7, he asked to be signed up for tackle football. He was 37 lbs. I signed him up & my mom freaked out saying she didn't want a gorked out grandkid. The league had EMTs and an ambulance at the fields every practice, and the only time they were called into action the entire season was when a kid broke his arm falling off the playground tower. 13 teams with 25-30 kids apiece, aged 7-14(3 age divisions) were practicing that day, and the broken bone was on the playground.

Stuff happens. The best way to ensure it doesn't is to insist on respecting the stairs and the house with a no running, and always use the handrail policy.

Incidentally, that 15 yr old had been taken to the ER or walk-in 4 separate times by the time he was 8 for bleeding head wounds, none of which were associated with any of his full contact sports(lacrosse, football, wrestling,) or semi-dangerous hobbies. Those head injuries haven't stopped him from being a bright & energetic student who is taking and acing college level engineering courses.

Gates top and bottom. Of course, this still doesn't prevent them from climbing up the outside of an open staircase.

I used to have a badly worn deck and the kids got pretty good at taking out their own splinters, using a needle.
Show them the steps, explain they will hurt if they fall, and cross your fingers all will be OK. They're kids, not eggs.

There's an alternative that works beyond just the hazard of the stairs. It works in other hazardous situations as well.

Green Designs.LMAO.The only things missing are full face shield, mouth guard, hockey gloves, steel toe shoes and then we'll allow to play in the backyard on a cloudy moderately temperature day.