Is it ok to lock the door to a 2 year old's room who keeps getting up in the night since he was moved to his Toddler Bed?

Nicole - posted on 07/24/2011

We reversed the lock on my sons door for 2 reasons. 1 he locked himself in once and 2. he would wonder around the house at night. We tried just putting a baby gate up but he knew how to climb over them. He still had the monitor in his room so when he would wake up we'd unlock it. I dont think its a bad thing when you are just protecting them as long as you arent just locking them in the room so you dont have to deal with them.

Amanda - posted on 07/24/2011

My daughter is 3 she has always been a horrible sleeper. She wakes up at all hours of the night. We have tried the saftey door knob covers which she figured out at 1 1\2 we have also tried putting tape around them which she also figured out. She has figured out the pressured baby gates she can crawl over them or she pushes on them hard enough that they pop off the wall. I have woke up to her outside playing with the dog, eating food,and crawling on the counter in the kitchen. Every child learns different i have tried putting her back in bed and it will go on all night or she will fall back asleep only to wake up at around 5am. Do whatever you need to do to keep your child safe you are there mother you know what is best for your child and how they will respond to different options. I have decided to try locking her in. Maybe the whole house will sleep then including her.

Amanda - posted on 07/24/2011

My daughter is 3 she has always been a horrible sleeper. She wakes up at all hours of the night. We have tried the saftey door knob covers which she figured out at 1 1\2 we have also tried putting tape around them which she also figured out. She has figured out the pressured baby gates she can crawl over them or she pushes on them hard enough that they pop off the wall. I have woke up to her outside playing with the dog, eating food,and crawling on the counter in the kitchen. Every child learns different i have tried putting her back in bed and it will go on all night or she will fall back asleep only to wake up at around 5am. Do whatever you need to do to keep your child safe you are there mother you know what is best for your child and how they will respond to different options. I have decided to try locking her in. Maybe the whole house will sleep then including her.

Kelly - posted on 07/21/2011

My son wakes up more than my daughter, but he is at the age of bad dreams and nightmares. She doesn't know about those yet so she just sleeps. His door is half closed and the gate at the top of the stairs is locked so that if he needs me he can get up and wander into our room without the danger of falling down the stairs. My daughter needs to sleep with her door shut, her father is really loud and clumsy and the bathroom is right next to hers. As she becomes a harder sleeper I will slowly open the door a crack and then let it be progressively more open, once she moves into her big girl bed I will put up a gate and if she needs me she can do like her brother used to, come to the gate and say "mommy I need you" I sleep like the dead, but the minute there is a noise from one of their rooms I am wide awake so I don't think she'd feel isolated or rejected, I am hoping she'll have the same reaction as my son who used to call he room with the gate up his "safe place" Plus although their doors do get shut, they aren't locked, I have been lucky they both just lie down and go to sleep, end of story. I hope you find something that works for you. The mom who mentioned the door handle guard, had a good idea that I'd never thought of, it just might work.

Christy - posted on 07/21/2011

I have always had an issue with this. I am not sure why, but I would like to think if my kid had a nightmare or something, he would know he can come to me, even in the middle of the night. They don't get up at night forever, just when they are younger.

Julie - posted on 07/21/2011

Did you know that cribs used to be called '6-year cribs'? That is when it was felt that children were old enough for a bed. Beds can be scarey to child... cribs are a smaller space for them to curl up in ...

Bryndís - posted on 07/21/2011

I don't think a child that youg is ready to sleep in a toddler bed in another room. My kids slept in their crib until they were 3 and we never had any problems moving them into their own room with a toddler bed. Move his bed into your room and give him time to get use to the idea of the big bed, and then when he is ready, move the bed in to his room.

Julie - posted on 07/21/2011

NEVER lock a child in their room - what an awful scarey feeling to be rejected like that! What is your child telling you - he needs you! Put his toddler bed in your room... There will come a time when he wants to feel grown up and move into his own room! Occasionally tell him that - "when you are ready and old enough to have your own room, it is waiting for you!"

Humans are the only animal who move their young away from them!

Think about it - why do we do that?

Let's go back to one room bedrooms and raise secure children once again ...

