Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

When your toddler discovers how to knock down his stair gate at night

23 replies

fruityb · 15/03/2019 20:12

Bedtime just became so much more fun than he’s made if for months. I mean we’ve only had six months of him kicking up a massive stink at bedtime anyway - he needed to mix things up a bit clearly. He’s currently wailing his lungs out while his daddy is in the room - all this despite the fact he’s acrually been asleep and nothing has changed from any other night lately. Of course we just wanted him to work out how to come downstairs and pound the wall.

Pass the wine....

OP posts:

Moanymoaner123 · 15/03/2019 20:15

Well he's developing strength and ingenuity, can't complain too much can you OP

Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 15/03/2019 20:16

Is this a pressure fit? Can you swap it for a screwed into the wall one?

Original poster

fruityb · 15/03/2019 20:44

It’s the lindam travel one which is pressure fit and pretty hardcore usually! He’s definitely showing ingenuity - as well as being a little shitster! We’d not be able to use one with a gate in as the little sod would work it out. God he’s been testing in many ways this week!!

He’s asleep again...

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families

DelurkingAJ · 15/03/2019 20:46

Sympathy...we found our 18 month old astride the upstairs stair gate so they had to go. Is he big enough for bribery?

Original poster

fruityb · 15/03/2019 20:58

No bribery really doesn’t work!! He’s a stubborn little sod - he will just stand there wailing till you give in. He has kicked off for 90 minutes on and off before!!

Give it a few more months and bribery may work. I miss the boy that slept 12 hours a night without a fight 😫

OP posts:

Witchend · 15/03/2019 21:48

Put the stairgate upside down. You'll need to step over it, but it works.

seven201 · 15/03/2019 22:03

Time for a new stairgate! I can only just open our one so there's no way my nearly 3 year old could. It's a babydan guard me one.

babysharkah · 15/03/2019 22:06

You need a dog gate, tall one!

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 15/03/2019 22:07

How old is he? My son climbs over them dosent matter which one we've had a few! We had to take the stair gates off they we more of a danger than a safety feature!

MrsEricBana · 15/03/2019 22:08

We had a thing screwed into the wall and double height as ds could vault over from an early age. It looked like a max security prison here for a while.

flothatchicken · 15/03/2019 22:19

We had this same issue...the babydan retractable stair gate fixed it. I think it was about £40 but worth it!

It retracts completely when not in use so no tripping over a bit at the bottom.

RainbowMum11 · 15/03/2019 22:20

I was so lucky, at this age we were in an old house with really high latch door handles - didn't help the shouting & crying, but did stop her coming downstairs.

Original poster

fruityb · 16/03/2019 09:40

In all fairness I am about ready to switch him for a budgie this week. The high pitched wailing is about to shatter my ear drums. He’s currently having a wobbler because I won’t let him play with my car keys - he unlocked my car the other night pushing the buttons on it and I didn’t notice till the morning!

He’s also taken to waking up for the day when the first digit on the clock is a 5 which then means by about now he’s decided that was probably a bad idea...

I am sincerely hoping that the third birthday brings an end to this - whole new problems I’m sure but the high pitched wail needs to fottfsof

Happy Saturday!

OP posts:

FlibbertyGiblets · 16/03/2019 09:48

I laughed ruefully at switching the boy for a budgie. This too shall pass. You've got a terrific sense of humour, that helps. KBO.

Original poster

fruityb · 16/03/2019 11:42

I need one! He’s been a real pain in the ass this week - he’s definitely pushing for his independence but isn’t quite there yet!

OP posts:

Graziass · 16/03/2019 12:08

If he is capable of safely walking up and down stairs then surely you don't need a stair gate?

Original poster

fruityb · 16/03/2019 12:42

The gate is to keep him in there lol!

OP posts:

Graziass · 16/03/2019 12:50

Seriously? Do people use stair gates to lock children in their room?
You may as well just put a lock on the door then .

adaline · 16/03/2019 13:28

Seriously? Do people use stair gates to lock children in their room?

Of course! A child being able to manage the stairs safely in the day is one thing, but a child wandering around half asleep could easily fall and seriously injure themselves if they took a tumble down the stairs.

Original poster

fruityb · 16/03/2019 14:48

If he comes out in the night and we don’t hear him I would not want him to fall down the stairs. This is something the HV advised us to do. His bedroom door is open when he goes to sleep and we can hear him. He’s never there screaming and shouting at it and we ignore him.

It’s not the same as locking him in at all - that implies we’re ignoring him. This is for safety and to stop him a wandering at night time.

OP posts:

Sunonthepatio · 16/03/2019 14:56

I think it's really difficult to get them to stay in bed at night. I didn't manage it. How do other people have children who stay in bed? It's easier with one but a nightmare with two.

Frouby · 16/03/2019 15:07

I had this too. Have some .

For 3 weeks I just returned him to bed, I actually sat with my kindle at the top of the stairs for about a week as I got fed up of going up and down. Exhaust him in the day. Soft play, park, long walks etc.

It doesn't make it any easier and you will be mkre knackered than him but if you know they are tired it eases the guilt a bit when they are say 'no mummy, no. Not tired mummy, I not tired, no bed'.

Original poster

fruityb · 16/03/2019 17:11

I do sit on the landing but am round the corner now at the top of the stairs with my kindle as well. He goes to bed ok most nights - this was him being a sneaky bugger!!

OP posts:

Flip