How do I keep Ds1 safe?

[staryeyed]

Ds1 has just run out the front door without me even realising. I was feeding DS2 at the time. Luckily my dad had come to collect him at the same time. If he hadn't I have no idea what would happen.

He also keeps climbing on the side of the bath, on the window ledge, puts everything in his mouth gets himself stuck in awkward places. Obviously I need to lock the door but I worry that if there were a fire or something (unlikely I know) and he had to get out he would be stuck.

I used to be able to watch DS1 much more closely before DS2 but I have to feed DS2 for a big portion of the day so its not possible to supervise him to the same level. I do check on him every so often to see what he's doing but he's often done something in that time; pooed somewhere, eaten something- yesterday he ripped down the wall stickers in his room and started eating them.

I dont want to keep DS1 restricted to the room that I'm in because he will get bored and miserable but I also have to keep him safe.

I feel like I should stop breast feeding because then I would be able to supervise him more but that's not fair on Ds2.

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

Locks locks locks and locks. We have 3 locks on the front door, 8 foot fences in the garden (but ds1 still needs to be supervised as he scales them), locks on every window and locks on internal doors so we can lock off various areas of the house.

We also have the burglar alarm set so it beeps if someone opens the front door.

At night we have smoke alarms and make sure they're working, and we undo the deadlock on the front door but leave the other locks (chain and bolt).

Whilst feeding you might want to lock your bathroom and kitchen, and perhaps try and keep ds1 with you watching a video or playing in the garden or something.

Sympathy- ds1 is 10 now and we often still get it wrong. We've had plastic bowls cooked in the oven, water boiled in the microwave, the cat in the tumble dryer (yes really -luckily I heard it immediately so the cat was fine).

I used ds1's need for a supervision as an argument to get direct payments.

[staryeyed]

Feeding in the garden is an idea ds loves the garden.

I wonder if we can get a door alarm like they have in shops. off to check.....

[staryeyed]

www.c-p-p.co.uk/product/asp/ProdID/2064/CtgID/1031/af/page.htm

do you think this would work?

[staryeyed]

we also need a fridge and freezer lock. the amount of times I've gone to the kitchen to find the fridge open, no idea how long for. None of the fridge locks we have bought so far have worked. I heard that boots did a good one but cant seem to find it.

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

We've never found a fridge lock that works either. We just lock the kitchen.

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

That door alarm looks pretty good....

[staryeyed]

We live in a flat that has an odd layout it would be very awkward to lock the kitchen- the front door the bedroom and bathroom all lead from it unless.... can you get catch locks that lock as you shut the door?

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

hmm not sure. I know someone who has a keypad on her kitchen though....

I can see your problem- you'd need to be able to unlock from both sides (with our locks we can't).

[r3dh3d]

We replaced all our internal door handles with the locking sort. They all have the same lock so you could carry one key to open everything. We don't actually make use of this yet as DD1 can't open doors, but as we were replacing the doors anyway, it seemed sensible.

[staryeyed]

Its a rented flat so we cant really change the doors.

what do you think about these?www.mypreciouskid.com/temporary-tattoos.html

[sphil]

As we're on safety, does anyone know of a device that can be put on a hot water tap to stop it being turned on? Our thermostat is knackered and the hot water often scalding. We want to take the barrier off Ds2's room at night so he can get to the loo, but he loves fiddling with the taps and it's an accident waiting to happen.

Sorry for hijack Stary - but may be of use to you too

[lou031205]

We have stairgates everywhere - Kitchen door, porch door, top & bottom of stairs, DD1's bedroom.

We are at a similar stage to you - DD3 is 8 weeks old & BF. It is very hard. I found DD1 over 6ft high after climbing the trellis while I was BFing.

This thread might give us both some tips!

mrsturnip, what can your direct payments do to help? I am just in the process of SS referral suggested by Paed, so advice would be welcome.

[staryeyed]

yes we need a tap thing too.

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

Can you not just set the thermostat on your boiler for the tap??

If not I think mixer taps can definitely have something put on them which prevents them getting too hot.

lou- we asked for dp's to employ an extra pair of hands during school holidays and after school.

[staryeyed]

I was thinking of something that would prevent taps being turned on at all. I found ds1, after hearing him scream, in the bath wet from the shower he had turned on- he is terrified of showers. Im worried he might fill the bath and fall in when he climbs up.

[lou031205]

Tap head cover here but I don't know whether he would be able to simply take it off?

[5inthebed]

How about this for the doors? They look really easy to use and just stick on with adhesive pads?

[staryeyed]

that will do the job lou thanks.

That looks good as well 5.

Will spend a fortune now on creating fort knox.

[monstermansmum]

ikea fridge locks are good. You need two hands and good dexterity to open them. you can also get invisible locks-can find a link if any one wants.

[lou031205]

Yes please monstermansmum

[anonandlikeit]

I know its a bit of a postcode thing but OT or SS should be able to help with safety stuff like a tap lock.

I know a boy with ds & ASD whose parents have had safety locks a toilet lock & other things provided, not sure if it was SS or OT!

[bullet123]

Staryeyed, we removed the plugs from the bath and sink and placed them well out of reach. It doesn't help with the temperature or turning on of the taps, but might stop the bath or sink being filled up.

[sphil]

Yes, I think he'd just take that tap cover off, unfortunately. Good idea about asking SS - especially as I now have a very nice social worker!

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

I've just written a post about safety on my blog. The babaysafety website I've linked to looks pretty good as a starting point. We need to buy a tracker soon ourselves, so will be researching those next. Has anyone tried the ones on there? (loc8tor for example).

[silverfrog]

I have a loc8tor.

got it last year, and use it for my keys/phone etc (can't keep a single thought in my head these days)

I got the set with a panic tag included (have 4 tags all together, one can double as a panic tag) for use with the dds when a bit older (dd1 still fits in buggy when we are out, and is happy to do so, so am not changing that anyitme soon)

so, haven't yet used it on a moving target, but it does find my keys a treat

handset is about mobile phone sized, and is easily programmable to set what each tag is linked to.

the tags are small - about 2cm, maybe? and almost weightless - attach by keyring or lanyard.

iirc, you can either have the panic tag used (ie activated) by the child in a n emergency, or you can set it to alarm if the child moves a certain distance away from you. can't remember distances, etc, as haven't had to use it yet, but can find instructions and look it up, if anyone wants?