Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:37:24 +0000 SweetiePie on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night/page/2#post-2823538 Sat, 19 May 2018 15:17:09 +0000 SweetiePie 2823538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, but not because I’m opposed to it. We haven’t had to because he doesn’t get out of bed at night. But if he did I’d totally get a door monkey or somehow kidproof the doorknob. SugarMaple on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night/page/2#post-2823516 Sat, 19 May 2018 06:38:51 +0000 SugarMaple 2823516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. PawPrints on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823505 Fri, 18 May 2018 22:32:40 +0000 PawPrints 2823505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We use a doorknob cover. I see nothing wrong with keeping her in there and I don't see why anyone would. It's just the same as putting a child in a crib. They're just as "trapped" as they were in the crib. And if they throw a tantrum, well, it's just the same as when a toddler discovers any boundary on their behavior. They get used to it eventually when they understand it's not negotiable. Finfan on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823483 Fri, 18 May 2018 19:00:30 +0000 Finfan 2823483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @birdofafeather: this is what we do too birdofafeather on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823479 Fri, 18 May 2018 17:31:17 +0000 birdofafeather 2823479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We used a door monkey for about a year with our 2.5 year old who was a mess at bedtime. I would close her door with it and then take it off when I went to bed. Grace on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823472 Fri, 18 May 2018 16:08:05 +0000 Grace 2823472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @raspberries: We have the exact set-up. But since LO turned 4, we leave it open a bit. bhbee on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823470 Fri, 18 May 2018 15:38:04 +0000 bhbee 2823470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @2littlepumpkins: i think you’re right about doors closed for fire safety - Keeps the smoke out better. But we don’t actually do it either, partially because our house heats/cools unevenly and leaving doors partway open helps. avivoca on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823455 Fri, 18 May 2018 12:18:46 +0000 avivoca 2823455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We are an open door household but we do gate the stairs for safety. My oldest knows to go to the baby monitor to ask if she can come downstairs. KT326 on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823454 Fri, 18 May 2018 12:10:05 +0000 KT326 2823454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We put a gate up for a little while but after me falling over it trying to get to him when he was crying... we don't do anything now. My older son had night terrors when he was younger and now we are dealing with bad dreams. I don't ever want him to think he can't get to us or we don't want him to come to us. It helps that we have a really small (850sqft) house so I hear whenever he gets up. Autumnmama79 on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823451 Fri, 18 May 2018 11:55:12 +0000 Autumnmama79 2823451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, I would never even consider this. maddyz on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823440 Fri, 18 May 2018 11:08:17 +0000 maddyz 2823440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We use a door monkey on the kids room door because DS1 who is almost 3.5 will get up in the night "like a busy owl" and get into trouble/make a huge mess without waking us. I am afraid he might leave the appartment. 2littlepumpkins on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823437 Fri, 18 May 2018 11:02:05 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2823437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I thought I read on here that it's actually good in case of fire to have the door closed (not locked.) That said my kids sleep with doors open at night. I can hear them better and they're more comfortable with it. They just know if they come in my room I will see what's wrong but I always walk them back. They also shared until very recently which I think helped them not be lonely if they woke up. Miss Ariel on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823421 Fri, 18 May 2018 09:41:23 +0000 Miss Ariel 2823421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We did, although there wasn’t really a need to since rarely tried to open it. Of course, lately she’s been pooping in her pull-ups for naps, so we stopped doing it. But so far she’s yet to actually leave her room and just yells when she’s awake. QBbride on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823361 Fri, 18 May 2018 01:23:33 +0000 QBbride 2823361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, we don’t. The idea of locking my kids in a room doesn’t sit well with me. I shut the door most of the way (leave it open a crack) and my 4yo comes into our room when he wakes up in the morning. Our 2yo wakes up later and is still in her crib (they share a room). Neither wake at night, and if for some strange reason they do, I’d rather my son be able to come get me. DesertDreams88 on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823359 Thu, 17 May 2018 23:47:17 +0000 DesertDreams88 2823359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We