Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shameless post for traffic but 3 year old and windows

24 replies

Tearingmyhairout0110 · 27/05/2020 21:30

I have a 3.5 year old with global delay and a 5 yesr old with significant needs. My 3.5 year old has a MAJOR obsession with Windows to the point every single window in My house is locked and key hidden. The big windows in the bedrooms are safety latched so open a cm but are latched and unlockable. I have an additional lock on but they still open the CM.

I can't keep him off the windowsills. He just likes to stand and wave the world go by. I've just ordered some frosted screen to see if it helps put him off but I keep getting my neighbours hammering on my door everytime he climbs up on the windowsill. He often takes 90 minutes or so to settle at night and I can't leave DD unsupervised that long.

I know the windows are secure. Aibu to be struggling on what else is realistic to do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tearingmyhairout0110 · 27/05/2020 21:30

Also for the record bedroom is tiny and impossible to avoid furniture being close enough to the window

OP posts:
Embracelife · 27/05/2020 21:32

Make the window safe with bars or safety glass or a mesh

LittleBearPad · 27/05/2020 21:32

Could you put a secure bench next to the window for him to stand on. He’d be a bit lower.

The windows are safe; I’d tell the neighbours that.

I wouldn’t add frosted glass. It seems a shame when the windows are safe.

Original poster
Tearingmyhairout0110 · 27/05/2020 21:33

The windows are safety glass. I can't put bars, housing association would have a fit because of fire safety

OP posts:
Embracelife · 27/05/2020 21:34

Massive sturdy chicken wire mesh he can see through.
Make it safe for him to observe

DoesMaryNotDrive · 27/05/2020 21:34

Is the worry that he could open and fall out of the window if unlocked or that he will fall from window sill?

LittleBearPad · 27/05/2020 21:35

Sorry - I may have misread. Make the windows safe.

Original poster
Tearingmyhairout0110 · 27/05/2020 21:36

That is what they keep whinging at me about "he will fall out" but the windows are absolutely secure. The only issue with mesh is how do i fix it?

OP posts:
titchy · 27/05/2020 21:39

What's the actual problem - the neighbours or your ds looking out of the window? I don't see the harm in the latter - perhaps with a bench so he doesn't need to climb onto the window sill - that might help the former as well.

Don't cover them up - he obviously gets a lot out of being able to see the world pass by.

Butterer · 27/05/2020 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DoesMaryNotDrive · 27/05/2020 21:42

I assume there are no blinds on the windows? Neighbour's kid is always in the window sill but I've never worried for his safety as window looks safe.

BertieBotts · 27/05/2020 21:42

I think I would tell them quite firmly that the windows are secure and you do not want them to knock on your door and inform you again and if they keep harrassing you (which it is, if your answer doesn't change) you will contact the police. If they do it again send them a cease and desist letter. If they continue after that actually report them to local police for harrassment.

OK they might retaliate by contacting children's services or something "out of concern", but children's services are hardly going to be concerned about a child standing at a secure window.

EggysMom · 27/05/2020 21:46

Okay, so ours is a bit of a bodge job but - we used wooden trellis (large, openwork, square design) which is hung from cuphooks, 2 each side fixed into the wall, so that the trellis is in line with the edge of the windowsill. (Difficult to describe but can get a photo tomorrow if you want). It stops our son from climbing up and sitting/standing on the windowsill, but he can still see through the trellis to watch the goings-on out of the window, and we can get a hand through to open/close the window. By hanging the trellis on cuphooks it is easy to remove by lifting off in a certain direction - though to be honest, in the event of a fire, an adult could easily break the trellis out of the way.

Original poster
Tearingmyhairout0110 · 27/05/2020 21:47

Good idea on the mesh and could have scissors to hand incase of fire.

There are curtains but he's too iffy to risk having blinds in, would be paranoid about him trapping himself as he's so obsessed with looking at.

There's absolutely no way he can get out of the window I'm confident in that but I can't deal with the constant hassling over it. We do have a family worker for DDs SEN so may run it past her too

OP posts:
BendingSpoons · 27/05/2020 21:49

You have a neighbour problem! A child is not going to fall off a properly locked window. There's a small risk of him falling backwards into the room, but unlikely at that age.

How do you respond to the neighbours? Do you say 'oh yes I'll get him down' so they think it is helpful to let you know or 'yes he likes doing that, I've triple checked the windows are locked so it's fine'.

Original poster
Tearingmyhairout0110 · 27/05/2020 21:51

If he falls backwards it's on to my bed.

I respond by reiterating that he likes waving at the cars going by and that the windows are absolutely secure

OP posts:
flamegame · 27/05/2020 21:56

Your neighbours sound a bit overly anxious, it’s funny they keep mentioning it when you’ve reassured them.

KittenVsBox · 27/05/2020 22:14

It sounds like you are confident he is as safe as can be on the windowsills. Ignore the neighbours - and tell them he is safe. The cease and desist message above is reasonable.
Dont get blinds unless they are cordless. It is adding a risk you dont need.

justhereforthetips · 27/05/2020 22:20

Your neighbours sound weird.
He sounds perfectly safe, window is secure and soft landing into the room, there's no issue here as you don't even have blind cords that could be dangerous.
If they come to your door again tell them he is allowed up there and that he is perfectly safe. Be confident and unapologetic in your reply to them.

DressingGownofDoom · 27/05/2020 22:27

I'd get the health visitor out to have a look and ask if they have any suggestions. Then when that's done you can be content in the knowledge that your child is safe, and no one will be interested in what your neighbour has to say.

Don't go adding mesh and things, I think that would actually make it more dangerous.

FlamedToACrisp · 27/05/2020 22:29

Cease and desist letter for caring about your child's safety??? What is WRONG with some people?

Just stick a sign on the door saying, "It's OK, I know he's on the window-sill - it's locked and he's quite safe, but thanks for caring."

TimeWastingButFun · 27/05/2020 22:31

Could you add extra locks in addition - the ones that are like a short cable attached to the frame and opener so they the window can only open a few inches? If you had that secondary fixing it might give you peace of mind. And maybe the stick on frosted stuff as well?

BertieBotts · 27/05/2020 22:41

Not for caring. It's nice that they care and that they informed OP the first time. But if she's said thank you but he's OK, I don't need you to tell me, and they keep knocking anyway, then that's gone past caring, into an annoyance bordering on harassment.

Embracelife · 28/05/2020 12:36

You can ask for community OT home visit but HV cam raise the issue with housing

New posts on this thread. Refresh page