How Do I Keep Them Out of the Bathroom???

My post will be completely useless to you. I just wanted to tell you that I feel your pain. I have 4 kids under 4 too and it is hard to keep up with everything all the time. My 2 year old DS is always trashing the bathrooms, but he waits until I sit down to feed the twins because he knows I am busy for a few. I wish you luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I have used a gate to keep my two year old out of the bathroom. It worked really well for me.

One of my friends has a little guy who does the same thing. She heard a suggestion from I don't know where but anyway, they told her to get out buckets of water in convenient places and during supervised times to make playing in water comonplace and not a novelty. It makes sence, don't know how/if it works for her yet, I'll ask and let you know. Good luck. You are an incredible mom , keep up the good work!

ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

I have twins too! It gets better in a year! Mine are 4 years old now.

Anyway, I know how this sounds, but shut it to all the moms without twins,

you can lock them in their bedroom or playroom for the parts of the day that you can't be right there to watch them, and put in a surveillance camera to see them.

Or you can let them play in the kitchen sink with lots of cups and toilet paper and water so that it is in a controlled environment.

Hang in there!

Also, take pictures of their more nightmarish messes that they make so that one day, years from now, you can laugh at it and keep telling yourself that this time is going to pass!

M.

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I know there are loop and hook locks you can install at the top of the door also. Good luck!

Seems that they like to play with water, so let them do it... in the back yard. Get a small wading pool and put some water (just a few inches, not full), with some toys. Let it be a reward for them if they stay out of the bathrooms.

We have the door knob things that the kids can't open and we put them on every door we don't want them it at all and ones we don't want them in sometimes so it's very nice to know they aren't able to get in to those rooms

Sounds like you have your hands full!
My DH came up with what I think is a clever idea -- install a sensor on the bathroom door that chimes whenever the door is opened. That way they can't sneak in, at least. They're fairly inexpensive, and easy to install.
Good luck!

Oh wow that is so hard. I can't imagine how exhausted you must get!!

I would make them clean it up also, but is there something that they really do hate? I know you said they don't care if toys are taken away, but could you do something else drastic that they would really hate? My son would just laugh when I got angry at him, and didn't care about certain punishments, but when I took a Mommy time out and locked myself in my own room for a minute, he hated it and freaked out. This will obviously NOT work for you, but I wonder if there is something that would affect them and teach them consequences.

Also, I wonder if letting them play with TP and water outside would work. I know it is wasteful but if you let them know it is ok to do it but ONLY outside or in a specific place, maybe it wouldn't be so -fun- because of the sneakiness of it.

Good luck!!

Hi A.!
I have three boys (ages 1, nearly 4 & 6 1/2), that keep me on my toes, so I feel like I can relate to your dilemma! We have had similar adventures of finding our youngest (now 15 months) playing in the toilet or climbing up to the bathroom sink. Luckily for us, he can not master doorknobs yet. For the same reason as you, we were hesitant to lock the door completely because our nearly 4 year old is not very fast at getting to the bathroom! It sounds like you have considered or tried everything I can think of. My one suggestion is placing alert sensors (high out of reach) on each of your bathroom doors. I am not advocating a certain brand, but the one I found on Amazon has three sound settings (a low, high and a chime) and they come 4 in a pack for about $15. While it may not curb their behavior, it may at least give you a warning as to where they are and that their water mischief is about to commence!

http://www.amazon.com/First-Instant-Window-Sensor-System/...

Good luck to you!

I had a very similar problem with my 2 year old son. He manages to figure out every childproofing item sold. He understands but doesn't talk either. And what's worse is that he can unsecure something so that his 10 month old sister can crawl in after him too. After much frustration,we installed a loop and hook into the door and put it eye level for an adult. The only time the bathroom is accessible is when someone is in it and can supervise. It's not terribly attractive but it's very small and most folks don't even notice it. When the last baby is old enough to be trusted with the bathroom door it will be a minor patch on the door to fill the 2 small holes. That was the best that I could figure out.

