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Original poster

Open Window Warning.

27 replies

spidermama · 03/07/2005 12:29

My mum's cousin, who was 5, died falling from a first floor window. I'm always paranoid about making sure my window don't open very far. Sad in this weather but necessary.

OP posts:
lockets · 03/07/2005 12:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

RTKangaMummy · 03/07/2005 12:49

I know others will think us mad but DS has removeable {by adult} bars on his window.

Underneath it is concrete.

I am a childminder and when I am inspected they think it is a good idea

although mindees never go in ds room cos of lego

I am aware that certain people on here will think I am completely wrong and have a go at me but I do not care quite frankly

I have already been accused of "smothering" him this week, so there is not much else that can upset me.

KatyMac · 03/07/2005 13:17

RTKM - don't worry we all have our awn versions of smothering, my mindees never get whole grapes - always cut in half...I know it's irrational but DH's daughter(previous marriage) chocked on a grape and died......so if you are paranoid about windows (& lego) go with it they are your feelings - pander to them

You too Spidermama & Lockets - it's a very reasonable fear and a little reminder is always useful....
Thanks

SenoraPostrophe · 03/07/2005 13:18

I have a bit of a thing about windows.

I found ds on the windowsill yesterday (downstairs, and there are bars on that window) - he is the baby climbing champion and I worry about upstairs.

where did you get those removeable bars from?

RTKangaMummy · 03/07/2005 13:20

They were built for us by the carpenter at DH school

Thanks KMc

They are wood and they have a sliding bolt at the back and then yiou lift and pull them towards you.

happymerryberries · 03/07/2005 13:30

i have a 'thing' about swings as one smashed into my face as a child. we all have these worries i think

jampots · 03/07/2005 13:33

RTKM - I dont think you smother your child by making his environment safe. You must always stick to your own standards regardless of what others' standards are. I will never forget my friend telling me "I should learn to let go, (dd) is 7 now! she should be allowed to go out and play in the street"!!! Fine for her kids - not for mine! Her ds (same age as my dd) allowed out on the street from age 6 is now 1 step away from expulsion and is uncontrollable. She recently bought a new fridge/freezer and selected one her children (12, 10, 8) couldnt break!!!

saadia · 03/07/2005 14:01

Open windows terrify me too. I was aghast one day when I found ds sitting on the stairs near an open window having opened it himself (I thought he couldn't do that) and throwing toys outside. I couldn't bear to think what would have happened if he had decided to lean out, just to see where all the toys were going.

RTKangaMummy · 03/07/2005 14:08

Thanks Jampots

Yes everyone is different but I do wonder with some people's lack of common sense sometimes

You obviously made the right decision in ignoring your friends lead and peer pressure

Pixiefish · 03/07/2005 14:26

dd is 17 months old and when she's waving at my dad from one of the windows she climbs up it monkey fashion (obviously i have hold of her to stop her and don't let her do it- but she did do it a couple of times), now if i were to leave her unsupervised near an open window then goodness knows what she'd do.

Nemo1977 · 03/07/2005 15:36

i have a window fear as when pg with ds i remember about the 2yr old toddler who felt out of his window and died in liverpool[where i am]. SO we went and had new windows put in that would only open so far on ds room and back bedroom [soon to be ds]. Our bedroom window opens wide and i do have them open but ds is never in there alone and i am always telling him to come away from the windows so he doesnt bother with them now.

happymerryberries · 03/07/2005 15:38

Eric Claptons son....that was the one that made me panic. Awful, so sad.

fishfinger · 03/07/2005 15:41

I have a thin metal thing thats slips int the opening of our plastic windows so they cna only open so far.

I cna get it out but they cant
ds3 is a real climber - had never had one before.

(RTKM - come on re. the smothering! It IS unusual to stalk your kid on a school trip)

Caligula · 03/07/2005 16:05

Where d'you get these thin metal things from Cod?

I have a velux window in the roof and because it's a fire escape, I'm not allowed to have a lock on it - the manufacturors don't make one.

Chances of needing to use it as a fire escape versus chances of adventurous child climbing out of it - it always worries me and I wish I was allowed to make my own choice (like keeping it locked with the key safely near it but away from the kids in case we did need to use it in the event of a fire.)

KBear · 03/07/2005 16:10

I keep the upstairs windows locked except the two openers. The key is blue-tacked on the wall up high and out of sight so little people can't get out but we could if the house was on fire!

I don't think keeping your kids safe should be regarded as smothering - we all have different ideas of protecting them but it's a personal choice.

KBear · 03/07/2005 16:11

I meant the TOP two openers - doh.

whymummy · 03/07/2005 16:11

so sorry about your mum's cousin spidermama,(dd then 4)nearly fell of a fourth floor window last year while on holiday,i woke up just in time to find her on the very high windowsill,she had already opened the window,i think that if the window had opened outwards instead of inwards she would have gone

sparklymieow · 03/07/2005 16:14

My DD2 climbed out of her window a few months back and was walking along the ledge It was only when a neighbour knocked on the dor that we knew about it..... I had locked the window, but put the keys up high because I am parnoid of fires, and she managed to get the keys and umlock the window...... she is only 3!!!!!!! Windows have been locked again and keys are now downstairs.....

moonunit · 03/07/2005 16:31

I always keep my first floor windows locked. My dp jumped from a first floor window when he was a toddler, to fetch a toy, luckily he was okay and just got up and toddled off.(according to his mum). I see danger in everything, my biggest worry is roundabouts in the park, cus i jumped off a moving one when i was little and broke my leg.

fishfinger · 03/07/2005 17:00

thin metal rods - about a cm wide and really thin, cut wuith a tiny saw form hmm was it B and q

Hausfrau · 04/07/2005 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tiffini · 04/07/2005 13:46

When my uncle was 5 years old, he thought he could fly like superman and jumped out of his bedroom window, and broke both legs.

Childrens imaginations eh!!!

Flum · 05/07/2005 00:27

Blimey, from 1st floor window. The windows in dd's room and spare room are at floor level, wierdy cottage set up. My dad put bars on dds window as she likes to hide behind the curtains.

We couldn't think of a less ugly solution as windows wiiiiiiide.

FIMAC1 · 05/07/2005 06:26

All Apartments in NY with children in, have to have window retainers - which mean you can only open them about a couple of inches - they are fitted by the maintenance guy before you move in if you have kids. Its law and checked annually to ensure you have them fitted.

  • Eric Claptons son died in NY, I think the law was brought in after his ds death? They are like a small metal bar which is only removable by the fitter - going out of the window in event of a fire isn't that recommended anyway as for instance, we were on the 27th floor!
NotQuiteCockney · 05/07/2005 07:05

I don't worry about our velux windows, but then, they're quite high off the floor, in the rooms (to climb up, I have to go get the step ladder, which is on another floor), and if you climbed out, you'd slide down the roof and then fall about 4 feet. Which isn't ideal, but wouldn't kill anyone, surely?