(Daily Mail Alert) we locked our toddler up overnight to get some sleep

[littleducks]

Just been sent a link to this story:

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2250785/I-locked-toddler-room-night-save-marriage.html

[littleducks]

Is nobody as shocked as me?

[OpalQuartz]

It doesn't sit comfortably with me either. In that situation I'd personally have gone down the co sleeping route to get more sleep, as it seems like the child had a real fear of being on his own at night. I imagine that people reading it will think, well it worked, so it is a good thing, but I just think you can't always know what effect things might have further down the line.

[TheGreatHunt]

It is the daily mail.

Stop giving them free advertising.

[StrawberryGashes]

My sons sleep counsellor recommended that we lock our son in his room at night and leave him to play while we slept. I explained that he would happily stay in his room all night if I asked him rather than locking him in as he was 7 and able to be reasoned with. She told me that she gives this advice to a lot of parents.

[littleducks]

TheGreatHunt-hence the warning in the thread title so people can avoid it if they so desire

[HolidayCriminal]

I know people who've done this; kind & very committed caring parents, very close with their children then & afterwards.

I wouldn't & didn't, but doesn't bother me at all that others have done.

[Faverolles]

When ds1 was little, we had a copy of toddler taming. I'm sure at some point in the book it suggests locking the toddler in the room.

I know several people who have done this.
Not something I have ever or would ever consider doing to my dc, but I'm not about to judge others who feel they have no option.

[LittleMissSunshine89]

My kids are little houdinis. My DS would wake every few hours and for the first 2 years of his life you would often find him asleep in his bed with me next to him on the floor stroking his hand or face. When he wasnt doing this DD was climbing counters and raiding the cupboards. Never did i resort to such cruel measures as to lock them IN their room. Their room should be treated as a place of fun and relaxation not as some sort of punishment for not staying in bed. Hes only 3 fuck sake, only a baby. What was wrong with standing at the door and edging away every night so he got used to his room and sleeping by himself? Broke my heart when i read how she held the handle so he couldnt get out. Why have kids if your not willing to put up with the normal childish behaviour?

[Icimoi]

DS didn't sleep through till he was 4, but it never occurred to me to lock him in - we just let him co-sleep. He eventually just decided to stay in his own bed.

What really doesn't sit well with me that this man basically forced his wife into agreeing to this by threatening to move out. He sounds a bit of an overbearing arsehole, tbh.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

This would be us if we didn't co-sleep. And it would be a cold day in hell before I'd lock my screaming toddler into a room and walk off and leave them, so we co-sleep. Everybody happy.

If DH had given me this ultimatum I would have helped him to pack his bags.

[girliefriend]

I think co-sleeping is def not for everyone and although I think locking a child in their room is extreme I can understand why they did it. Kids need to feel 'contained' and by literally containing him in his room the little boy quickly (within 3 nights) was able to sleep safely in his own bed.

[brettgirl2]

I don't really get the difference between this and putting a Stair Gate on the bedroom door (which lots of people do) or putting them in a cot that they can't get out of.

Not that I've done this myself but then mine stay in bed so it's easy to judge.

[gamerchick]

I don't have a problem with this method.. It works and cuts out a lot of crap with this lack of sleep thing people get with their kidsI hear so much about.

[Theas18]

It's a very old article isn't it? been done before here I think (checks date... yup Dec 2012) IIRC the authors other parenting articles are in a similar vein

[Icimoi]

by literally containing him in his room the little boy quickly (within 3 nights) was able to sleep safely in his own bed.

I know that's what the article said, but I'm sceptical that this was the miracle cure that he claims. He's clearly invested in trying to prove himself right, but I would put money on the fact that it wasn't anything like as smooth as that.

[OpalQuartz]

I suppose the cot and stair gate are to prevent them from falling out/getting into danger and if they were distressed you'd go and help them/comfort them/feed them etc. It's the thought of them screaming for their parents behind a locked door and being ignored.

[OpalQuartz]

It says the little boy cried his lungs out solidly for three hours before falling asleep. Surely crying like that would make anyone quite thirsty very soon?

[LauraBridges]

Dangerous. What if a fox got in or he needed to get out for some reason? In fact some cultures think the English are all abusive because we don't sleep with our children every night.

[mawbroon]

poor kid

[nancy75]

What if a fox got in???? What an odd thing to think of

[LauraBridges]

We had 3 cases of this in London - fox got in, ravaged the baby actually. It's not a made up risk although I accept if it's upstairs it is unlikely it would be a flying fox jumping in through the window. Presumably it could breach health and safety and fire safety rules to leave children locked up at night never mind their human rights.

[muser31]

i was told from a child psychologist in the last month that as a last resort for sleep problems a stair gate should be put across their door and they should be locked in. just another form of sleep training. somehow i feel this is different than their door being locked - less severe. i am still not entirely comfortable with it, but then i haven't liked any of the cry it out methods. and still, i wouldn't judge those that do if they are good caring parents

[post]

You can log with the fire service that there is a room in the house with someone locked in it, I believe, I case of a fire. I know someone with an adult wandering son with sns who's had to.

[rumbelina]

[HolidayCriminal]

I live in the countryside; we never see foxes. City critters now.