Hellobee Boards

We put a childproof doorknob cover on the inside of our son's bedroom door during this stage. His room was safe for him and I was worried about what he could get into while we were asleep or that he would fall down the stairs. In an emergency, the door was fully functional from the outside, and in the case of a fire I want him in his room where I know right where to get him. We only needed this solution for a few months, then he just knew to stay in bed.

I have no problem with the idea of locking a young child in their room at night. But just a warning about the door monkey in particular, it didn’t work on any door in either home I’ve lived in with kids. The door frames just weren’t the right depth or something. So I actually still use it as a finger pinch guard but it wouldn’t keep a door shut for me.

But I agree with @kiddosc: that in an emergency I’d rather know where she was.

We do same as kiddosc. Our kid is nearly 3. I had removed it for 2 months, but that led to her coming out early in the morning and every 5 seconds during quiet time so now it’s back on and she doesn’t usually get out of bed until we go in in the morning. I think it’s safer this way.

Same as @kiddosc: @petitenoisette: @Mrs. Goose: @Foodnerd81: .

My 2-year old one day DID let himself out of his room in the morning and played unsupervised for 20 minutes while I laid in bed, thinking my DH was up with him..... he wasn't, he had already left for work.

the door monkey saved me from screaming at my then 2 year old over sleep when she transitioned to a bed. i was seriously telling myself, ok, you can't get upset until she comes out 20 times. she never got to 20 but she would have if we didn't get the door money.

we finally stopped using it and then it got broken. if there was an emergency and i forgot how it works, i could easily break the door monkey.

Yeah we also turned doorknobs around - actually just did it yesterday for my 2 yo who just started escaping from his crib and wandering the house. Still have to do it sometimes for the 4 yo if he’s still awake when we go to bed, can’t risk them having access to stairs and all kinds of dangerous things to climb or get hurt on while we are sleeping or it’s bedtime.

@RonjaL7: What is his objection?

When my son began climbing out of the crib and we had to convert to a toddler bed (2y4m), we put a childproof door handle cover on the inside of his room. He always slept with his door closed when he was in his crib so it was no different for him. But I know his personality - he WILL NOT go to sleep or stay in bed if there is any way at all he can try to avoid it. Like we cannot cosleep with him, lay down with him, share a room w/him while traveling, etc. because he thinks it's a party and he will not sleep. He would also run around the house and get into who knows what - it's just his personality.

My husband didn't feel comfortable about it at first, but I don't really see how it's any different than when he was in a crib a few months prior - if there's an emergency or a fire or something, you're going straight to their room to get them first. I feel like the danger of my son coming out of his room and getting into dangerous things in the house unsupervised is a much greater day-to-day risk. For us, it is essential.

My son is about to turn 3 and I don't see us taking it off anytime soon... but we'll definitely evaluate based on his age/maturity. He doesn't know any different so he's not upset by it at all. If he had been used to coming out of his room and then we locked him in there, I think he would flip out.

@RonjaL7: that would be super frustrating to me. I feel like if you’re the one being impacting he has two choices: either let you handle it as you see fit, or pony up and be the one to handle night wake ups. He doesn’t get to sleep through it and then tell you your solution is unacceptable! Grumble grumble.