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Original poster

Internal door stuck shut, kids trapped inside

71 replies

TaxTheRatFarms · 12/04/2021 22:05

I’m sure I’ve seen this on mumsnet before so I wonder if any of you can leap to my help!

Kids closed their bedroom door as usual, but either the latch has jammed or something else has happened, as it’s stuck fast, trapping them inside. We’ve tried throwing our whole weight against the door, but it won’t open.

Has anyone managed to open a stuck door? Might need as many options as possible!

So far we’ve tried taking the handle off on our side, but can’t get to the latch. The hinges are on the inside (where the kids are) so we can’t get to those.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
candlemasbells · 12/04/2021 22:20

Take the handle off as pp said and try and turn the spindle, you may need pliers to grip and turn it, or insert something else to turn it such as a screw driver. The handle mechanisms do fail quite easily so it’s more a fiddling with it job than kicking the door in.
If the latch can move freely you can push it back in by running a slim screwdriver or credit card down the door frame on the appropriate side.

Camomila · 12/04/2021 22:21

There's a little gap maybe under a cm. You couldn't get the handle through but you could get the head bit through/ or one of those mini ones you use for glasses.

Alternista · 12/04/2021 22:25

Ask if any of your neighbours /local FB group have a ladder, then get kids to open window and at least one of you can then get in and hopefully unjam it or unscrew the hinges from that side?

Interested in this thread?

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Home improvement
Original poster
TaxTheRatFarms · 12/04/2021 22:29

Right I’m not entirely sure how, but the 11 year old did something with a screwdriver and a lot of yanking and grunting and just opened the door and walked out Grin

I’ve aged about 20 years though! Blush

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 12/04/2021 22:32

Blimey glad they’re out

Chocolatehabit · 12/04/2021 22:39

This happened to us once! We nearly phoned the fire brigade but managed to use a credit card to open the latch. The latch bit of the door has a flat side and a curved side Whoever’s on the curved side of the latch needs to try to slide the card in and rattle the handle (sorry awful description). This worked for us, thankfully.

Chocolatehabit · 12/04/2021 22:40

Just seen they’re out -yay!

Aprilshowersandhail · 12/04/2021 22:42

This happened to us the night before going on holiday! Stuck in the lounge. Managed to find a knife down a sofa!! Jabbed at the closing mechanism and it opened!!

DrChrisWhitty · 12/04/2021 22:44

@QueenOfPain

The best way to kick a door open is to stand with your back to it, and kick backwards.
Really? I'd probably launch myself forwards and face plant if I tried that method.
Deedeedocket · 12/04/2021 22:44

To my shame, I got pissed and slammed the bedroom door behind me forgetting there was no handle on the inside. It was just after my ex left me for someone else, he had the kids overnight. I called a friend and she offered to climb up the drainpipe to let herself in the window. I had to point out there would be two of us then locked in the same room. I was on the verge of being sick and or wetting myself. I had to phone my ex to come and let me out as he still had a key. I overheard him saying to the children. ‘Let’s go and get mummy out of her room she is drunk and locked in’. Twat. Blush

Glad they are out.

Dontjudgeme101 · 12/04/2021 22:44

Thank goodness they are both out. 💐

Delatron · 12/04/2021 22:47

Ah great they’re out. This happened in our bathroom and we managed to get it open with a screwdriver.
Clever child!

titchy · 12/04/2021 22:49

Now take the latch out before it happens again!

TableFlowerss · 12/04/2021 22:50

Ffs sand this thread is going to give me nightmares. My phobia is being trapped in a room/toilet/lift, that I can’t get out of.

I could feel palpitations at the realisation that a door handle can indeed fail then simply not open so you’re stuck.

😱😱😱

Pleased your kids are out though 😀

sergeilavrov · 12/04/2021 22:53

@QueenOfPain

The best way to kick a door open is to stand with your back to it, and kick backwards.
This doesn't give you the advantage of momentum. For future locked in children crises, get them to back away from the door to the furthest wall and hide under a blanket facing the wall to stop them/hide under the bed to prevent splintering. So long as the door opens away from you, you can kick it down.

Just aim your heel in a forward kick near the side the lock/latch is positioned, ideally just below where it's structurally the weakest and easiest to kick. Use your less dominant leg to rest on to make sure you don't fall over, and stand around 30cm away so you still have some bend in your knee when you fully connect with the door, and just repeatedly kick until the door gives way. It'll be loud, so reassure people inside each time to stay where they are hiding. Glad the kids are okay!

hilariousnamehere · 12/04/2021 22:53

Glad they're out! You have reminded me to move fixing my bathroom door handle up the list of priorities - I never close it when I'm in there but it's definitely on the verge of doing this 😂

QueenOfPain · 12/04/2021 22:53

@DrChrisWhitty

Yes, my mum taught me that from when she was in the police. Although I believe they use those big battering ram things these days. But it certainly saved me a few times as a haphazard student (with lost keys) with a Yale lock on my bedroom in my shared house. Miraculously, the door and the lock always survived too.

Devlesko · 12/04/2021 22:54

This happened to a friend of mine, she called fire brigade and it was her new bf who attended Grin. They stayed together so it didn'y put him off.

Loyaultemelie · 12/04/2021 22:55

Deedeedocket you are smarter pissed than my lot Blush when a bit younger getting ready a friend of mine got stuck in her bathroom when we were pissed so instead of taking a sensible option I mounted a drainpipe rescue leading to both of us stuck in there. We had to ring her DM who had a key to the house and brought her BIL who took the door off Blush

WorraLiberty · 12/04/2021 22:59

Glad they're out OP.

This happened to my teenage DC years ago and he was trapped in his bedroom for 2 hours one Sunday morning.

It was lucky it happened on that day as the following day he had his first GCSE and would've missed it!

Toptotoeunicolour · 12/04/2021 23:10

You don't need brute force, just unscrew the handle and open it manually. If you're like me you'll then leave it unscrewed until they are big enough to know never to do it again.

Lauren15 · 12/04/2021 23:12

Glad it’s sorted. For future reference, the Fire Brigade will happily come out when children are involved. I know as my fireman neighbour helped me out in a similar situation and he told me

GinWithOlivesIn · 12/04/2021 23:13

Glad they’re out.

For future reference, my DH is a firefighter and it is fine to call the fire brigade for this sort of thing.

GinWithOlivesIn · 12/04/2021 23:14

X post with Lauren!

Original poster
TaxTheRatFarms · 12/04/2021 23:14

Thanks everyone, and thank the lord for slightly feral 11 year olds!

@Deedeedocket your ex is indeed a twat Shock I wish him a back itch that he can never quite reach. Love that your friend would have locked themselves in with you though!

@Aprilshowersandhail a knife down your sofa?? Ok, your house is like my house Grin

The latch is out and in the bin, and I’m so sorry to anyone that I’ve given nightmares to! I highly recommend fixing/changing any dodgy feeling latches. That particular handle/latch had been stiff since we moved in so we should have done it earlier. Also thanks for the lessons on kicking doors in - always good to know if i need to unleash my inner Line of Duty moment!

OP posts: