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8 year old autistic daughter keeps letting my 3 year old toddler out of the house

3 replies

Jessv1 · 22/04/2025 17:02

Hi everyone. My 8 year old autistic daughter let my 3 year old toddler out of the house a few weeks ago via the front door even though it was locked and he ended up on the road near our house. Luckily, I found him before anything terrible happened. Since then, I've ensured the door has been locked and the key removed, and ensured all the windows are locked. She was in the back garden with her brother playing whilst i was in the kitchen with the door open, cooking. She has now turned to the back garden gate which leads to the side of the house and up some steps. The gate has a hard bolt right at the top but she has found a chair, stood on it and managed to unlock the bolt..therefore letting my toddler out. I didnt even hear her unlock it which is unusual so she must've been quiet. This is the 3rd time this has happened and I'm not sure what to do to stop it from happening again. I've put measures in place to make sure it doesn't happen again but then she finds another way to let him out. I'm scared to death my son is going to get run over and that I'm going to get reported to social services by my neighbours. I'm not sure how to explain to my daughter about it being dangerous because she doesn't understand. Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:
StrivingForSleep · 22/04/2025 19:33

I would go around the property inside and out to spot potential problems and mitigate them before DD acts on them. You could request an OT assessment in order to help with this and make the property more secure/better meet DD’s needs.

Pressthespacebar · 23/04/2025 09:09

StrivingForSleep · 22/04/2025 19:33

I would go around the property inside and out to spot potential problems and mitigate them before DD acts on them. You could request an OT assessment in order to help with this and make the property more secure/better meet DD’s needs.

How do you go about this? I have the same problem with my son and this would be so helpful!

StrivingForSleep · 23/04/2025 09:38

@Pressthespacebar you can contact the LA - often if you google ‘OT equipment, aids and adaptations’ and your local council name you can find a phone number for the right department. For children, it is sometimes done separately through the children’s therapy service but the adult team should be able to tell you if you need to contact a different team and their number.

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