Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

urgent 18 month old locked himself in toilet

46 replies

redbluered · 23/01/2012 10:41

it is a slide along lock
i have been calling to him outside the toilet for 20 mins
clearly he locked it so technically he should know how to unlock it but at the moment he is not doing it
what should i do
i have no one (adult) else to contact
shouldering the door seems the only option but not sure i am personally strong enough to do that at the moment
any suggestions very welcomed (if there are any)
i am in deep panic
thanks

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Olbasoil · 23/01/2012 10:43

Bribery is the answer, what have you got in the house he loves and can only have sometimes ?

FelicityWits · 23/01/2012 10:44

get a screwdriver

unscrew the hinges on the opposite side of the door

otherwise, aim kicks at the area where the lock is. It'll probably buckle a bit or slide out and you'll be able to get in. Don't use your shoulder.

ChunkyMonkeyMother · 23/01/2012 10:45

Bribery - failing that, firemen I'm afraid, he may not know how to undo it again

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting
choceyes · 23/01/2012 10:45

Gosh, sorry you are in the position. Just becasue he managed to lock the door, probably accidentally, doesn't mean he can actually unlock it, so I don't think bribery would help?
Is there a windor you could climb through?

PattiMayor · 23/01/2012 10:46

Have you got a crowbar?

NatashaBee · 23/01/2012 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alorsmum · 23/01/2012 10:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

boysrock · 23/01/2012 10:58

Just shoulder it, those locks tend to burst off quite easily.

heliumballoon · 23/01/2012 10:59

Do not panic. This happens to us all.
Bribe with chocolate or use a screwdriver.
Are you at home?

Katisha · 23/01/2012 11:02

Is he in a state? If so call fire brigade.

alorsmum · 23/01/2012 11:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

heliumballoon · 23/01/2012 11:08

My friend called the fire brigade when stuck in bathroom. Was rescued by firewoman

drippyVaJjandVagBean · 23/01/2012 11:10

My 2yr old did this, dp helpfully changed the back door lock inside to a twist lock, not a key as ds kept taking the keys, not clever dp, not clever ds simply slammed and twisted the lock with him and newborn dd inside, I was hanging out washing...

Dp ended up removing the pane of glass from our back window to get in, ds couldn't unlock and he was trying.

Hope he's out soon op

ReneeVivien · 23/01/2012 11:14

Poor you. I'd give it a couple of good kicks (not shoulder - you'll damage yourself) then ring the fire brigade.

Good luck.

D0oinMeCleanin · 23/01/2012 11:14

We have one on our bedroom door to keep out unsupervised children and dogs. A well aimed kick soon freed me after DH locked me in one morning.

I hope your DS is out soon. Is he panicked or sulking? We had to remove our bathroom lock after dd2 started locking herself in there to sulk for hours at a time. "I'm going to the shops for icecream and I'm going to eat it all my own" accompanied with me opening and closing the front door used to get dd2 out, if her sulk wasn't too bad.

RealLifeIsForWimps · 23/01/2012 11:15

Isnt the risk that if you kick/shoulder the door that the 18mo is standing right on the other side and gets smacked in the face with it?

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 23/01/2012 11:15

Any luck yet?

Is he worried or happily playing?

I presume you don't have any screws on this side of the door as I assume you would have done that by now if you did.

I would try to get him to undo it, but failing that I'd get him to sit/stand some where you know is safe (not behind the door) and kick the door, those sliding locks don't take much to give way.

Then put the lock at the top of the door :)

FelicityWits · 23/01/2012 11:17

In my experience the baby will retreat (and probably cry), scared by the noise. I assumed the OP would yell at him to get back but Blush can't remember how well 18-month-olds take direction...

JugglingWithSnowballs · 23/01/2012 11:18

Get the firemen over soon and DS may not have to get upset about it.

Perhaps he, and you ?, might be quite excited to see them !

Not your fault, and in some ways that's what they're there for. If theres a fire somewhere I'm sure that will be given priority so don't stress about getting them out. Smile

Good luck. He'll be out soon I'm sure, one way or the other ( but you may need to get some help )

sunshineoutdoors · 23/01/2012 11:21

I locked myself in the toilet aged two (30 now). The fireman were called and a fireman came in through the window and unlocked the door. We got an article about it in the local paper (headline 'girl, 2, locked in loo')!

Give the fire dept a ring and see what they say. Not sure about kicking door in tbh.

sunshineoutdoors · 23/01/2012 11:22

My dad told me that a fire engine full of firemen came. That could make your Monday morning more exciting!

sunshineoutdoors · 23/01/2012 11:24

Bit flippant, sorry, hope your dc is ok and not distressed at all. Just keep talking to him calmly, have you got your mobile with you so you can stay with him while you phone for help?

alorsmum · 23/01/2012 11:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thisisyesterday · 23/01/2012 11:26

have you got him out yet OP?

chimchar · 23/01/2012 11:28

my ds did this too. my dad had to boot the door. we told ds to make sure the loo lid was down and told him to sit on top of it while we bashed.

i hope he's out soon.