My almost 2 year old has just gotten tall enough to unlock the deadbolt on our front door. We have looked at Security Doors (the metal screen doors) but these will have the same problem unless we opt for a keyed lock on the inside and outside. Also a little latch seems easy enough except that our door is some sort of aluminum (hollow) and so I don't think it would hold.
Something about needing a key to get OUT of my house is creepy to me. And, she is capable of turning the key (if left in there) so that is not an option.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to keep my little one in? I may resort to hanging some jingle bells on the door so I hear it if it's opened but I would still like something more secure.
Duh! I was so concerned with her undoing the deadbolt that I didn't even think of the door knob cover thingy... I picked some up a couple hours ago and she has noticed them, gave them a few turns and gave up!
My daughter, almost 3 now did the same thing.. Get the safty covers for the door nob then hse wont be able to open the door. It wont matter about the deadbolt..
Hope this help!!
We have those doorknob covers on all of our doors leading outside as well as into the bathrooms and laundry room. They make them for round doorknobs as well as the long ones that you pull down.
I wouldn't do the jingle bell thing because she may already be out in the street by the time you react to hearing the bells.
You need to do more than hang bells on your door. When my son was 2, we went through the same thing. They have locks at hardware stores just for this, very easy to install. Because our front door sits kind of awkward, we couldn't use what is intended for doors so my husband got a window lock (sorry, I know you can't picture it, you'll just have to trust me, or email me and I'll email you a photo). Anyway, it just latches open/closed. We adults can reach it but my son can't. He can unlock the front door if he wants but the door won't open. You may also want to try One Step Ahead, they have a lot of child safety items.
M.
Get yourself a good security door, and a latch on top. The premade ones from like Home Depot don't have the latches pre drilled so get a drill and some metal screws and put one on it!
You can also look into getting a custom screen door made by a welder and he can put in the extra latch for you.
I had the same problem. We now have a 2 sided deadbolt for our main doors, ie front door and garage. I keep the key on a hook at the top of the door jam. At 2 DS was wandering the front yard when I would be changing a dirty diaper with DD. He only left when he knew I was too busy. He can be really really quiet when he wants to.
Now the kids know when to open the door and when not too but there are still times when they want to open the door and run out. Like when somebody comes to the door. I do not allow my kids to open the door unless I know who is there. The garage gets locked when DH is working on the car and it is up on jacks or the kids are trying to sneak out to the garage fridge, where the juice boxes and popscicles are kept.
I am not sure why you feel it is creepy to have the door needing a key but that is not the point. There are always moments when my kids are alone; I am in the bathroom, talking with another child in their room, I am in the shower. Those are times when they can sneak out or somebody can get in or be let in. I would rather not risk it. I feel better with the locks that they cannot get open themselves. My 5 yr old is a houdini. At 3 and 5 they do not understand the consequences or their actions.
We actually just use one of the door knob covers where you have to push in on points on either side in order to turn the knob. It is very simple for adults and older children to work. It worked for my 2 year old (now 3 and could probably figure it out, but isn't inclined to try). I'll probably add a latch type lock or the window lock idea someone suggested since my 1 1/2 year old twins will soon figure out how to escape! Until you determine a more secure solution, the knob cover may deter your child enough.
The security doors are good -- don't leave the key in the door, but when you are "locked IN", leave the key on a hook up high by the door -- out of sight if possible.
Another idea -- get one of those chain latches (they make keyed ones too) and super glue it to the aluminum screen door -- up top
We also used the plastic door knob covers. In this situation, you can't be too secure -- you dont' want your child to get out while you're in the bathroom and get to the street before you know it! Some kids are better escape artist than others. Some parents of special needs kids need to take extreme measures to ensure the safety of their children, who can be shockingly good at escaping and bolting off.
My kids also liked the doggy door -- luckily it only lead to a secure backyard w/ locked gates. Of course now they're big enough and smart enough to pile toys against the fence to see over the block wall!
Good luck finding a secure system that works for you.
I really don't have any advise... only a story. My mother had the same problem with my little brother (4 years younger). He would take the dog for a walk at 5am wearing nothing but a diaper at 18 months old. Scary right? We didn't have a table, we had bar stools that he would drag to the front door to undo the deadbolt. Someone mentioned the door knob covers... that didn't work since he was the only one who could open the doors. My mother opted for the locked screen door so we all wore keys on strings around our necks to get in and out of the house (which I'm sure was really hard for her because the laundry machines were in the garage). For the most part it worked...
I would just say to watch the baby very closely. I am also pretty worried that my son will be an escape artist...
Either knob covers as others have suggested, or you could buy a second door knob. It would remove the dead bolt, but many kids can't figure out how to twist 2 knobs at the same time. This is what the preschool my son goes to does. The only down fall it that you would probably need to prop it open while bringing in things like groceries. (I don't think I could do 2 knobs with an arm full of groceries.)
You might want to purchase an inexpensive door/window alarm. I bought one from Home Depot for my sliding patio screen that doesn't lock. It makes a LOUD and high pitched sound if your child, or you, or your husband forget and open the door. It attaches very easily with an adhesive tape. In addition, you can put it as high up on the door and door frame as you like.
Hi H L, There are 3 things you can do, aside of teaching your 2 year old to not open the door, is one option, I had a daycare, so keeping kids from the front door is one of my concerns, we have a security systym, and eveytime the from door is open it sounds off, front door open, or side door open, or back door open, you can hear it any where in the house, also you mentioned bells, left my Christmas wreath which is bells on my from door, I usually keep my from dor open, but I do have a security door, my daycare kids have been trained to not open any doors unless a grown up is with them. J.