A.,
You are a brave women to have 4 under 4. Though I only have two I still have the same problem. My 2 1/2 yo son is potty trained but his 15 mo sister is not. She loves to follow him and then play in the toilet after he flushes thankfully...but he just watches her and laughs, even though he knows that it is not allowed. The only thing that saves me is that she has not figured round door knobs yet. Good luck and I hope you get some good ideas.

Full time working mother of 2 young children and married to the best husband, father and Lt. in the world.

Hi,
I know babies r us carries safety items for the bathroom. Toilet locks and possibly faucet locks. maybe try home-depot baby safety section too! IF not,look on-line at faucet locks. We have to keep toilet paper on the towel rack or our wonderful tow year old does the same thing...so frustrating!! What about latch hooks? What about having one bathroom available for your 4 year old, and locking the others? One day this too will be a laughing moment, until then love 'em and keep a journal of how sneaky and tricky they are! best wishes!

Sadly, since they are bright little ones your only real option may be to lock all but one centrally located bathroom, your DD will get accustomed to it pretty quickly, and here is the part you don't want me to say, watch them more closely and correct it as soon as you see it, I'll come watch them if you want ;). Make them help clean it up first and then right to a time-out, my little guy does this also and is much more trustworthy in the bathroom know but it was really about staying on top of it. Good luck maybe someone will have a better suggestion!

A., in addition to educating the kids to know the word "NO", so they know what is not allowed,
there are such little HOOKS that you can attach to the door,
VERY HIGH up, so that only adults can reach, and the little ones cannot, even from the chair. Lock the door, and open it upon request, for a special need only.
Hope it will help them to have time to learn exactly what the word "no!" means...

How about some baby gates that have vertical poles that are hard to clmb over and have a gate that is too hard to open to keep them in a certain part of the house? They should not need to have run of the whole house. Also, I realize you have your hands full, but if you are right there, then you should be able to prevent them from going in, and help your daughter when she needs to use the bathroom. They are probably bored and looking for something interesting to do, not to mention they sure do get your attention when they go in to the bathroom to play!

Hi
Assuming they aren't being potty trained yet, you could put a bolt on the outside of the door, up high where they can't reach. You could try this until the behavior subsides.

Good Luck!

My mom and I have had a great laugh over your question. I'm sorry that you have such a trouble, I have really no answer for you, but enjoy the moment and have a good laugh...even though while you are cleaning up it isn't really funny, but maybe they can help you clean up. My sister has twins, and she is exhausted and feels that all she does is chase those two around her house!!

Good luck!

I hate to say it but you probably will have to lock the doors!! I have 6 boys and let me tell you they are stubborn!!! We have always had to keep our bathroom doors locked, which sucks, and we have one of those keys that unlocks it right on the thermostat next to the bathroom that the older boys can reach and unlock the door. It isn't very fun and we realy couldn't wait for them to become old enough to not worry about the stuff going in the toilet. We have had to completely take the toilet up and fish out what they put in it and put a new seal on it so many times that even though we hated doing it we had to. People will tell you "just keep telling them not to do it and they will stop" but it doesn't work for every child and it didn't work for my boys. When they get an idea in their heads they just think of nothing else!! Our youngest boys are 4 and 3 now and we just 2 weeks ago were able to stop locking the bathroom door. We are potty training the last one and so far it has been good. It sucks but sometimes we have to do what we don't want to do in order to not go even more crazy. Maybe keep one unlocked that is nearest to where your daughter is during the day. Explain to her that her brothers are little and you have to do this for a little while until they understand that they can't play in the toilet or water in the bathroom. Also, we always kept the door unlocked at night so the kids could get into the bathroom quickly.

