to be paranoid about sleeping with the windows open?

[tortoisefairy]

So because it's so hot we are sleeping with the windows wide open but am I acting paranoid to worry about being burgled? Do you think someone would risk it? Or worse ds1 or 2 being kidnapped? I know thats probably taking things a bit far...I am 8 months preggers with ds3 so really feeling the heat....

FYI if it makes a difference we live in a 'good' area in a large detached house in the centre of a middle class town...

Our neighbour was burgled a year ago but they only took the car keys to their porsche which was on the drive and we have a ford fiesta on ours that I never lock!!!

Just honestly wondered if other people sleep with windows open in this heat and consequently worry?

Have you got a "vent" setting on your windows? I leave mine open on this - it's literally half a centimetre open, so just about lets in a breeze if you have two open (have to keep all doors open between the two windows too). I can lock them in this setting as well, so somebody would have to break the window or the frame to get in. I sleep in the front bedroom and there is no proper back access so I think it's a pretty safe bet. TBH I would open them properly but I am more scared that DS will fall out than that someone will get in!

You need to be careful with locking windows though. Make sure the keys are easy to get to if there was a fire. It's a very very small chance that someone would want to harm you or your children even if they did get into the house to burgle you, much more likely that you would have a fire and need to get out in a hurry.

Thecatatemygymsuit, I think it has happened, but it's ridiculously rare (and the cases I can think of happened during the daytime anyway!)

We have those dreadful tilt windows that either tip in at the top or the whole window open completely. Horrible in a child's room as we used to worry that DS would open the window fully and fall out from first floor. We recently realised that if we put it in tilt, it's too high and narrow for him to get through, and then we put the locking wedge on so that he can't close it fully to move it to completely open (if that makes sense). But I still hate those windows!!

I used to sleep with them closed in my old flat. Having said that, they had those fully opening ones, and it was a ground floor place, and the window was directly behind the headboard of my bed - I had visions of someone reaching in and slitting my throat while I slept so I just kept them shut.

The other factor was the three-legged escapologist cat who would have been off and away at the slightest chance if I'd left them open (she wouldn't stand a chance in the outside world since she can't jump up onto anything - although I did have to prise her off a 6 foot high fence when she got out of the back earlier this week so apparently she didn't get that memo).

Since we've moved and sleep upstairs and only have those top opening small windows I think they're not allowed to fit anymore because you'd fry in a fire - they're open pretty much all of the time.

Thanks for all your opinions. On the whole I think I am being unreasonable and just living with fear that society breads in us all. So sorry for all of you that have been burgled, sounds awful.

Our house is a new build so windows by law have to be a certain height apparently so little ones can't reach them yet. I am aware that they are VERY unlikely to be kidnapped...but you know us Mum's and how we love to run worst case scenario's through our minds....

Thank you all for your thoughts

sorry if i'm being thick but why not gets locks that allow you to lock windows partly open.

I have these on all my windows and never close them. Live in a ground floor flat.

Why not install child safety locks on your windows, so the window can only be opened ajar. No point suffering if you don't have to and they are very cheap.

Probably wouldn't stop a v. determined burglar but would deter an opportunist.