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Original poster

So... Flameboy can now escape his room without the use of an aid... HELP!

23 replies

Flamesparrow · 20/04/2008 20:05

He has always pretty much just played/yelled a bit, and eventually given up if he didn't fall asleep as soon as we put him to bed.

Then he worked out if he piled a few things up he could get out over the stair gate on the bedroom door.

Tonight he is out, and there is nothing on the floor by the stairgate

I have no idea what to do with him. I don't want to get into the habit of staying with him until he falls asleep - that seems like madness to start when he is over 2yrs old. I don't want him up with me either!!! I am a WAHM and anything that needs concentration gets done in the evenings

He has also worked out how to unlock the front door and got the strength to yank down the handle, so we must be constantly locked in our own house with the keys up high.

Parents of escape artists - HELP ME!

I don't think you can get giant hamster balls for children, a dog cage is cruel isn't it?

Drugging them is Frowned Upon too....

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Scootergrrrl · 20/04/2008 20:08

Two stairgates on top of each other?? Erm.... Gaffer tape??
Why doesn't he want to sleep in his bed? Would rewards work?

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 20/04/2008 20:10

(pedants... should that be aide???)

I was pondering the two stair gates or gaffer tape too

He just doesn't want to be in bed Unless he is exhausted and dropping then he fights sleep all the time.

He doesn't seem to "get" rewards - he is quite a young 2 when it comes to things like that (not in agility though it seems )

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Scootergrrrl · 20/04/2008 20:13

The toddler taming man had a great one, assuming Flameboy's room has an inward opening door....
Simply loop a bungee cord (stretchy elastic thingy) around the door handle, joining it to another door handle. He'll he exhausted from the effort of trying to open the door before he escapes... I hope...

theUrbanNixie · 20/04/2008 21:12

is he using his bed/cot as some sort of springboard and then somersaulting over the stair gate?

we think this is what ds did last night at the IL's.

no advice...just sympathy...

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 20/04/2008 21:17

I think the cord would just get him very very ANGRY and he would do screaming until he was sick and destroy bedroom... he was content before to yell lots, but where he could see out it wasn't that frenzied "I'm trapped" thing.

Def no springboarding - bed is round the other side of the door across the room

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CantSleepWontSleep · 20/04/2008 21:20

The bungee cord would make me nervous. Weren't there some children who burned to death the other year because they were shut in that way? Suppose if you had a monitor on him and moved the cord before you went to bed it would be ok though.

He's in with dd isn't he? Does she still need to be able to get out of whatever you come up with?

theUrbanNixie · 20/04/2008 21:22

could he have used the bed then catapulted off the wall?

possible stupid question, but i suppose you have done the put to bed, he gets up, you put him back in repeat until a) Flameboy asleep. b) you die of exhaustion and frustration.

ds screamed until he was sick tonight, so i totally feel your pain.

CantSleepWontSleep · 20/04/2008 21:24

Or maybe he did one of those fancy backflip jump things like in the Matrix . If he did then I'm afraid you're officially screwed!

SmugColditz · 20/04/2008 21:25

You can buy EXTRA tall (90cm) alarmed stairgates. £30 from Argos, Linden, the make is.

The handle is stiff too.

have you tried raising it 3 inches off the floor for now? He won't get under it.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 20/04/2008 22:17

Now I feel stupid.

3 inches off the floor it is going to be

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Nappyzone · 20/04/2008 22:24

Im with smug - was just going to suggest raising the gate a toot of the floor to make higher - assuming its an easy peasy pressure fitted jobby. I would be bothered the twang back on a bungee would cause door to slam and trap little fingers.

lilymolly · 20/04/2008 22:31

we had exactly the same issue with DD a fedw weeks ago (2) Wwhen she went into a bed, we had 3 nights if major battles, we bought a small bolt, fastened her in for 2 nights (unfastening) when we went to bed, it took 1 night, and now we dont need to use it and its back to normal, bed, kiss, door shut ,sleep all night

yurt1 · 20/04/2008 22:38

We used 2 stairgates (but the travel type - held on by pressure and done up really tightly) on ds1's room until he had the strength to open them aged around 7 (have to be really tight).

We have 3 locks on our front door and all our locks are with a removeable key. We also set the alarm at night.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 20/04/2008 22:39

Forgot to mention that DD can't handle the door being shut either. Making it higher is such a simple plan, I can't believe how stupid me n dh are

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yurt1 · 20/04/2008 22:39

Raising the stairgate didn't work as he just stood on the bottom bar. one on top of another did for a few years.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 20/04/2008 22:44

Crossed posts with your first one Yurt - bloody good point about standing on the bottom bar.

I'm going to have to go and investigate pressure ones tomorrow.

I wish we could put a bolt on our front door Stupid double glazed plastic thing

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yurt1 · 20/04/2008 22:47

The most helpful thing on our front door is the deadlock tbh as that's removeable. Could you change your handle. We have uPVC back doors but they lock with a removeable key (one of those handles you lift up).

Ds1 was older when he climbed on the bottom bar and swung himself over so it might work for a bit. But the pressure ones were really good. Unfortunately they don't do the best brand anymore (has been updated- harder to make tight) - and ours is trashed or you could have had it - but try mothercare.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 20/04/2008 22:50

Yup, our key does come out (it is the same kind of upvc door) - before he couldn't manage to pull the handle down hard enough. I used to just be able to lift it up to locking position and leave it unlocked, but he has worked out now he can put his full body weight on.

He must be standing on the bottom bit to get over, he is a very short child (about 12 months size), so I don't think he can reach the top of the gate and pull up without standing on the bar.

DD may have been hard work with her limitless energy, but I never had problems like this!!!

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yurt1 · 20/04/2008 22:52

oh I see- we just have everything locked all the time tbh. Although last week ds1 got a key from the pot and opened the back door anyway by himself for the first time

The double pressure stairgate thing did us for years.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 20/04/2008 22:59

I've been happily pootling about in a DD world I think

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Original poster
Flamesparrow · 22/04/2008 18:49

Oh FFS!

He won't stay up there tonight either.

Both were exhausted and falling asleep on the sofa. Put them in bed and he snaps bouncy again

Someone on freecycle said they are getting back to me about a gate so I haven't bought another one yet.

I want him to go to bed

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CorrieDale · 22/04/2008 19:04

We have a stupid double glazed plastic front door too but DH (who is not, and I know he won't mind me saying this, the most DIY-adept of chaps) fitted a door chain up high.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 22/04/2008 19:40

Front door is ok now as long as we remember to move the keys.

Just tried the tying door shut method in desperation - scared the cr*p out of him and he is now curled up on the sofa next to me, shrieking hysterically if I leave his sight

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