use a doorknob cover on our 2y4m door. I figure, he spent 2 years not being able to open his own door at night, why not have another year or two? Lots of people have their 2 year olds in cribs so they can't get out either. If there was an emergency, all kids under the age of 4 (or so) would need parental assistance anyway. Here's another point to consider. Within one week of him learning how to open his own door, one morning he got out of his room and spent 20 minutes unsupervised, wandering the house. I could hear him tinkering around but I stayed laying in bed, thinking DH was with him. NOPE. DH decided to go to work early! So instead of waking up and getting me, LO just decided to explore. I only found it out when LO started banging at the backdoor for "Daddy." Lastly, if we didn't use doorknob covers, he most likely would come in my room while I was sleeping and hurt my 3m infant sleeping next to me by either poking her eyes, trying to pick her up, slapping her face, or trying to climb into her RnP. So..... some doors HAVE to be childproofed. PinkElephant on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823342 Thu, 17 May 2018 21:27:32 +0000 PinkElephant 2823342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We used a baby gate on DD2’s room for awhile. She was maybe 3 when we did this, and very agile, so I had no doubt she could climb over it or kick it down if needed in an emergency. She shares a jack and Jill bathroom with her sister, so that was never an issue either. Most of the time the gate was open anyway; the threat of it being closed if she continued to get up was generally enough to deter our nighttime visitor. lamariniere on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823340 Thu, 17 May 2018 21:10:37 +0000 lamariniere 2823340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We don't lock because we literally have to lock the bedroom doors with a key. Even if we could, we wouldn't. We keep all of our doors slightly ajar. ShootingStar on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823326 Thu, 17 May 2018 20:25:52 +0000 ShootingStar 2823326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For a long time we had a door knob cover on DS’s door. We put it on when we switched him to a regular bed. We didn’t really need it right away and took it off after a while. But then DS went through a phase around 2.5 of waking up at 5am and slamming our door open. I was pregnant and exhausted so after a couple days the knob cover went back on and DS didn’t seem to mind. We took it back off once he was old enough to understand staying in his room. For my 21m DD we haven’t bothered with a cover yet. She’s in a toddler bed but hasn’t figured out door knobs yet. Probably once she does we’ll put the cover on. She’s too little to be wandering by herself. And the staircase is right in front of the door to our room and I don’t want to chance her falling. I have no problem “locking” my kids when they’re toddlers. Toddlers do not need free reign and it can be dangerous. MrsADS on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823140 Thu, 17 May 2018 10:23:18 +0000 MrsADS 2823140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We don't lock the door but we have a kid door handle thingy on the inside so he can't open it. We didn't really want to do it but felt like we had to once we converted the crib to a toddler bed because he is wild and would run all over the house and literally never go to sleep or stay in his room. Once he's asleep, it's fine, but otherwise...forget it. I don't *love* it but our bedrooms are RIGHT next door so I feel like I can get to him quickly. lindseykaye on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823139 Thu, 17 May 2018 10:23:04 +0000 lindseykaye 2823139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Littlebit7: It was very hard that day and in the days following but she had a very good recovery and you can't even really see her scar anymore (it was on her face, below her eye). The incident didn't actually seem to affect how she felt/acted around dogs much - both immediately afterward and in the years since. I was kind of hoping it would just so she'd be more cautious, but I am glad it didn't leave her with lasting fear or trauma. She would say "Early Girl bit me" here and there for a bit after it happened and we highly modified/monitored their interactions from then on, but she still loves dogs very much and maybe respects our rules about dogs a bit more with her history. Portboston on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823138 Thu, 17 May 2018 10:18:43 +0000 Portboston 2823138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We haven’t had to. I struck gold in one aspect of my son, he doesn’t get out of bed. Ever. He’ll cry, throw tantrums, & call for us, but he won’t step foot out of his bed (even to get his stuffed animal that HE threw on the floor 🤦🏻‍♀️) he’s still a terrible sleeper though. Can’t win them all! kiddosc on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823131 Thu, 17 May 2018 10:08:50 +0000 kiddosc 2823131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We put a doorknob cover on the inside knob when my son was younger. His room was toddler proofed, but the rest of the upstairs wasn't and I didn't want him wandering in the middle of the night. In an emergency the door was still fully functional from the outside. I actually think having him confined to his room was the safer option in an emergency, then we know right where he is and don't need to worry that he ran to hide somewhere else