Toddler dilemma!???? Helpful solutions are wanted.?

Question

My now three year old has an issue with opening the back door and going outside. I don't realize it until they are down the street by the mailbox. It is about 100 ft away. (I live in a mobile home park)

He lets out 22 month old out with him. We have tried several ways of locking the door. We have used the door k**b covers. He learned with how to separate it and open them. We had a hook latch at the top. He pulled that out of the door. We also get water delivered and we stack the water bottles touching in a vertical line on the door. He would be pushing 300 lbs out of the way. HE DOES IT! I am at a loss I don't know what to do anymore. We booby trap the drive way too with wood barricades and the garbage cans. He is a master at escape. It is starting to look like they are not being watched which is not the case. They did it again today when I was in the kitchen cleaning up after lunch. I realized they were not making noise anymore and I went trotting out side to find they were down by the mail boxes again!!!! There was the neighbor running after them and another one too. I got to one of them first. But my little one was in shock and kind of froze cause of everyone running towards her. I am starting to feel like a bad parent. I don't know what to do anymore. I can not use a double key deadbolt that is a fire hazard. They would not be able to get out then.

Any suggestions or experiences??????

Answer 1

You can put a lock at the top of the door.  Even the chain ones work.  Have you tried a babygate or will he just climb over?  Sounds like a good time out and an extra lock will be you best bet.

Answer 2

Obviously, this is a huge safety concern that needs to be solved.  Part of the problem is that you can't hear them when they get the door open, and therefore are far away before you notice they are gone- not just being quiet.  I would recommend a alarm for the door.  Here is a link to the ones we use on the slider doors and exit doors to our house- inexpensive (only $8.99 on this site, for a set of 4), but effective in letting you know that the door has been opened.

http://www.asseenontvguys.com/index.asp?...

Once you have armed the door so that you can hear them, the next step is to work on the "rules of the house" that include that the door may not be opened by them- for any reason.  Make it a game: talk about the rule about opening the door, and then have them "catch" you pretending to be a child who is opening the door, and telling you the door rule.  Simply stated, you can say, "Only mommies and daddies open doors".  This is the rule that you want them to repeat, and to internalize.  

Also, teach them to ask you if they want to go outside.  You can also put a picture of a STOP sign (a sign they can recognize from the real world) on the door to remind them to stop before opening the door.  Doing these things will help to remind your children of the door rule, but the alarm will help you know when they are on the loose.

Answer 3

Get a padlock and a hasp on the door, and keep the key in your pocket.

It's your job to keep them safe, by any method you deem necessary!

Answer 4

discipline him when he does it.

Answer 5

oh my gosh!! this just happened to us yesterday, my three year old went outside while the neighbor was outside and my husband was sleeping!  the only reason that he went out was because our windows were open and he was talking to the neighbor boy through it and he just decided to unlock the door and go outside to play with him.... well his mom hurried over and put him back in our house, but i was extremely mad at my husband for letting it happend but this was a first and now that we are aware of it i hope it doesn't happen again!  

we just had a nice long talk with our son last night and told him how dangerous it was and that he was absolutely not allowed to go outside with out mommy or daddy!  i actually thought about getting the dead bolt, and putting it up high, but now that you mention the fire hazard, i am questioning if that is the best option or not.

honestly i wouldn't feel like a bad parent, it happens but it also has to stop i recommend explaining how dangerous it is and make sure that they understand what could happen.

thanks for asking this your answers are helping me too

have a great day

Answer 6

can you install a lock on the top like you do with city apartment doors?

or you can oil the door k**b real good so that it becomes very slippery

get an alarmed cabinet lock they usually sell in in kids stores or even home depot. and finally try to take something away from him when he does that like tv or a favorite toy

Answer 7

What I would do is use the double key deadbolt. Just keep the key in the door in the part that goes inside the house. Then when you go to bed unlock the deadbolt and don't use it anymore. Until the next day when the kids get up and start playing again. If you don't really want to do that , then ask if you can put like a gated fence around the trailer or something like that. Or at least on the front porch make it to were they can't get off the front porch. Hope this helps!

Answer 8

And where are you when this child is opening the door and getting out and letting his sibling out?  Why are you not supervising your children?

Answer 9

I would try getting a door alarm from Radio Shack.  I loud siren would go off as soon as the door is opened so you would know as soon as they leave.  

Answer 10

My neighbors have the same problem with there 3 year old. so she bought alarms for the door and windows. take a look at these.

http://www.mypreciouskid.com/wireless-do...

http://www.1seenontvstore.com/first-aler...

http://www.poolguard.com/door.html

http://www.defensedevices.com/door-alarm...

http://www.bestbuypoolsupply.com/doorala...

They Work Great

GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 11

Punish him severely when he goes out, and punish him even harsher when he lets your 22 month old out.

Answer 12

He needs to be punished.