Kelly - posted on 07/20/2011

I would be too afraid to lock the door. My son (now 5.5) only moved to a toddler bed when he was 2.5 and he never had a problem. While we were awake the door was closed but when we went to bed I would open his door fully and put up a stairgate, we started the gate right when he was born so the cat wouldn't wake him up by going and snuggling. he never complained about the gate and it actually stayed up until he was almost 4. His sister (2) is still in her crib and I intend to keep her there until she is a) too tall, b) to heavy or c) asks for a big girl bed. My mom left me in my crib till I was 3.5 and although it sounds old I am a very happy sleeper, always have been. I think its a matter of why, why is your child getting out of bed? Are they ready for potty training and get the feeling they need to pee so they get up? Are they afraid of something, or are they just worried that you are having fun without them? After you figure that out I'm sure you can choose the best solution for you, other than locking the door :o) Good luck.

Sherri - posted on 07/19/2011

For those who think it is okay to lock their children in their rooms. I would be careful in most places it is against the law to do so.

A better and safer option would be a door knob cover that a lot of times they can't figure out or a child gate.

Vicki - posted on 07/19/2011

I wouldn't, but then I didn't put him in a cot either so the whole concept seems alien to me. At the moment (age 2) I breastfeed him to sleep or nearly to sleep and he rolls over. Then I get up and have an adult life for a few hours. He has gone through stages of waking and getting up but it doesn't last long. When we move him to his own bed it'll be right in the next room. If he gets up and wants a cuddle he'll welcome back in our bed. I don't think I'd be able to sleep well if I knew he was locked in somewhere.

I know not every child who has done this has screamed but reading this thread some have. I would be terrified to be trapped somewhere alone and not understand why. I couldn't put my child through that.

Laura - posted on 07/18/2011

My daughter who is now 11 used at the same age get up constantly. She thought it was a fun game so i locked her in her room. She would screem and kick the door for at least 30 mins but then would fall asleep on the floor. When she was quiet i would go and put her in bed. I didn't keep her toys or anything that would have been of interest to amuse herself with so it worked. It all depends why he is getting up. If he finds it a game or is doing it as control then i would shut him in his room however if it is because he is scared or needs a drink then i would be gently but firm and put him back to bed. If it is because he is scared maybe a night light might help or some relaxing music.

Tove - posted on 07/18/2011

My 2.5 yr old gets into everything in the middle of the night. He wakes every night..up for an hour or two. once he got out of his crib I had to lock his door day 2 of him making tornado size messes..one mess included him breaking the glass on th coffee table and opening the back door..openin the gate and turned our outside hose on. Its much more likely that he would get hurt on his own then in a locked baby safe room. And there is absolutely nothing diferent than him being stuck in hiscrib or room..they are both the same. Unlikely event of a fire he wouldn't be any safer..actually they say to keep the door closed in a fire anyway and e have a million fire detectors. My son likes his door cosed..doesn't fuss at all and that way I know he's in a very safe room as apposed to breaking glass..getting out of the house etc.every child if different..safety is key..keep your spcific shild safe and happy..that's our job

Tove - posted on 07/18/2011

My 2.5 yr old gets into everything in the middle of the night. He wakes every night..up for an hour or two. once he got out of his crib I had to lock his door day 2 of him making tornado size messes..one mess included him breaking the glass on th coffee table and opening the back door..openin the gate and turned our outside hose on. Its much more likely that he would get hurt on his own then in a locked baby safe room. And there is absolutely nothing diferent than him being stuck in hiscrib or room..they are both the same. Unlikely event of a fire he wouldn't be any safer..actually they say to keep the door closed in a fire anyway and e have a million fire detectors. My son likes his door cosed..doesn't fuss at all and that way I know he's in a very safe room as apposed to breaking glass..getting out of the house etc.every child if different..safety is key..keep your spcific shild safe and happy..that's our job

Anne - posted on 05/27/2011

We put a baby gate in our kid's door. She would stand at the gate, crying. We let her cry for a few nights until she realized that we were serious. She could see us from her door.

Mastoora - posted on 05/26/2011

I personally would never lock my child in his/ her room. When I switched my daughter into a regular single bed (with a safety railing) at 16 months, she would climb out of it just about every hour and I just kept sticking her back in bed and I'd say "Stay in bed and go to sleep, good night" every single time. Now about 2 months later, she sleeps in all night without getting out. I leave a safety gate at her door just in case...she used to come into our room and make a mess lol.