in the house. raspberries on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823129 Thu, 17 May 2018 10:04:17 +0000 raspberries 2823129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I answered yes, but it's not technically locked - we have an older house and K's bedroom has crystal door knobs that are just really hard to open for little hands. He's used to it and just knocks or yells out if he needs us/has to pee in the night. As far as I know, he's never felt trapped in there. Honestly, I think the way you treat it will really determine how she feels about it - if you're just matter of fact and explain it to her (something along the lines of "We're going to keep the door shut from now on so we can all sleep better... but if you need us at any point or if you have to pee on the potty, just call for us and we'll come"), I think she's at the age where she'll understand you, even if she's not happy about it. You might have a few bumpy nights at the start where she's upset at bedtime or calling for you pretty frequently during the night, but she'll get the hang of it (hopefully before baby #2!) Sams Mom on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823093 Thu, 17 May 2018 08:44:40 +0000 Sams Mom 2823093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have a baby gate in his door frame, we can still pull the door to if we want, but it keeps him in and the cat out. Mrs D on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823089 Thu, 17 May 2018 08:41:16 +0000 Mrs D 2823089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We use the door monkey the first year DD1 was in a toddler bed. She was good about staying in her bed and not trying to come out (sleeping in Mommy & Daddys bed has nevr been a thing in our house), for me it was more about safety. Our stairs are not gate-friendly and DD would have to walk past them to go to the bathroom or our room. As @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: the door monkey is nice because it leaves the door cracked but secured at about a 1" crack. I also know that in a bind DD could rip the door open if need be...its not THAT secure. looch on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823088 Thu, 17 May 2018 08:41:16 +0000 looch 2823088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Kemma: same! josina on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823085 Thu, 17 May 2018 08:38:03 +0000 josina 2823085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We don't and DS ends up in our bed nightly. If we lock our door so he can't get in, he sits outside it and crys/screams which would wake everyone else up. I spent 3 nights while 3 months pregnant putting him back in bed each time until DH said to just let him sleep in our bed, and it's been that way since, usually from midnight/1:00 on. Hopefully eventually he'll just start sleeping through the night! Littlebit7 on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823075 Thu, 17 May 2018 08:06:08 +0000 Littlebit7 2823075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @lindseykaye: oh gosh that must have been traumatic for everyone (dog included). Glad your daughter is ok. How is she around dogs now? MACSUNSHINE on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823064 Thu, 17 May 2018 07:41:07 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2823064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I responded yes but currently no. We moved DS to a floor bed at 15 months and we had to find a way to let him cry it out. He is our first so it was not disruptive to other children. Since we moved we do not secure his door, we moved when he was about 23 months, he does get up multiple times but I subscribe to the screaming and banging at his age would be worse than the disruption of putting him back to bed (and I am 38 weeks pregnant and he only wants me to put him back to bed, still easier). We never used a door monkey as our old house was smaller and we would disrupt him when we went to bed but that is a good option. Whatever is best for everyone at the time! lindseykaye on "Do you lock or child proof your toddlers bedroom door at night?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-lock-or-child-proof-your-toddlers-bedroom-door-at-night#post-2823062 Thu, 17 May 2018 07:39:09 +0000 lindseykaye 2823062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We had done this but for a very different reason. Our daughter came out of her room in the morning a couple days after transitioning from her crib to toddler bed and surprised our family dog which resulted in a very traumatic bite, hospital visit, and plastic surgery. After that, we locked her door from the outside each night (there was already one there from the house being a rental prior to us purchasing it that we never took off). She understood why, and she simply called for us or knocked on her door to tell us she needed something or wanted to get up/out. Even after potty training, she just knocked and we went to get her if she needed the bathroom. We have a smaller home so distance/hearing her/time are not an issue. Locking her door was never used in conjunction with a timeout, or in any form of punishment. It's never been a negative association for her. Our dog has since passed, and we began leaving her door unlocked. She only recently noticed this and most of the time just continues to shout for us if she needs us. It's actually been a nice surprise that she lets herself out quietly in the morning some days, uses the bathroom, chills on the couch, and plays quietly for a bit before coming to wake us up.