Is it ok to use a baby gate across the bedroom door, or is that really wrong??

[imaluckylady]

My 2.3 year old has changed from an amazing sleeper to having some problems. He is now in his own bed (this is due to having moved overseas and him having a big boy bed instead of a cot which we couldn't transport). He has always slept with the door shut, so we continued with this. He discovered quite quickly that he could open the door, and this has led to two issues.

1. Bedtime has now become a pain with him always getting up, opening his door, and seeing how far he can get before I catch him and put him back to bed.

For three months now, I have been using the technique of repeatedly putting him back to bed, not responding or making eye contact and essentially trying to make it all very boring. However, he thinks it is the most fun in the world and has not tired of the 'game'. It can last up to an hour.

1. He wakes early. While he was in a cot, I may hear him stir, but he would then settle himself back to sleep. Now, however, he gets up, opens his door and our door and clambers onto our bed wanting to start the day. I really want pre-6 am to remain as 'bedtime'. Again, I have been using the put-back-to-bed-without-making-any-fuss method, but essentially have to stand by the door because he will get up over and over and over again.

To try and prevent early rising, I do the following: Nap has been cut to a maximum of one hour Bedtime has been moved half an hour later Masses of exercise I have black out blinds at the windows so that his room is pitch black I don't let the day start until 6 am, whatever time he begins his wake up.

• I've been doing this for almost three months.

I think my little boy is tired, because the combination of both issues means he can have nights where he doesn't get 10 hours of sleep

So - to my question. Do you think it would be ok to put a baby gate across his door? My thoughts are that it might work like a cot does - keeping him contained at bedtime and in the mornings, encouraging him back into bed.

Is it ok to do this, or is it like locking your child in their room? I'm so tired, 6 months pregnant, and not sure if my decision-making on this sort of stuff is up to much!!

I have used gates on their doors. They kept the children safely contained in the same way people use playpens. Not at all the same as locking a solid door in my opinion.

I put a stair gate across ds's door after months and months of trying everything else.

Within a few nights he was staying in his bed. Much better for all of us.

I'd give it a go.

My dd is 2.5 and I have a gate on her door, as a PP said, it's like a giant playpen, and I know she is safe in there, and cannot get herself into a dangerous situation with piles of soft toys.

Yes had a Stair Gate on dc s bedroom door when little.

I think that sounds very sensible! One thing though, I don't know if it's the same for toddlers but my experience of my baby is that decent daytime naps absolutely help him sleep better at night. Could you try going back to a longer day time nap and earlier bedtime?

Great. I feel reassured. I will give it a try.

Thank you

As soon as DD's cot bed gets turned into a bed rather than a cot I fully intend to do this.

Once ds (brilliant sleeper) was out of his cot and discovered he could come and disturb us, we used "stretchies" (bungee elastic hooks) on the door handle, attached to a nearby door handle: meant he could open the door a tiny fraction but not get out.

First time we did at my parents' place when we were there for dinner, half way through the meal we heard a wee "Help!" as he discovered he couldn't just wander through.

My DS is 2.7. He's always had a gate on his door, purely because I can't put one across the top of the stairs. I've never thought about it tbh, I've certainly never felt guilty about it.

I don't have an issue with him trying to get out as yet. He won't get out of his bed at all as he's 'stuck' until I open the door (at which point he happily jumps out ) but if I did I'd definitely be glad of the gate. Pre-6am is most definitely night time in this house!