Giacci - posted on 05/26/2011

i would get a baby gate like i did.. and keep going in the babys room and telling him to get in his bed or your closing the door. i noticed that it worked for me. i close the door for a few seconds while i stand right outside it, so he knows i wasnt joking. then i open the door and tell him to get in his bed and he goes "ok, alright" and i tell him not to get back out or the door will be shut again. he doesnt get up after that.. hope this helps.

Brittany - posted on 03/22/2011

My sister semi did. He could open the door enough to see out. That was after she woke up one morning to 12 eggs lined up on the table. I plan on putting a pressure gate in front of my daughter's door.

Carina - posted on 03/22/2011

I lock my kids in their room during their day time nap. The reason is so my other children don't go in and wake them. I don't know how safe I'd feel keeping them locked in at night. :/

Brandy - posted on 03/20/2011

i totally disagree with everyone on here. we put a simple latch hook on my daughters door it takes less time to flip the hook than to mess with taking down or stepping over a gate, my daughter will not go to sleep if i am in her room rocking her or stroking her or even sitting nearby unless she is sick its confusing for her and she wants to play, we had a bed time routine which included reading a book and the older she got the less interested she became she doesnt like stories before bed only when she wakes up so we watch a cartoon together and then we color or play pretend before bed, when its time for bed we gather her animals and her blanket we turn on her fish night light she helps turn out lights etc and she climbs in bed i tuck her in give kisses and she tells me night night i close the door behind me and i lock the door. she doesnt scream or cry and sometimes she plays with a toy in her bed her room is safe and i use a baby moniter when i go to sleep, and she knows this she will sometimes talk into the reciever to let me know shes awake. she feels just as safe in her room as she does the rest of the house, and i am shocked at how many people let their kids roam the house at night THAT is dangerous. another thing i dont do is i dont go into my daughters room everytime she wakes up, if shes crying alot or calling for me i will check on her but if i were to go in there everytime she started wimpering (which she does sometimes in her sleep and always has) she would use that as a way to stay up because thats the way my child is. which brings me to my point, every child is different the first night we put her in her toddler bed she cried and screamed and would not go to sleep no matter what i did, i finally left the room locked the door behind me and after 5 mins she was asleep for the rest of the night, all parents are different, some parents let their kids sleep in bed with them, some let them fall asleep to movies or music, some parents let their kids get up and play in the middle of the night some lock their doors and some continuously put their kids back in bed, and as big of a deal as so many issues seem to be about whether or not to use pacifiers or leashes etc... most kids turn out pretty much the same, so i say whatever you want to do is what you should do

Elizabeth - posted on 03/19/2011

try a baby gate...and by the way ..I think you are very much correct to keep putting him back in his own bed immediately when he comes in the room. He will get the point but don't chat with him..he is looking for interaction..just pick him up and put him back in his bed.



Some of the moms are describing a technique that supernanny uses and you can watch the video below:



http://www.supernanny.co.uk/TV-Show/Clip...

Nikkole - posted on 11/08/2010

NO WAY I would NEVER lock my kids in there room not untill there like 16 and dating lol but seriously what if you had a fire or someone broke in that would be horrible! I would put up a gate or something!

Chelsea - posted on 11/08/2010

i wouldnt lock the door, what i did is i got a baby gate that you attach to the door frame and it has a swing open gate for easy in and out. i feel safer then to lock the door, if my daughter feels the need she can open the door but cant come out, eventually she goes back to her bed

Michelle - posted on 11/07/2010

MY 21 MONTH OLD HAS BEEN IN A TODDLER BED SINCE HE WAS 17 MONTHS OLD HE ALWAYS GETS OUT OF BED ,HE EITHER COMES IN TO OUR ROOM TO WAKE US OR I WAKE AND HERE HIM ANYWAY SOMETIMES HE SITS AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS WANTING TO GO DOWN STAIRS FOR A DRINK OF MILK THEN HE GOES BACK TO BED HE DOESNT HAVE A NAP IN HIS BED HE NAPS IN HIS PRAM OR ON THE SOFA IN THE DAY.

