Kids Opening Stateroom Doors!

[grammie12]

My DH & I took 2 of our daughters, their hubbies & 6 of our grand kids on the Fantasy last May. The last night my DDs asked if I could come babysit for them in one of their cabins so the 2 couples could have some "adult" fun. I was exhausted but they said I could sleep so I said fine! All kids were asleep except for my DGS4 who was watching a movie. Well, a while later the door bursts open with my DD yelling "Mom!!!" I woke up to find out my DGS4 had been out in the hall screaming, crying, knocking on his own door for his mommy! Some fellow passengers had called for some kind of help, security I suppose, who met my DD in the hall saying he had been out there for at least 15 min. Needless to say, I felt HORRIBLE!! All this to say, we were shocked to find out there is no way to keep the kids from opening the door from the inside. What have y'all used to remedy this situation?

 

[kathywolf]

My DH & I took 2 of our daughters, their hubbies & 6 of our grand kids on the Fantasy last May. The last night my DDs asked if I could come babysit for them in one of their cabins so the 2 couples could have some "adult" fun. I was exhausted but they said I could sleep so I said fine! All kids were asleep except for my DGS4 who was watching a movie. Well, a while later the door bursts open with my DD yelling "Mom!!!" I woke up to find out my DGS4 had been out in the hall screaming, crying, knocking on his own door for his mommy! Some fellow passengers had called for some kind of help, security I suppose, who met my DD in the hall saying he had been out there for at least 15 min. Needless to say, I felt HORRIBLE!! All this to say, we were shocked to find out there is no way to keep the kids from opening the door from the inside. What have y'all used to remedy this situation?

Benadryl?

 

[lbgraves]

That has the opposite effect on some kids. Not worth trying it.

To the OP, I saw something this morning on the Today Show that is to use on hotel room doors to keep kids from opening them while you are in the bathroom or sleeping. I'm trying to find it now.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My DH & I took 2 of our daughters, their hubbies & 6 of our grand kids on the Fantasy last May. The last night my DDs asked if I could come babysit for them in one of their cabins so the 2 couples could have some "adult" fun. I was exhausted but they said I could sleep so I said fine! All kids were asleep except for my DGS4 who was watching a movie. Well, a while later the door bursts open with my DD yelling "Mom!!!" I woke up to find out my DGS4 had been out in the hall screaming, crying, knocking on his own door for his mommy! Some fellow passengers had called for some kind of help, security I suppose, who met my DD in the hall saying he had been out there for at least 15 min. Needless to say, I felt HORRIBLE!! All this to say, we were shocked to find out there is no way to keep the kids from opening the door from the inside. What have y'all used to remedy this situation?

You've been on the Fantasy and I haven't, but I thought I read somewhere that the doors on the closet open out? Or maybe the bathroom door? Basically blocking the entry hallway? Could you just open one (or both) of those doors and place the chair from the room in front of it? That way, they would make a bunch of noise trying to open the stateroom door.

 

[grammie12]

I was thinking more of like some kind of latch or alarm...we're going again next Aug with two of our other kids and 3 DGDs...they are very cunning...I'm thinking chairs against the door won't keep them in!! Heehee.... My DD is worried about just like during the day when she's showering and her DH is gone or something...

 

[lbgraves]

Here is the link to the website with the door anchor.

http://www.familytravelkits.com/products/Door-Anchor.html

 

[cajunprincess]

Here is the link to the website with the door anchor.

http://www.familytravelkits.com/products/Door-Anchor.html

Oooh, I'm favoriting this! I know my DS will need this when he is old enough!

 

[bumbershoot]

What have y'all used to remedy this situation?

Stacks of suitcases etc in front of the door?

Alas, and I'm being honest from the point of view of someone with a totally untrustworthy MIL (and a dead, would have been awesome grandma, mother), if I ask a grandparent to watch my kid, I want them to WATCH my kid. I wouldn't have been OK with you sleeping to begin with. We traveled with my cousin and her family and my aunt, and my cousin wouldn't have been OK with her mom sleeping while watching their 4/5 year old, either. Sorry, but it's where I'm coming from. Get a kid in an unfamiliar hotel room in an unfamiliar situation, have parents go out...they need someone watching them. My opinion. My feelings.

I was thinking more of like some kind of latch or alarm...we're going again next Aug with two of our other kids and 3 DGDs...they are very cunning...I'm thinking chairs against the door won't keep them in!! Heehee.... My DD is worried about just like during the day when she's showering and her DH is gone or something...

With children who could be described as cunning, my plans would not involve a cruise.

 

[grammie12]

Here is the link to the website with the door anchor.

http://www.familytravelkits.com/products/Door-Anchor.html

Oh this is absolutely PERFECT!! I'm ordering it tmrw!! Thanks so much!!!

 

[grammie12]

Stacks of suitcases etc in front of the door?

Alas, and I'm being honest from the point of view of someone with a totally untrustworthy MIL (and a dead, would have been awesome grandma, mother), if I ask a grandparent to watch my kid, I want them to WATCH my kid. I wouldn't have been OK with you sleeping to begin with. We traveled with my cousin and her family and my aunt, and my cousin wouldn't have been OK with her mom sleeping while watching their 4/5 year old, either. Sorry, but it's where I'm coming from. Get a kid in an unfamiliar hotel room in an unfamiliar situation, have parents go out...they need someone watching them. My opinion. My feelings.

