Is there anything i can do about my toddler?

[jd83]

Sorry but I still don't get why you can't just get up. I'm amazed at the amount of people who would get door locks rather than get out of bed

We dont hear her! Sometimes she sleeps in until my alarm goes off, some times she gets up 10 minutes before i do, and sometimes she gets up at like 4-5am but because she is so quiet OH nor i hear her walking around, so we never wake up! We are trying to ask her to come into our bedroom when she is awake so one of us can get up with her, but she usually just sneaks downstairs and will occasionally turn the tele on xx

Same here. My son is usually pretty quiet when he wakes early. I usually don't even know he has gotten up until after I wake and realize he isn't in his room, then look downstairs and see him down there either playing quietly or watching a cartoon (with low volume preset on his remote to not wake his brother, hence me not hearing it). Not everyone on here has said they'd get door locks either. Some of us just make sure the house is baby/toddler proofed to keep them from hurting themselves. But I also see nothing wrong with locking doors on rooms to keep them out of them while you are sleeping if there are dangerous items in there, if you have that capability. My kitchen doesn't have a door to lock, so I can't.

 

[suzib76]

Do you leave your bedroom doors open to make it easier to hear? I mean for people who don't hear their kids wake, what happens if they were sick or fitting or choking?

 

[SillyMoo1983]

OP I can definitely understand you not wanting your DD wandering around the house unattended. My DD is the same age as yours but is a young acting 2.5 year old. She has no sense of danger, can get in the washing machine and tumble dryer (she can open the doors), turn on the dishwasher, she'll climb and fall off things.....so many dangers! I'd probably lock the kitchen door so at least the danger zone is inaccessible. Failing that get child proof locks on cupboards and drawers etc. The bell on the door I thought was a brilliant idea. Luckily my DD is usually a chatterbox and sings until I get her when she wakes up. But she's still in a cot at the moment.

 

[kimberleyrobx]

Thanks girls, she came downstairs this morning (i actually thought she was still in her bedroom as i didnt hear her bedroom door opening, it creaks) and wrecked the mothers day presents we had bought yesterday!!! we left them in a large bag on top of the ironing board in the hall as we had no where to put them, and she had trashed them this morning! I was so angry, she knew fine well she wasnt supposed to touch them, yet we cant even get her to listen when we tell her no!
Definitely going to go for cupboard locks etc and try finding good hiding places for things we dont want her to touch! xx

 

[special_kala]

I would lock the kitchen door and front door so if she goes down its safe.

The bell idea is good.

 

[Hazfoz]

my son has always been an early riser but there's no way he'd ever be left to his own devices at any time of the day and he's nearly 3, but 6 month's ago he touched a cooker ring that i'd been cooking on 2 minutes previous, he knew not to touch because it's hot but he's a toddler they forget things or don't understand the danger like we do. if they're playing with cutlery whats stopping her getting the sharp knives out of the drawer even just once??
A alarm of some sort on her door so you can hear her get up would be great idea.

 

[carbafe]

How is her understanding and communication? My 2.5 year old can leave her room and go downstairs, I assume she could climb up in the kitchen and grab knives etc but she wouldn't because she knows it's dangerous. She never tried climbing over the stair gate because she knows what it's for and it was never used unnecessarily. She knew that until fairly recently she had to let us know when she was using the stairs. I don't know if that's unusual - I don't think it is - so I would just keep reinforcing what your rules are and why they exist. Perhaps try saying that if she wants to go downstairs in the morning she must come and wake you up so you can put on the light and help her get some toys out? Make it something positive for her, but if she goes down alone talk to her about how it's not safe and you're sad that she didn't wait for you etc. I wouldn't worry about going in the kitchen if it's reasonably child-proof and she knows what she's not allowed to do.

I find it a bit scary that people's first responses to a 2.5 year old wandering the house is 'get a taller gate' or 'install an alarm'. Why not just teach her what is safe for her to do? I think a 2.5 year old is perfectly capable of understanding basic safety rules.

I read an advice leaflet about safety which said something along the lines of never get to complacent and forget your toddler is still a toddler. They might know the rules but it only takes one time of them thinking but I wonder what if I touched the knife or for them to find something new that they haven't specifically been told is dangerous. Also accidents happen. I wouldn't be happy with DS being up while we were asleep.

OP could you give her some things to intise her to stay in her room. Maybe a small CD player with stories on CDs we have Julia Donaldson ones and Disney ones. Maybe a wee tent - hideout or bring up some of the toys she likes from downstairs up ?

 

[kimberleyrobx]

How is her understanding and communication? My 2.5 year old can leave her room and go downstairs, I assume she could climb up in the kitchen and grab knives etc but she wouldn't because she knows it's dangerous. She never tried climbing over the stair gate because she knows what it's for and it was never used unnecessarily. She knew that until fairly recently she had to let us know when she was using the stairs. I don't know if that's unusual - I don't think it is - so I would just keep reinforcing what your rules are and why they exist. Perhaps try saying that if she wants to go downstairs in the morning she must come and wake you up so you can put on the light and help her get some toys out? Make it something positive for her, but if she goes down alone talk to her about how it's not safe and you're sad that she didn't wait for you etc. I wouldn't worry about going in the kitchen if it's reasonably child-proof and she knows what she's not allowed to do.

I find it a bit scary that people's first responses to a 2.5 year old wandering the house is 'get a taller gate' or 'install an alarm'. Why not just teach her what is safe for her to do? I think a 2.5 year old is perfectly capable of understanding basic safety rules.

I read an advice leaflet about safety which said something along the lines of never get to complacent and forget your toddler is still a toddler. They might know the rules but it only takes one time of them thinking but I wonder what if I touched the knife or for them to find something new that they haven't specifically been told is dangerous. Also accidents happen. I wouldn't be happy with DS being up while we were asleep.

OP could you give her some things to intise her to stay in her room. Maybe a small CD player with stories on CDs we have Julia Donaldson ones and Disney ones. Maybe a wee tent - hideout or bring up some of the toys she likes from downstairs up ?

Virtually all of her toys are in her bedroom, last night i laid out her pens and drawing book. etch a sketch etc on her table and i placed her table where i usually put it when she is eating and she was ecstatic when i came downstairs this morning because she didnt have to hunt for her favourite things! Got cupboard locks on the way from online, think i will stick to this idea, it keeps her busy until OH and I wake up and out of mischievous way! xx

 

[tommyg]

I'd go for a snib bolt high up on the kitchen door. Therefore having one room that's locked where most dangerous stuff is.
Do you have a house alarm? Try setting it at night therefore the alarm will go off when she gets to the bottom of the stairs.