Joy - posted on 11/06/2010

If you're locking the door and making it harder to get INTO the room (in case of emergency) then duh, that's not a smart move. But I still don't think using a door knob cover on the inside of a door is dangerous or wrong. If your kid is old enough to try and get out of the room, and if you let him stand at the inside of his door crying and trying to get out then yeah, again, duhhhh, that's not good. But if you're just doing it as an overnight safety precaution to prevent your child from silently escaping their room to go and get into other dangerous areas of your house then yeah, I don't see the problem with that.

Michele - posted on 11/06/2010

It's crossed my mind but I wouldn't do it for the reasons already mentioned. My toddler is sprited and she gets up frequently. We do put her back. She fights us. In the long term, that she has her own mind and opinions will be good, but at almost 3, not so good. Lots of good advice here.

Catherine - posted on 11/06/2010

I certainly wouldn't lock the door, if for no other reason than that it is extremely dangerous. If there was a fire in the house and you, or firefighters, needed to get to your child, that locked door would slow you down. In an emergency, the 30 seconds it takes you to unlock that door could mean life or death for you and your child, and it's definitely not worth it. I think a gate in the doorway would be a good idea, as in an emergency you can just jump over it, but certainly not locking the door.

Maggie - posted on 11/05/2010

I think locking the door would be dangerous. Plus, you can't quietly poke your head in to see if he's ok or asleep yet if you have to unlock the door and then open it.

We keep the door to the bedroom wide open and if they get up we put them back. It takes a few nights for them to get the hint but it's a lot safer than leaving him by himself.

Joy - posted on 11/04/2010

We used a door knob cover on the inside of our son's door from 18 months (when we made his crib a toddler bed) until about 2 and a half years old. His room was on the other side of the house from ours. We used a baby monitor. When we first started doing it, he couldn't even open a door yet....but we knew it was only a matter of time. I felt completely safe because as long as I could get IN then if anything happened he'd be ok. I was just so worried that once he figured out doorknobs he would get out, and then get outside. Our front door had one of those handles that you just push down on, not a knob. So if he could figure out a knob, he could figure out that handle for sure. We lived on a busy highway and I just didn't want to risk it. We used a baby monitor, so that when he woke in the night we heard him playing with a toy or talking to himself and one of us would go in and put him back to bed. He was never just left in there alone for hours, crying to get out. In the right circumstances, it can be done safely. This idea was presented to us by our pediatrician.

Candice - posted on 11/03/2010

This might be redundant or maybe you have already tried this but just shut the door and see if he will stay in there. I put a baby safety knob on the inside of my son's bedroom door once we put him in a toddler bed but to be honest he has never even tried to leave his room. Once we shut the door he knows he has to stay in there. Bedtime hasn't been a problem at all, occasionally during naptime he gets out of bed and plays with his toys but as long as he stays in his room and plays quietly I know he is safe and I don't worry. Of course I keep an ear open for him in case he were to get hurt, and I'm sure you as most mothers do can tell the difference between the "I'm in distress/ hurt cry" and the "I need attention" cry. Every child is different and takes a different approach. I hope the Moms on here have offered you some good alternatives. And might I also say that some women are discouraging you from doing that as it is a fire hazard but so would any other method including a gate or even shutting a door to a room that a child can't manipulate the handle. The only 100% fire safe way of doing it would be to leave the door completely open and that would result in a lot of other hazards I'm sure.

Rebecca - posted on 11/03/2010

I lock my 2 1/2 yr old in her room after I put her to bed. I give her a couple chances to get up for bathroom or for a kleenex, but when she starts to manipulate (just asking for things to get out of bed) I tell her you won't be getting out of bed this is the last time. If she readily goes to bed without protest I don't bother to lock it (door knob is backward). If she starts fussing and throwing tantrums I just say good night and lock the door. Her door is 3 feet from the living room and my bedroom is next door. My husband checks on her an hour or 2 later or before we go to bed and leaves it unlocked. She knows she can get out in the middle of the night and she knows she is only allowed to get in bed with me after her dad gets up for work. I am debating not using the lock method sometime soon. I really need to get more strict w/ the bedtime routine so I can get her to bed before I'm ready for bed.

PS- a stairgate would not keep her in. We took her out of crib so she wouldn't hurt herself climbing out...she climbs everything or I would consider that option.

