Viral video of 9-month-old Chinese baby climbing mountain steps sparks safety concerns

A video of a nine-month-old baby climbing steps at a mountain tourist site has gone viral, igniting heated debates about his family’s parenting style.

Filmed at a mountain resort in central China’s Hubei province, the clip has garnered 200,000 likes and 17,000 comments on a popular short video platform.

Footage shows the baby’s mother closely accompanying him, while he wears kneecaps for protection as he enjoys the outdoor activity.

Some viewers expressed shock at the video, questioning whether the parents were “pulling up the seedlings to help them grow.”

“Is it really appropriate for a baby this young to climb a mountain like that?” one commenter asked.

However, most responses were supportive.

One individual noted: “He is the only one who truly ‘climbs’ the mountain.”

“I admire this parenting style. Unlike those who are overly cautious about their children getting a bit dirty, parents like this foster a child with strong immunity,” remarked another observer.

“You could put a pair of gloves on him to protect him from sharp objects along the way,” offered a different suggestion.

The baby’s father, surnamed Huang, shared that this was Wenwen’s first mountain climb.

Wenwen quickly mastered the skill, having begun climbing at six months old, and was already able to navigate staircases by eight months.

The couple felt confident in Wenwen’s ability to climb the mountain after seeing him adeptly tackle staircases in their neighbourhood.

Huang mentioned that both he and his wife are outdoor enthusiasts, and their son appears to have inherited this passion; he exhibits signs of restlessness when indoors for too long.

“We took him to climb the mountain not to train him, but to help him expend energy,” Huang explained.

While passers-by often expressed admiration for Wenwen’s remarkable skill at the mountain, he remained focused, absorbed in the beauty of the flowers and plants along the ascent.

Huang acknowledged that climbing the mountain has brought “positive energy” to their son: “His mood improved significantly, and he fell asleep quickly after the climb.”

The couple emphasise the importance of valuing their child’s feelings and encouraging him to explore his interests while ensuring his safety.

They noted that some parents expressed a desire to emulate their parenting approach, advising them to ensure close supervision by at least three adults during mountain climbing activities.

They also recommended selecting mountain resorts with gentle paths and not forgetting protective gear for their children.

Going forward, they plan to take Wenwen mountain climbing every two weeks and to introduce him to camping soon.