There is nothing unsafe about that for kids or anyone else except drunks at bar-b-ques. It’s not even high enough off the ground to require railings. Stop worrying. You can’t bubble wrap the world.

I think I would put down some indoor/outdoor rugs on the second level to show there’s a drop between the levels. You could put potted plants on the corners to keep the rugs from flying away where there isn’t any furniture.

To keep the kids or animals from going under the deck maybe some kind trellis or hard cloth with some plants going around the decking.

Yes, potted plants at all the corners to give a visible hint that something is going on there. Other than that, your kids will be fine. In fact shallow steps like this are the best for babies and toddlers in my experience because they are so easy to clamber up and down.

The image is deceptive, the drop off from the deck to the ground is about 30 inches, which is a pretty big tumble for a toddler running off of it at full speed (hence why we decided to build the railing around it). We have already had our toddler run and forget the change in elevation causing some pretty unpleasant injuries. I would like to have her be able to run around on the deck without worrying about sprained ankles and broken bones. We also have elderly parents who have missed the step and have tripped going up and down.

If you have plants there, adults will remember that there is a level change. And I find kids usually learn after one or two disasters.

However, if you are truly unable to assuage your concern, it won't be hard to add a railing all the way around the top level. Just match it to what's there. Maybe leave the step down where that little "bridge" is.

Where you don’t have railings you can add an attached bench...and handrails along the steps leading to the yard......this will at least alert to the drop off...but kids will climb over or thru anything...so a big dose of training...and supervision...will be in order

I would move that big rock in the foreground at yard level as well ...just in case you do have a fall right there

How about painting a stripe all the way around the top of each of the upper steps. People will notice and it will give a kind of ending for each level.

Kids will only hurt themselves one or twice before they learn. If they do a third time, it’s not the deck. It’s the kid. Or the supervision of the kid. That isn’t solved by giant rolls of bubble wrap.

woodteam5 beat me to it. Not pretty, but painting the edge a very different color (like white or yellow) would make the level change more obvious.

I'm with Sophie on this. Seems now days parents are so frightened their kid is going to hurt themselves doing all the (what should be normal) things that kids do. Hell when I was little we used to climb trees, climb fences, climb the tree beside my elementary school and and run around on the roof. My mother would have died if she knew that. Very rarely did anyone hurt themselves and if they broke their arm they got a cool cast that everyone signed and they held on tighter the next time. I've seen posts on here where people wanted to removed a flattish rock that was in their lawn afraid some kid might stub their toe. Or not hang artwork on landings in case someone fell down the stairs and knocked the artwork off. Or complained about a sloping yard, or a pool or a fireplace. (Fires have been central to living since the caveman.) Go to Europe. You won't see railings on every possible elevation change. Go to Venice. No railings. God only knows what's in those canals! Kids run. Kids fall. Sometimes they get hurt. Like Sophie says, that's how they learn.

If it really bothers you, rebuild it so it is one level: problem solved.

It really is true; over-protecting kids is crippling them. Of course, under-protecting can have the same effect.

Yanna I am sharing this just to hopefully put your mind at ease a bit. Every parenting source I have found says that a fall from the child's height or less is generally considered safe. Yes it hurts, yes there are screams, but it isn't an emergency.

That's a really dumb design for a deck.

Build out the higher level all the way to the edge. You will have to add another step or two to the ground, which it looks like you have room for. Add railings.

@onelmtwothre, I totally agree this is a poorly designed deck. I think the previous owners built on the lower portion of the deck to the higher portion so you can have more of a view of Mt Hood and the Columbia river. I hated the deck from the get go, and now that we’ve settled in a bit we are working on making changes. Also, thanks to everyone for the suggestions. We aren’t horribly protective parents, and would like a more functional space for our girls to play and move freely since it’s the largest open space in the back yard without me worrying if my 6 month old has crawled off the edge.

You put railing around the lower portion correct, between deck and ground? So no one can run off the edge anymore?

If your baby is developmentally average this is the perfect time to teach her "on your belly, feet first" or to bump on her bum off the low step. Really it will take no time at all to learn. And think how much fun it will be for them to feel really adventurous as they go up and down that little stair! And in a year, to hold hands and jump off it...

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water, I see this as a *perfect* set-up for Littles because they can move their bodies in a way that requires spatial relations and courage but it is a completely safe area.

Especially if you do paint the line, they will memorize their environment so fast you won't believe it.

Just my parenting perspective.

I had a lot of the thoughts that have been expressed here..but honestly I don’t think anyone of us has enough information to be offering some of these judgements...also it is not only children who fall off decks accidentally ...this could be a disaster if ....a wine drinking..... view enjoying....friend .....or worse..your granny ....fell off the deck edge...so you are on the right track...not over worrying ...just being careful...

that is a stupidly designed deck. If a total rip out and replace isn't in the budget, talk to a contractor about raising the lower portion to create a one-level deck. It'll take a little thought to make sure you don't have decking going off in all different directions, and they'll want to confirm the structure will support the additional framing, but it'll give you a way more functional space. This is why I've convinced nearly every client who's wanted a multi-level deck not to do it. They look pretty in magazine pics and kind of suck in everyday use.

@revolutionarygardens,I totally agree. I think the previous owners added on the lower portion and didn’t want to bother with added expense of making it all one level. We decided that we are going to raise the lower level by essentially building on top of the current one. Right now it’s just an odd shape and doesn’t really allow for any portion of the deck to be used well.

To update, my father in law, husband and brother in law built on top of the existing deck so now it’s all flush! Such a better use of space too. Now to stain it all and add furniture!Thanks to all that commented

It's a much better deck I think.

@Revolutionary nailed it with his "stupidly designed deck" comment in April, which of course cut through all potential ambiguity. It made me chuckle. The adjustment is a much more usable space. Congrats on taking the initiative to make the change!