This is more to share a my story. You are not alone, as we have read. It is not only isolated to twins or boys. My 4 year old girl is a 'nightmare' in the bathroom. Toilet paper NEVER stays on the roll; the toilet wipes are never in the bin - they are either on the floor or all over the counter and dried out! She likes to brush her teeth, so we have toothpaste everywhere, water is everywhere and she always seems to leave the faucet barely streaming. She doesn't like to use her step up stool, she would rather stand on the toilet, so she is constantly getting wet - and has to change her clothes (by the way - she loves doing this she will change outfits 6 times a day!) My kids' bathroom is a disaster!! My 6 year doesn't seem to mind, of course, he helps make some of the mess. I have tried to keep it clean, I have tried to make her help me clean it - nothing works. Another funny thing is she will go to the bathroom and lock the door -- then ask for us to come help her wipe. Of course, we can't get it in (until we found a door key above the door jam). We live in an apartment, but it is still hard to keep an eye on them. You want them to be independent and use the toilet at their convenience, but you can never be sure what they are actually doing in there until it is too late. I like the idea of the door chime. We actually have those on our most of our doors and will try that on the bathroom door. I'll let you know how it works out. I wish you all the best - I know how frustrating it is to constantly be cleaning and chasing your kids around. I think it would be easier to raise dogs then kids - they are easier to train. LOL!

Well, a simple solution to the locking all but one crisis is to tell your four year old which bathroom is unlocked. I think you could just lock all four and tell your four year old to let you know when there's a need and you'll open it.

It sounds like your twins aren't being occupied with things to do, so they go looking for something to do...which in reality, could be a space of time like a whopping 30 secs, but, to them, it's time not occupied.

Take them outside.
Give them coloring, play dough (peanut butter, honey--if they're 2--and powdered milk are great for play dough that they can eat), let them paint (you can water down ketchup and mustard, bbq sauce, etc...) on paper plates, make noodle necklaces.

In general, the children go looking for things to do when we've left them in a room without us...or if we get too into something else like a movie, the phone, computer, sewing...whatever the case may be...our focus isn't on them.

Play hide-and-seek with them--of course, you keep your eyes open and pretend not to know where they are...if you see them going down toward a bathroom you can say "are you going to the bathroom?" or "I hear you going to the bathroom, we don't play in the bathroom."

When you find them playing a bathroom, strip them down and put them in the tub. Throw some cups in there and let them play. Have your four year old bring you whatever you were working on and do it in the bathroom with your little ones in the bath. (well, you know, if it isn't the dishes or scrubbing the floor! lol)

It will get better.

Be sure to include them in the cleaning and drying...and that part doesn't need to be a "punishment"--I mean WHY make cleaning a BAD thing...just "come on guys, lets dry this up" and then move them to a different activity. If they like water so much, take them outside with bowls of water to pour into cups and other containers. They can be learning while they're playing--spacial differences, for example.

Stay calm and have fun with them...

I find this really funny and sounds like something my boys would have done. I would tell them if they want to play with water to keep it in the tub.
They will evenually hate water and will be asking us how to get them to bathe but that come much later.
Then comes the teenage years when they worship the shower and can't get them out!
Try letting them play in the outdoor pool as much as possible. Have them help in the kitchen sink to clean the pots and pans. They won't get clean but at least you know where they are. They sound like a handful!
From a mom who had 4 under 5 and did daycare for infants to 5 year olds.
C. B
After reading some of these responses, some people just don't get it!

screen door latches would work really well, you can even go as far as to put andoor alarm on it so when the door is open it will sound. you know or get locks that need keys for them. i know that it is not fair to your 4 year old but she will under stand. can you start to potty train yet?? i will keep you in mind and if anything else comes to it i will respond again

What fun! My one and three year old love water == We bought a little sand/water table (about 2.5-3 feet across) and put it in the laundry room w/ beach towels underneath. You could also set it in one of those little swimming pool so the floor doesn't become unduly wet . . . It's more water than the toilet, and cleaner too. They might find that an appealing alternative. Good luck!

I have twin boys as well (now 4 1/2yr). We just put hook/eye locks on all the rooms we wanted to keep them out of....up high above their reach. I figure I can fix the holes in the doors later, but it would save my sanity now.

I think you really just need to lock the door. When your four year old needs to go, just let her in. It will save your sanity. that's what I do. My 20-month-old does the same stuff so I just lock him out of any rooms I don't want him in. It's so much easier. Good luck.

I had the same problem with several rooms in my home with my twins & younger daughter - I installed latch hooks high up to keep them out & they couldn't reach the latch. Worked wonders & kept my sanity.