I found her outside!

[mommyoftwo]

I went downstairs to change over the laundry and when I came upstairs, I couldn't find Amelia anywhere. I finally discovered that she unlocked the back door and was playing on the back porch! Needless to say I was a bit panicked when I couldn't find her anywhere. So how do I handle this? I obviously need to childproof the door. How do I do that? And how do I make my point that wandering outside without permission is just not acceptable? We live in a fairly safe neighborhood and our yard is fenced it, but I'm still really upset and concerned about this. Boy, every time I get a handle on one thing, something else pops up. I know that's what parenting is all about but man, it can be a challenge to keep up with them sometimes.

[DebbieJ]

Jessica,

I am worried about the exact same thing. My DS can open the deadbolt and get the front door open. Luckily, we recently put on a screen door and he can't unlock that one---yet. One time I was in the shower and the doorbell rang. HE OPENED THE DOOR! It was my neighbor and he told her I was in the shower. I am really freaked out by that one and we're working on him not answering the door when someone knocks or rings. (My neighbor went home and called me and left a message after that incident, so I knew right away).

But our sliding patio door is another story. He can unlock and slide it open. I have not yet researched options for that one, but an easy fix is to get a dowel rod and put it in the track so he can't slide it. I think I may get one the next time I'm at Home Depot. :)

I was also at someone's house who had a step lock of some sort on their sliding door. I have to check that out.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[mommyoftwo]

The problem is that we have french doors so it's just a regular door. Fortunately she hasn't tried to go out the front door yet, but she could. The back yard has more appeal to her thankfully I guess.

[trumansmom]

Truman was an escape artist. When I was pregnant with DD and prone to uncontrollable napping, I once woke up to Truman in the backyard, in the SNOW, in his pjs. We ended up changing our locks to deadbolts that require keys, and placing the keys above the doorframe. We rarely have to go into "lockdown" mode anymore, but it really gave us peace of mind when he was too young to understand how scary it was to wander.

Thankfully, Eleanor isn't quite as interested in running. :)

Jeanne
Mom to Truman 11/01 and Eleanor 4/04

[bunnisa]

We have keyed bolts on a few doors, which I believe isn't up to code, but sure is nice with little ones!

But by far the best thing we have is a chime that sounds whenever an outside door is opened. I think it's the best safety feature to have. Ours is through our alarm system, but I know that you can buy a wireless system with little magnets for your doors (very easy to install, too).


Bethany
blessed wife and mama to two!

"And children are always a good thing, devoutly to be wished for and fiercely to be fought for."
-Justin Torres

[icunurse]

It won't stop the escape attempts, but it will let you know when the door is opened -
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100524&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod397231

You can turn it off when you don't need it and many of them are magentic or double-taped, so nothing needs to be permanently altered.

Traci
~Connor's Mom 02/2004~
Agency paperwork completed - waiting (and waiting) for another baby!

[mommyoftwo]

Thanks for the link. I think we will have to look in to that.

[annasmom]

Jessica - what kind of knobs does your door have?? There are all sorts of locks you can put on door knobs/levers. BTW, I have the same problem with Anna - she opens the screen door for our sliding glass door to our backyard (she knows how to work the lock). I haven't yet come up with a solution to that one. Good luck!!

[mudder17]

Yikes! I'm glad she was okay. Obviously, you can tell her she can't go outside, but the best way would be to proof the door by adding a chain or hook near the top of the door where she can't reach it. So this is what I have to look forward to, huh? Yikes!

Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 28 months...
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev317pp___.png
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[mommyoftwo]

We have regular round knobs. I think I'm going to see what I can find today. Do I look at baby proofing stuff or at the hardware store?

[ctmom]

we installed something like this on all our exterior doors. High enough that the kids can't reach them, I have to get on my tippy toes!
http://iss4locks.com/misc1.htm

We also put a copper pipe on the track of our slider so they can't open it. I'm still trying to figure out what we can to when we have only the screen of the slider open.

Mary
dd#1 2/01
dd#2 12/03

[ribbit1019]

Congrats on another little girl!!


Christy
My Waterbabies
http://b3.lilypie.com/uVw3m4/.png

http://b1.lilypie.com/tbvhm4/.png
http://www.tickercentral.com/view/172x/5.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

[ribbit1019]

That is so scary!!! I am waiting for Maddy to start doing that. Fortunately she has to go through two doors to get out of our house so I usually get to her before she can get them both open, she hasn't mastered the doorknob yet. :) All our outside doors have deadbolts on them too so it will be a little bit longer before she can reach those. Once that happens though we are in big trouble.

I like the magnet alarm idea, at least you would be able to catch her before she made it outside.

