...to think that child-proof safety gear...

[NeverPushWhenItSaysPull]

...isn't?

My DD(2.5) has outwitted, with an olympic-standard gymnastic display:
-her cot
-the stair gate that keeps kept her safely in her bedroom (because DH found her flushing a roll of toilet paper down the toilet at 12.30 one night)
-her car seat strap
-the extra safe "houdini stop" designed to stop her wriggling out of her car seat.

WIBU to email all the manufacturers and ask for my money back as they're not fit for the purpose. Alternatively, I am considering hiring her out as an R&D tester for the aforementioned safety gear.

LOL!!! My DS decided at 14months to climb outta his cot and fall on his face in the middle of a hurricaine when we had no power!!! (lived abroad at the time)

He also outsmarted the stair gate by piling up his toy boxes biggest at bottom etc to make stairs

If you want your money back then email and let us know how you go!!!!

Am just looking at stair gate company's website and reminded that when she was about 14 months, I turned around in the kitchen to find her standing on top of the tray of her high chair, ready to leap on her older brother.

Weeeeell! You could do either, but mine are the same, stairgates are only up to 2 afaik, mine were all in beds before 2.5 because their height means they can climb out.

Also loads of kids go through the phase of undoing their seatbelt, and our local fire dept and rospa encourage stopping the car every time and not fitting an extra strap as it can cause problems getting the child out in an emergency.

My ds aged 10 mnths worked out how to press the right button and for 5 seconds to take the child lock off of the washing machine, within 10 mins of it being installed, now THATS impressive!

Now you need to start teaching her not to do certain things rather than upping the childproofing to include cable ties............

BTW at what point did you imagine living without stairgates extra straps etc????

I don't think I'm that adept with the washing machine door, let alone a toddler

Given her personality, I'm probably looking at having stair gates until she moves out, TBH.

She knows now not to undo her seatbelt while the car is moving, but she had it open and was bouncing around the car the minute I had the handbrake up. I'd prefer her to be tied in while I get her brother safely out of the car first and it's not like you can rely on a smallie to do the sensible thing.

Her extra chest strap wouldn't fox an amoeba, so I'm not really surprised she managed to work that out.

Cable ties, you say...

Sorry neverpush, but yes its either give up on the safety stuff or go gung ho, cable ties and the staple gun, gaffer tape could be an option.....

I actually did contact hotpoint about the door lock and I had a lovely letter back thanking me for the info ( ie its not clever to put a smiling baby face on the 1 button that you don't want them to touch) I also offered all 4 of mine up for r&d they said they'd let me know

My DS picked his nose at all "safety gear", he could even figure out the damned deadlock at 18 months.

This has come in handy now though as when I need something tricky opened I get him to do it.

Ok, I'm impressed. DS2 is almost 4, and still has a safety gate on his bedroom door. He hasn't attempted to open it at all yet. The main reason it's there is because he has a special fascination with the bathroom taps, and we're afraid that in the middle of the night he might go in and turn on the water or worse run water into the bathtub in an attempt to take a bath, as he loves baths, and something dreadful might happen. We're working on curbing this fascination (and making fairly good progress with it), but until we are comfortable knowing he won't do this, the gate stays on. or until he figures it out, then I'm not sure what we will do, other than maybe a hook on the bathroom door.

Triggles, just take the plug away from the bath and sink. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be locked in a room at that age what does he do if he needs the toilet? Not trying to give you a guilt trip but worth thinking things through from the childs end too, ................

Safety gates, cupboard catches fridges catches, they all serve a purpose when LO's are very small, but they are all too easy to become dependant on as they get older.

one day you just have to let them grow up.

KAQ - thanks, but this works for us at present. There's letting them grow up and simply letting him put himself at risk. And he is not "locked in a room" ffs - his door is wide open always (his preference), but just has a safety gate on it for night-time. He is good about not wandering too much through the house getting into things he shouldn't during the day when we're awake (so the gate is not closed then), but thus far, he is not as good at applying the brakes on his curiosity when we are not awake and nearby (such as the middle of the night), so we take precautions. We don't have any cupboard latches, fridge catches, things like that - he's actually quite good about that kind of thing.

To be honest, you didn't give me a guilt trip, as we're not doing anything wrong. We know our DS and are taking what precautions are necessary at this time. I merely was impressed that some of these other kids had mastered some of these things at such an early age.

Triggles I have to agree with you.
DS2 is 2 and has been in a bed since he was 1. 2 weeks ago I removed the gate off of the front room door....today I put it back. You see my living room houses my front door which leads onto the street. Better he is safely out of the living room should he decide to wander when he gets up at stupid early hours of the morning for a wee.

I emailed the stairgate company, very politely pointing out that it doesn't do what it's supposed to and got back a couple of lines fobbing me off with "no substitute for supervision".

My DS is 23 months & has outwitted the stairgates (both downstairs & upstairs). But I've now managed to outwit him again (temporarily) by using the bottom bit thingie on the stairgate which he can't unhook however much he pulls on it . For the moment. Because I'm sure he'll soon manage!

He's also outwitted the car seat belt (takes it off very easily). Hasn't yet jumped out of cot and I'm dreading the day as I know it has to be soon. He also hasn't managed to get out of buggy when I strap him in, oh how I love my Maclaren with its really strong straps .

Triggles I've only just come back to this thread because I've been ill. I accept all that you say, you know your child best , can't argue there!
But he is locked in his room at night. He cant get out, because he cannot undo the gate, ergo he is locked in. You may put it any way you wish in your own mind to make you feel better about it ( breezes wafting through his door etc) but bottom line he is locked in. Please don't "ffs!" me

Well - the dses are 13, 15 and nearly 17 - and we now have a stairgate again, to stop the dog going upstairs - because if she does get up there, she eats all the cat's food and really pisses him off!

We had thought we were long done with all the child safety gear - no more boot full of buggies and highchairs when we go on holiday, no childseats needed - it does happen, I promise - as long as you don't get a labrador!

Am very impressed with your Houdini style child, Neverpush! I do hope some of these companies take you up on your offer of using her for R&D - might deflate their bombastic attitude a little.

Triggles - am interested - how does your DS get out to go to the loo in the middle of the night? Does he have to call one of you to let him out?

Triggles - Hook for him?!

triggles

we had the stair gate on DD's room until recently too (3.9) we only used it when she was pissing messing about at bedtime but it was handy at times... she had never attempted to open it or anything so was great - then within 1 week she realised firstly that she could climb over it using her little chair and then when we took that out, that she could just unlock it! She has never once tried the lock so I was shocked- so be prepared that he could do it very quickly should he fancy it!