To lock my daughter's bedroom door?

[Pizzahutpasta]

Our DD is just about to turn 4. Recently she has started getting up at stupid hours in the morning and playing, really loudly, in her room which wakes us up and also our DS who is 17 months. It can be as early as 4am.

I removed all toys out of her room in the hope it would discourage her. That then lead to her sneaking downstairs in the early hours to play downstairs and has got herself into some pretty dangerous situations.

The last straw was this morning when I woke up to hear noises outside so went to investigate and our DD had unlocked our back door and was playing outside. This was 4.30am.

I want to put a lock on her door - firstly because the lack of sleep of her constantly getting out of bed is killing me and secondly because I'm seriously worried she will injure herself. My DH has said absolutely not to a lock and we are currently not speaking over my suggestion because of a huge row.

AIBU? What's the other solution?

I have three DC all have been able to open and climb every gate before two DC3 was climbing over before she could walk at 9 months

DC2 is an early riser I feel your pain. She's better now she's at school she gets up at 6AM now, we added bolts to the top of every exit she no longer escapes, she was allowed in the livingroom only and fruit from the bowl. It'll get better the order she gets don't worry. My early riser is nearly 7 she gets ready for school before anyone else is awake and is in bed by 8PM won't talk about my two night owls

Well done! Good news that she is at least got quieter last nights.

You sound utterly shattered and defeated. It's really tough, please don't give up hope or start feeling like it's you. I don't think people understand how hard it is when nothing works. Ignore the accusatory stuff, says more about them than you.

Good luck, fingers crossed this is the start of a better time for you all

LaCerbiatta - I had one toddler who HAD to be in bed by seven or he turned into a gremlin. And he would get up at 5, which I hated.

Moving his bedtime simply did not work. He was simply disgustingly behaved for the entire three weeks I tried to do it. I sent him to bed at 9, hoping for a 7 am rising - no. He woke at 5 and was horrid by lunch time. Also wouldn't nap.

OP, it's nealry June, loads of kids do this in the summer. Your best bet it to leave an ipad in her room with headphones already plugged in, and lock all the outside doors and take the keys to bed with you.

We are having similar issues but for a very different reason, our sons brain injury means he no longer produces melatonin and so although he takes medication he often wakes up for the day from 4am those that have not had a child who doesnt sleep do not understand the level of sleep deprivation that can occur.
We are 9 months in and it is one of the hardest parts to cope with, we video him at night to record his night terrors and have discovered us sleep walking jim back to bed that we had no memory of.

Can I recommend trying a white noise machine, we have one that is switched on all night, it hasnt cured it, but it is helping.

We bought www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MY8V86Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Wolfie - I tried that when she first started doing it. She thought it was a game and was up half the night getting out of bed and messing about with me, she thought it was hilarious.

LaCerbiatta - I don't put her to bed at 7.30 to "have an evening to myself" I put her to bed at that time because she's tired!

If she thinks it is a game then you make sure she knows it isn't.

I assumed OP meant one of these locks on the outside of the door, which would not be a fire hazard.

If blackout curtains etc don't work I don't see the harm in doing this.

How the fuck is that not a fire hazard

Surely a big locked door that prevents the child getting out is exactly that

Ah yes, you want a 4 year old child wandering out of their room in the event of a fire. You're not going to go and get them yourself.

Unless the child has built a bonfire in their room, surely they're better off staying there until an adult comes for them?

Oh for fuck sake.

I'm quite sure none of the people who have ever is house fires actually had 'built in bonfires'

Ah yes, you want a 4 year old child wandering out of their room in the event of a fire.. Well yes if the fire took hold in their room of course I would want them to 'wander' out and come get me

How'd it go last night OP?