Sarah - posted on 05/03/2010

I don't know where abouts you live but here in montreal it is illegal to lock your child in their room cause its a fire hazard.
I suggest using a baby gate at their door.

Jane - posted on 05/01/2010

My son is two and a half and I leave his bedroom door ajar all night with a safety gate at the top of the stairs. I would hate to think that he was trapped in his room. Ive been lucky so far as he has been a good sleeper and Ive not had a problem.

Sherri - posted on 04/30/2010

Ummmm in no way is it ok to lock your child in his room. Start putting him back everytime he gets up no communication just place him back in his bed. It may take an hr or even two hours for a day or so but they quickly get the message that it is not okay to leave there bed and you are not going to give in. I had to do this for a night or two and have never had a problem since.

Ashley - posted on 04/30/2010

I think a gate accross the door would be much safer. The biggest thing I would be worried about is safety. If he needs you he can't get to you. If there is a fire or other safety issue in which you can't get to him, he can't get out. At least with a gate he can attempt to get out.

In my experience the best thing to do is just get through a few bad nights of putting him right back in bed with no talking or interaction - just putting him back in bed - and walking away. No matter how many times he gets up. You will see, pretty soon, he won't get up.

Jackie - posted on 04/30/2010

I also completely disagree with teh use of a TV in the room to solve the sleeping/staying in bedroom issue.

Antonia - posted on 04/30/2010

No its not ok to lock the door, I've got a stairgate across the bedroom door so she can see what is happening and knows she's not locked away but she is safe in her room and I am able to see and hear everything that happens in there. My daughter gets out of bed (single bed) and unless she comes to the stairgate and calls me, I leave her to it. She gets out maybe walks about a bit and gets back into bed with the help of the steps that you get for potty training. She goes back to bed and falls alseep. She has nightmares in the night so I can go comfort her but she knows that we are there. Locking the door is dangerous! If there is a fire in your house (hope not!) but in the confusion and worried state that you are in, unlocking the door just adds to it. Stairgate is definately the best option and patience. Also I agree with some of other respndants, I don't agree with TVs n kids rooms either. Read to your child, not only does it develop their vocab but its precious time that you get to speand one on one with them. Its normally gets them nicely and sleepy too. My husband and I struggle on this as there is alwasy something better to do than take the time and read to your children but over the past 3 weeks I've made a concerted effort and my daughter is sleeping better. Lastly, when my daughter moved to the toddler bed, we made a big thing of it and went to go buy her a Fifi bedcover and explained to her that as a big girl she chooses her cover but then she must stay with Fifi and keep her company.

Brittiny - posted on 04/29/2010

We use a baby gate in the doorway of my daughter's room and have a safety bumper on the door so that it doesn't close all of the way - it always stays cracked open. Her bed is near the doorway, so it is easy to peek in on her. I think that this is the perfect set up, and she is not bothered at all by it. Her brother's room is next to hers, and the baby monitor picks up noise in both rooms pretty well.

Jackie - posted on 04/29/2010

Once my daughter is in a toddler bed I will have to do something. I will certainly try a high baby gate first...but I know of many kids who learn to crawl over them quickly. And the suggestions of just shutting other doors in the house - not acceptable. 1. I have a two story house..there are stairs she could fall down. 2. I would NEVER want my daughter having the ability to roam the house at nite while we were sleeping. So once she is in a toddler bed we will have to come up with some way of making sure she stays in her room. Of course if she were to wake us up she would be walked right back to bed....but if they don't wake you up that doesnt work.

Candice - posted on 04/29/2010

FIRE HAZARD

Laura - posted on 04/29/2010

If u have tried everything else i would say yes. I had to with my daughter who is now 9 otherwise i would be up literally all night putting her in bed only to have up again 5mins later.

Katie - posted on 04/28/2010

Yes. Definitely if you have stairs and he can reach the doorknob.

T - posted on 04/28/2010

Would you want to be locked in a room? Never. you are making him fearing being in his bedroom b/c he knows that the door will be locked. How about putting up a high gate in the doorway? Kids respond better to positive things.

Amanda - posted on 04/28/2010

No what if they really need something. Mine gets out of her bed at night. I just get up see what she wants and put her back to bed. If I was to lock her door I would not be able to sleep at night wondering if something might happen and she could not get out.

