Help with 5 Yr Old Daughter Who Leaves the House...

When I had my baby, my son was 3. For the next two years he "created" ways to get out. My kids have an unusual strength to them, so dead bolts didn't work...But we tried, we then bought a double keyed dead bolt (needs a key from both sides of the door) that was the key. But other things we had to do, were: move our garage door button to above the door from the house to the garage (away from his reach, even when standing on a stool). We have a wood fence, so we pad locked both fence gates. And then we found that we had to rescrew some of the wood slates, because he would find a semi loose slat and then push and wiggle until it was loose or broke only at the bottom enough for him to sneak out with no one knowing. The other great thing I did, was put in a HUGE sand box with a playhouse/swing set. Now I can guarantee that he is in my back yard to stay...but now I find neighbor kids joining him, but at least I know where he is!

For a deadbolt I highly suggest one that requires a key on both the inside and the outside. This is what we did to keep our little girl inside. Also I do not recommend those flip latches that you put up high on the door. My sister in law has one of those and recently her 5 year old discovered that if he slammed the door hard enough it flips and locks everyone out of the house.

We are now going through our second escape artist. Talking to them about strangers and the dangers in leaving the house alone never helped. Instead we have had to put latches on the doors up at the very top of the door. If they can reach it they can get out. You need to have something up high enough so that even if they are standing on a chair they still cannot undo it. You can find different locking mechanisms at Lowe's and Home Depot. Get something on the door today. Don't wait.

If you use a deadbolt, it would need to be up high. My one year old can already undo the deadbolt but he can't get through the child knob covers, so we have one of those on our front door. Whatever you choose, it needs to be out of her reach.

My son use to do this often. We put chain locks on the top of every door in the house.

My son stopped wandering the house or trying to get out side when he was 4 1/2 but started at 2 1/2. When my son wondered the house I would find him in all kinds of things that were unsafe. I had to figure out a way to keep him safe. That or never sleep.

I also suggest you talk to your child about child kid napping and different things that can happen to her when your not there to protect her. She is old enough to understand what you are telling her. Sometime less information is harmful.

Its hard with children because what works one minute seems not to work the next. I also had to talk to my son every night and pray with him so he would have peace. Kids are not easy but they are so worth the efforts we put into helping them.

I think That you are trying your best and that is all you can do. Time will work it out. Its just keeping her safe till it stops.

Good Luck!

I'd deadbolt the door. I wouldn't worry so much about the neighbor's opinions as I would about her safety. We had the same issue with one of my children who knew how to work not only the deadbolt, but also those door knob covers before he was 3. He is very adventurous and didn't think twice about just walking out the front door whenever he felt like it. Although I live in a ridiculously safe neighborhood (where some people still don't even lock their doors at night), there is always the chance something could happen, among the least of which would be being hit by a car.
If the deadbolt doesn't do it, I'd get a chain or one of those little hinge locks that you flip over at the top of the door. You've got to find a way to keep her in-or never let her out of your sight inside your own home. And anyone with children knows just how ridiculous that thought it!
Good Luck!