Help with my 4 yr old and safety gate?

Question

I have a 4 yr old son that gets up before waking ME up and goes downstairs where he gets into things while I'm still sleeping..He also does this while I'm tending to my newborn and unable to be 'on top of him'...He's always been a persisitant child and is good at figuring out how to open things...Does anyone know of a child safety gate (baby gate) that is 'Preschooler Proof'???

Thanks

Answer 1

There is a clock on the market with bunny ears which looks like it may be of help to you. As the website explains:

"Quite simply, Bunny Clock Children's Alarm Clock is an adorable character that sleeps at night and then wakes (automatically) in the morning at the right time (preset by a parent) so that children can easily follow Bunny's example - staying in bed until bunny wakes.

Bunny lives inside a clock to give children their first introduction to time. There is also an optional audible alarm that is normally switched off with younger children but can be useful for when they are older."

There is are also extra tall stair gates on the market which are good for older kids. I'm in the UK but I typed in extra tall safety gates into yahoo and got quite a few US sites and UK ones.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Theses are the gates that I have in my house and my 4 year olds can't open them, at least I don't think, as they always ask for my help, and they know the gates aren't for them.

This one is at the top of my stairs:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

This one is in our hallway downstairs, and gets the most use.  Which you have to press and pull at the same time:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

And then this one we have from the playroom to the dinning room as it was one that would extend.  You also have to lift up and pull to open it:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

Answer 3

I don't know about your son, but my daughter who is also good at figuring things out would figure out a way to climb over or under a gate.  If he has behavioral problems maybe he'd respond better to a reward for staying out of trouble than a punishment for getting in trouble. ???  

Answer 4

In the case of when you're dealing with your newborn, perhaps try to give him a task to keep him occupied and in sight.  Even a 'pretend' task can keep my son occupied for a couple minutes (i.e. take this imaginary car and drive it around the rug). You can even sneak in educational stuff, example, ok drive the red car, now the yellow car, the 'number 4' car.  

If you're careful, perhaps you can modify the gate with a lock or a multi-step process for opening?  Before you do anything like that consider beforehand that you may need to open the gate quickly in an emergency.

Answer 5

No, unfortunately, they have yet to make a preschooler proof baby gate. The best thing I suggest is to go buy two of the basic wooden gates and stack them, making sure the latches are on the other side from where he can reach. It's a pain to get through them but if you only have them up at night and certain periods while tending your newborn. Also, tie some bells to them, so if he starts messing with them or trying to climb them while you're sleeping, you'll hear them. You could also try closing his bedroom door and putting the door k**b cover on the inside, it might work :D Also, look for the door and window alarms, they attach to the door and the frame, and let off a shrill beep when the door is opened without them being turned off. This could work if he can defeat the door k**b cover, to at least let you know when he's up and wandering. My only other suggestion, and slightly more costly- in place of a baby gate, install a screen door with a key lock, then you can hang the key by the door, out of reach of course, but he won't be able to get through it without help.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Like most rules just tell your son that when he wakes he can go to bathroom and call mom.  You could get him items like books or stuffed toys that he can play with in the bed. Firmly, say that he is not to go downstairs.

Answer 7

I sympathise, as I know from real personal experience how much harder it is with a developmentally delayed child. I don't have much to offer by way of gate types, but how about fitting some kind of pressure pad under the mat, that rings a bell or buzzer in your room to alert you when he goes to the gate. Alternatively, a double door handle (where one is sited high up, and both have to be operated simultaneously, as many nursery schools have). Also, it might be safer to put the gate on his bedroom doorway, as children have been known to lean hard on the gate to open it, and tumble down the stairs. Good luck.