Jaimie - posted on 04/28/2010

sorry if this seems a bit harsh... but are you out of your mind!
why on earth would anyone lock the door to a toddlers room????? what happens in the case of an emergency.. those precious few seconds or mins you spend unlocking the door could save your little ones life.
my 1 year old is in a toddler bed. and can get out of bed at any time. most of the time she toddles down the hall and jumps into bed with us. we just close all other doors in the house other then ours so there is no danger of her getting hurt.
however, generally we go and put her back into bed every time she gets out. they soon give up. or put a toddler gate there.. but dont lock them in their room!
who even has locks on bedroom doors!!!!
ask yourself why he is getting out of bed, is it because he wants to play? because hes scared? if my little one keeps getting out of bed i will sit in the room with her until she falls asleep. she is happy to be in bed but sometimes just needs one of us in there to make her feel safe.
try a night light if he is scared. or putting some relaxing music on.

Cindy - posted on 04/27/2010

Totally hard work, but I agree with the other moms. This will not solve the problem. I also think you should get up and put him back into bed.
We had similar problems with our 2 1/2 y/old. He was always asking to go potty or water or whatever. The problem is that we are also potty training, so it was a COMPLETE mistake to tell him, no when he's asking to go potty, even if we know it's because he doesn't want to go to bed. So, we created a routine. We beat him to the punch. Drink of water, potty, favorite stuffed animal, blanky, bed, period. Every time he got out, we put him back in. Very little talking, just good night, I love you and sweet dreams. It took a few weeks, but it is fine now. We keep up the routine and he's totally happy to go to bed.
No, no on the lock. It's not safe either.
Just remember, patience love and understanding.

Melissa - posted on 04/27/2010

could you not put a stair gate over the door so he can't get out.

Rachael - posted on 04/27/2010

My son is 2 years old. He would sleep all night long when he was in his crib, but since we got him a big boy bed i sit in the bed and read to him till he is comfortable and i tell him goodnight, some nights he will stay and fall asleep byhimself. but most nights i lay with him till he is asleep. i dont know if that is a good thing to do but it works for him. when i leave i just crack the door, before i go to bed i open his door all the way. he always wakes up in the night and comes into my room and climes into bed. its usually around 4:30 or 5 when he wakes. I just go with him back to his bed and he is right back to sleep. I would lock the door and sit there till he fell asleep when he took a nap. I would take everything out of the room that he could potentially hurt himself with. He would cry for about 10 mins or less and he would always sleep right infront of the door. Once he was asleep I unlocked the door and cracked it open or opened it all the way if I could.

Michelle - posted on 04/27/2010

When my daughter Corina was 2 she refused to sleep in her room, I would find her sleeping on the couch. We moved and was able to put a TV in her room and now she will stay in there at night and nap time. She gets bored with the shows (all educational) and will venture out some nights, but for the most she stays in there. We set her DVR to turn @ 10:00pm to the smooth Jazz station and she listens to it all night while asleep. She also has to have a fan (she loves the white noise) She is asleep by then most days. She loves to sleep on the floor (she has a little folding Dora couch she loves to sleep on)and it is a fight to get her to sleep in her bed. To the point we had to take the Dora couch away. She has really started to get the potty training so at night she gets up to use the potty a lot more at night. Last night she pooped without telling us untill she was done.She called(we have a moniter still for her) and I found her in her room bare butt and all.

Dawna - posted on 04/26/2010

i tried locking my daughter's door a couple of times out of exhaustion, and i will never do it again. she was terrified. not knowing how to get to mommy or daddy or why they are locked in a room seems like a horrible thing to do to a toddler. i wish i had never done it. she banged and screamed like someone was murdering her. later attempts at just walking her back to bed and not talking to her or encouraging play time worked much better. those options take more effort on the part of the parent, but they comfort the child without punishing them for not understanding that bed time in a big kid bed is something they need to do by themselves.

your kid may react differently, but if you disagree with that tactic, trust your instinct. maybe your husband just thinks the extra effort is crazy, but it's worth it if it helps your child view bedtime as a safe and happy thing instead of a prison sentence. also, if what you want him to learn is that it is time to be in bed, you don't want him wandering around playing behind a closed door. :)