I understand that maybe with your experience with your MIL you might feel like that. I have a condition that I have to take medication for at night and it makes me sleepy, and they knew that, but it was late and my DD was sure her son would fall asleep to the movie (all tucked in, etc). Yes, looking back it was the wrong decision, but very out of character for that DGS so it never entered my mind. Needless to say, on the upcoming cruise I will be fully awake if I watch my DGs.

With children who could be described as cunning, my plans would not involve a cruise.

Cunning might have been a little much, sneaky maybe? Mischievous? Curious? They'll be 6 & 5 when we sail. With that door latch the PP shared, I think we'll be fine!

 

[grammie12]

Sorry - I'm new to the way this forum works. Didn't mean to insert my comment into yours like that!

 

[lilpooh108]

Don't feel too bad. There's been other threads on this same subject, one lady said her THREE YO opened the door while they slept. Scary.

 

[justmestace]

Here is the link to the website with the door anchor.

http://www.familytravelkits.com/products/Door-Anchor.html

Now that DCL has asked people to not use the over-the-door travel bags, because they were causing damage to the doors, I wonder if they'd not appreciate this type of door anchor.

I have something similar to this....and it works well. There are several different types, I know one or two types are sold at Walmart.

http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Controls-THP216-Personal-Security/dp/B00315PE3Y

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Stacks of suitcases etc in front of the door?

Alas, and I'm being honest from the point of view of someone with a totally untrustworthy MIL (and a dead, would have been awesome grandma, mother), if I ask a grandparent to watch my kid, I want them to WATCH my kid. I wouldn't have been OK with you sleeping to begin with. We traveled with my cousin and her family and my aunt, and my cousin wouldn't have been OK with her mom sleeping while watching their 4/5 year old, either. Sorry, but it's where I'm coming from. Get a kid in an unfamiliar hotel room in an unfamiliar situation, have parents go out...they need someone watching them. My opinion. My feelings.

With children who could be described as cunning, my plans would not involve a cruise.

Lighten up. Mistakes happen. My opinion. My feelings.

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Or, maybe you want this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJbGPKYTd00

 

[mmbl]

I was thinking more of like some kind of latch or alarm...we're going again next Aug with two of our other kids and 3 DGDs...they are very cunning...I'm thinking chairs against the door won't keep them in!! Heehee.... My DD is worried about just like during the day when she's showering and her DH is gone or something...

You can buy the stick on, individual door/window alarms at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. they work great for temporary situations. ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0035GAXT4 )

There are also the door jam alarms which give an added level of security. Here is an example at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000YNR4M

 

[alaskanabbott]

1. To the pp who couldn't help but judge, stop it already- that's why people are getting disgusted with the Dis, there's no need for your judgement I guarantee OP feels bad enough AND btw, didn't ask anyone's opinion of what happened, but ideas to keep it from happening again.
2. My dd was 13 our 1st cruise when we learned she was also a sleepwalker! She woke up-walked out and we had no idea until we heard a noise at the door, she had grabbed a paper when leaving and was trying to get back in using the paper, Still SOUND asleep! We've since found out 4 of the 6 kids are horrible sleepwalkers. I like the idea of being able to keep her in with an alarm or something.
3. I have 6 kids and I napped while they watched a movie all the time, the parents should have realized how exhausted you were

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Alas, and I'm being honest from the point of view of someone with a totally untrustworthy MIL (and a dead, would have been awesome grandma, mother), if I ask a grandparent to watch my kid, I want them to WATCH my kid. I wouldn't have been OK with you sleeping to begin with. We traveled with my cousin and her family and my aunt, and my cousin wouldn't have been OK with her mom sleeping while watching their 4/5 year old, either. Sorry, but it's where I'm coming from. Get a kid in an unfamiliar hotel room in an unfamiliar situation, have parents go out...they need someone watching them. My opinion. My feelings.
.

Wow. We're talking about a loving grandparent here, not an unfamiliar stranger. A child could just as easily walk out into the hallway with their parents sleeping in the room - perhaps mistaking the front door for the bathroom. However, given that the law of odds says that this is unlikely, it's hardly a crime to nod off to sleep. My son often wakes in the night and it seems, by your logic, I should spend my whole vacation awake on lookout just incase he wakes without me.

I'm sorry, I don't usually respond in such a one-sided manner to Dis posts. However I believe that this was an innocent accident that clearly gave the OP quite a scare. Surely she doesn't need to be judged on top of this?

 

[klineyqueen]

Wow. We're talking about a loving grandparent here, not an unfamiliar stranger. A child could just as easily walk out into the hallway with their parents sleeping in the room - perhaps mistaking the front door for the bathroom. However, given that the law of odds says that this is unlikely, it's hardly a crime to nod off to sleep. My son often wakes in the night, and it seems by your logic, I should spend my whole vacation awake or sleeping in front of the door incase he wakes without me.

I'm sorry, I don't usually respond in such a one-sided manner to Dis posts. However I believe that this was an innocent accident that clearly gave the OP quite a scare. Surely she doesn't need to be judged on top of this?

I agree with you completely.

We were all sleeping one time in Disney World and my 5yo woke up and opened the door to the outside. He thought it was the bathroom door. Had I been in a deep sleep who knows what would have happened. I heard the door open. It didn't open all the way with the flapper thing over, but still!!!

You can't not sleep on vacation. The door situation is scary with the little ones.

 

[jennyjinx3]

My DD9 is a sleep walker and could easily wander too, I will have to sleep with one ear open! I usually do, but even more so. Thanks OP for sharing your scary experience.