Parents of curious,ornery toddlers! Please read.

[Iott Family]

Our 2 yr old DS learned how to work the sliding glass door this weekend and snuck out on DH's watch saturday afternoon and went down to the neighbors house where they were having a bday party with a bounce house and such. DH didnt even know that DS had escaped because he thought little tot was with our two older kids in the game room and then the door bell rings......

Today the little rascal escaped again while I was answering the front door he slipped out the back sliding glass doors and went down to their place again to enjoy the swing set....door bell rings......

So before we all pass judgement on parents of small children who escape confines of their homes unnoticed, lets just say I am rethinking all those thoughts I had about "those" parents and investing in alarms on all doors and windows and installing special lock bars on sliding doors leading outside. The dowel bar slid in the track is a nice thought but my little tot is smarter than the wood dowel, HA!

Moral.....??? Before your kids can hold their heads up make sure every exit is blocked and alarmed. We might not have found a way to keep them from climbing everything like monkeys but we can imprison them in their child proofed homes!!!!!!

 

[sajetto]

I'm so glad to hear that your DS didn't go anywhere other than your neighbor's house. Can't say that I blame him though, that place sounds fun!

Glad he's safe and sound and you're right, it makes one think before they judge

 

[nealymouse]

My youngest DD was the same way. What we did for our sliding glass doors was install the door lock you put at floor level BUT... we installed it at the top of the door so she could not reach it.

You can get them in a hard ware store. Its a lock that you tap with your foot to lock and unlock except in our case we use our hands. You do have to drill a hole om the door frame. It was the best thing we ever installed.

We installed them the day after we were all in the living room watching TV and no one saw her leave. It was very scarry not knowing where she was. We found her in our hay loft a full story high. She climbed a ladder to get there. She was not even TWO !!!!!

I felt like the worst mother alive !!!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Beware of the dowel in the door track. A friend went outside one day and her DD decided to stick the dowel back in the door track while her mommy was on the patio. Friend had to call the fire department to help her break back into her house - her DH was away on business!

 

[Nicolepa]

Besides our alarm telling us which door has been opened the baby proofing company gave us this big suction cup thing. Worked like a charm. You just stick it to the top of the sliding door, then when they try to open the door they can't.

http://www.safety4toddlers.com/toddlerproof_products2.htm#Staircase and Banisters

It is the superstop window lock.

I have never seen these anywhere else so I can't help you there.

 

[GEM]

Scary! We bought a house this summer that sits right on a beautiful lake. Our little guy could be out the door and in the water in less than 5 minutes. First thing we did before we even moved a stick of furniture into the house was to put LOUD alarms on every single door and window. Now, whenever any door is opened, we get a really loud BEEEEP. Annoying, but worth it.

 

[lbgraves]

So glad to hear that everything is ok. I agree that it is scarey to discover that your little one has learned how to escape!

 

[MoniqueU]

If it makes you feel better I have heard the kids that are the least passive and get into things the most and escape the most and get into that kind of trouble are the most intelligent later in life. I am not sure how true that is. But you might have a little smarty pants on your hands.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If it makes you feel better I have heard the kids that are the least passive and get into things the most and escape the most and get into that kind of trouble are the most intelligent later in life. I am not sure how true that is. But you might have a little smarty pants on your hands.

Do you think that I can go ahead and call Mensa about my 6yo? I thought for sure I was going to pull my hair out between the time he was 1 and 5yo. He's still a bit of a challenge, but in general has calmed down a lot.

 

[Curious]

Parents of curious...[snip]...Please read.

Sorry, but they don't read here.