L.B. asks from Valparaiso, IN on September 14, 2009
2 Year Old Can Open Doors Now!
My 2 year old learned how to open doors this weekend and now I have a problem keeping him in bed. He has been in a toddler bed for about 3 months with no problem. He never even got out of bed in his room until we came to get him but now he is getting out of bed and even coming out of his room. He didn't even take a nap yesterday because he kept coming out of his room. This morning he was up at 6:30am and came in my room to get in bed with me.
I would love any ideas on how to keep him in bed atleast in his room.
1 mom found this helpful
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M.C. answers from Chicago on September 16, 2009
If you place pantyhose on the door knobs he will not be able to open up the door, if it is a standard knob. They are too slippery for a child to grasp but will still allow you or any adult to be able to open the door. Just an idea.
M.C. answers from Chicago on September 15, 2009
Thhis is what I came up with in my daycare when the children learned to get out of bed. I would have a book or puzzles with me and sit outside the door and as soon as they came out, I would put them back in and tell them they had to stay in bed. If they didn't respond after a few times, then I would hold the door shut and not allow them to get out. This usually resulted in many tears and sometimes falling asleep on the floor by the door. However, after this they would only need one reminder at the door, or a threat to hold it closed and they would go back to and stay in bed.
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B.E. answers from Chicago on September 15, 2009
Do you have doorknob protectors? I have Safety 1st brand, they're usually sold along with other childproofing items at Babies R' Us. It keeps my 2 1/2 yr old from getting out of the bedroom...he has to knock for us to let him out. Hope that helps!
R.L. answers from Chicago on September 15, 2009
What I did was put the saftey door handle lock on the inside of my son's door so that he couldn't get out. His room was completely child proofed. When he woke up I heard him, but he was not able to get out and hurt himself.
J.J. answers from Chicago on September 15, 2009
Here's a resource that might have some helpful information. If they don't have a similar question posted, you could write in to them and ask the question there...
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100.asp
Best wishes,
J.
D.R. answers from Chicago on September 15, 2009
We had the same issue with our daughter. We told her that we need her to be safe and, therefore, had to call us to come get her when she was up and wanted to come out of her room. We explained if we were in the shower, or sleeping when she came out of her room that if she walked around the house and got hurt we wouldn't know and couldn't come help her. This in itself did not work simply because she loved the experience of something new (opening doors and the freedom of walking out on her own). We then tied a few bells on her door handle so when she opened the door, we would hear her and then would go stop her and tell her to get back in bed or to call for us when she was up. It only took a handful of times before she got the hint - she would not be able to get anywhere because we would be right there to stop her. Good luck!
S.Z. answers from Chicago on September 15, 2009
Can he climb a baby gate? If not, use that!
M.C. answers from Chicago on September 15, 2009
Thhis is what I came up with in my daycare when the children learned to get out of bed. I would have a book or puzzles with me and sit outside the door and as soon as they came out, I would put them back in and tell them they had to stay in bed. If they didn't respond after a few times, then I would hold the door shut and not allow them to get out. This usually resulted in many tears and sometimes falling asleep on the floor by the door. However, after this they would only need one reminder at the door, or a threat to hold it closed and they would go back to and stay in bed.
F.S. answers from Chicago on September 17, 2009
I know a lot of people who have child safety knobs over the inside door knob of their kids' rooms -- the kind that you have to push in while turning, so little hands literally can't do them. Other friends of ours use baby gates in the doorway to keep their kids in. When my eldest went through the toddler-bed adjustment, I used to sit holding her door closed and reading a book for up to a half hour while she went to sleep. I am probably going to go the baby gate route myself, since I won't be able to do the doorknob holding thing with twins in two separate rooms. Pray for me!
Whichever route you go, as long as you keep them in their rooms now, they will grow out of it.
Good luck!
-- Florrie
R.S. answers from Chicago on September 15, 2009
I have friends that have used a child-proof lock on the inside of the child's bedroom door (supposedly you can still open it from the outside without any problems), and have put a safety gate outside the bedroom door.
Good luck!
R.
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