Christy
My Waterbabies
http://b3.lilypie.com/uVw3m4/.png

http://b1.lilypie.com/tbvhm4/.png
http://www.tickercentral.com/view/172x/5.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

[JBaxter]

Nathan has done this also. I was folding laundry and I heard the door bell ring I FREAKED when I opened the door and it was Nathan!! he had gone out the patio door around the house and to the front. Our security system had a "chime" function that when any outside door is opened I hear a chime. He currently cant open the deadbolt and I am having a wooden gate installed on the deck he cant open so if he gets out the patio door again he will be contained. I have had to child proof the refrigerater,oven, dishwasher freezer all the cabinets handcuff my kitchen chairs to the table ( with kids toy handcuffs but i get alot of looks anyway) He is geneticly part houdini.

[mudder17]

Thanks, Christy!

Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 28 months...
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev317pp___.png
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[mommyoftwo]

Totally missed that! Congrats Eileen. Now I can start working on some longies for you. :D

[mudder17]

Hee, hee. Yeah, I changed it a couple days ago, but didn't really announce it (except to the Preggo Board).


Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 28 months...
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev317pp___.png
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[JBaxter]

OH My I missed it too!! Congrats on the new baby girl.

[BaileyBea]

This just happened to me about an hour ago. I went to the restroom with the door open. I suddenly couldn't hear DS. I looked for him in his room... not there. in the living area.. not there, in the kitchen area... then I notice the back sliding door is open.

There he was playing in the grass by the deck.

The worst part is our back yard is not fenced in and we have a running creek in the back yard. I FREAKED out!

I've been calling fence companies for months now but they are terrible about returning calls. I got to get that fence installed quick. And we are replacing the doors in the fall but I will talk to DH about doing this sooner.

[mudder17]

Thanks, Jeana! :)

Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 28 months...
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev317pp___.png
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[mommyoftwo]

I'm sorry. I know how scary it is. It must have been a lot worse for you though. I just found Amelia on the back porch scrubbing her picnic table with a sponge. I think I'm going to have my husband work on this problem while I'm gone this week.

[annasmom]

I know that Home Depot has a baby-proofing section, but I am not sure what they carry. I was at BRU yesterday, and I saw locks for both round knobs and levers. I know Target also carries knob locks. Good luck!!

[squimp]

It is scary! DD has done this before, but not recently. I will not let her open the door on her own, and we just repeat over and over again "only grownups open doors". I also question her "Do kids open doors?", and she gets to feel very smart and say "nooooo!" She is going through a phase where these little rules are really important to her, so we just repeat, repeat, repeat, and they stay in her head. Luckily she can't open the deadbolt yet, but I'm sure it's a matter of time. If it becomes an issue, I would probably look in to one of those sliding locks to put at the top of the door.

[kellyotn]

Our deadbolt on the door to the patio is double-keyed because its got a lot of glass near the lock. A burgler could break the glass, but still not get the deadbolt opened. Also, great for kids. ;) Really easy to find at any hardware store. We just keep the key in a cupboard nearby.

We also have an extra, manual "lock" up high. They make all kinds. Chains, sliding bar deals, etc.

I've had good luck with Ace Hardware having lots of kid-proofing stuff. Also, there's TONS of stuff availble online.

[dhano923]

We have these on our front door and the door from our laundry room to the garage:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000482FA/qid=1151348393/br=1-2/ref=br_lf_ba_2//102-3507064-4143334?v=glance&s=baby&n=551456

They aren't foolproof, but it doesn't take a little more time for a 2 year old to get the door open. It's more of a deterrent -- my DS gets frustrated and then gives up. We also have a chain lock on the upper part of the front door.

[dhano923]

We have these on our front door and the door from our laundry room to the garage:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000482FA/qid=1151348393/br=1-2/ref=br_lf_ba_2//102-3507064-4143334?v=glance&s=baby&n=551456

They aren't foolproof, but it doesn't take a little more time for a 2 year old to get the door open. It's more of a deterrent -- my DS gets frustrated and then gives up. We also have a chain lock on the upper part of the front door.

[BaileyBea]

I am so glad both of our kids are okay. We both went through a scary situation had the possiblilty of being very bad quickly. If it isn't one thing you have to watch out for it's another. I just have a feeling it will be like this till they go off to college.

Please forgive me for not saying something empathetic to your situation earlier. I am so sleep deprived right now as DS also has croup and is currently in the worst of it. I've been delirious all morning from lack of sleep. DS just took a a 3 hour nap and so did I. I am feeling much more like myself now. ;-)

Take care and don't feel like a bad Mom. I think it's just the right of passage that most of us Mom's go through something similar to this situation.

[BaileyBea]

Double Post

[mommyoftwo]

No appologies necessary. I certainly understand the panic you went through and the lack of sleep too. Amelia decided that she didn't want to sleep last night and was talking to herself and screaming to get out of bed most of the night. I should be napping now, but I'm too wound up.