HELP!

Our girls started coming to our bedroom when they were around 16 months. Well we put the baby gate up, then started shutting their bedroom door at night so they would stay there. It's worked for over a year now.. For about 6 months they've known how to open doors. They'd open theirs in the morning when they woke up.

Well now they open it in the middle of the night and they're coming to sleep with us again! We try putting them back to their own beds, but then they scream and fuss and will wake the other up (they share a room) or worse, wake their little brother in the next room over...

So we thought we were getting smart by putting one of those door safety things on the inside so they couldn't open their door... They got smarter: the last 2 nights they've somehow STILL gotten out of their room, despite us making sure the door is shut and latched tight.

I'm considering putting the baby gate back up at their door, but I know that will just cause screaming/fussing if they are trying to get up, and the whole house will be awake, and grumpy, at 2 in the morning..


Any ideas??

 

Let the whole house be grumpy for a few days. They'll eventually figure out that you expect them to stay in their room. Put a loud fan or something in the boy's room and let them figure it out.

 

I agree, and I hope it's not as torturous as you are anticipating. A couple of rough nights of sleep is better than enduring this for (possibly) years.

 

I also agree with Meredith. It will be worth it in the end!

 

I have a child safety door lock on my son's room. He's never been able to open it. Maybe there's a different kind you can try that will work better. Then explain before bed how they need to stay in their room and that the door will be locked to keep them safe.

 

I have those knobs on the inside of the door and luckily they haven't figured it out. Another option is rewarding them for staying in their room (make a chart in combination with stickers, m&m's or whatever works). That way you concentrate on the good behaviour, not the bad. I agree ... bite the bullet, stick to your guns ... it will be worth it in the long run!

 

I'd just do the "supernanny" way and just keep on putting htem back in their beds and not talking to them. It will be hard and you will have a rough few nights I'm sure but I bet they will get the hang of it after a few days.

Good Luck!!

 

I agree with everyone else that you just need to put up with the screaming and fussing for a few days and they will eventually figured it out. My boys figured out how to open the door with the safety knob so I switched the doorknob to one with a lock that is on the outside. At night I put them to bed and lock the door. At first they would wake up and beat on the door and scream and cry. But as a mother you know when the cry is for something that needs to be checked and when they are just wanting out. So I ignored it. Now, they don't cry or try to open the door anymore, even on days when I've forgotten to lock it. I know it sounds a little harsh, but it worked for me.

 

I was going to recommend the Supernanny way, too! I, also, agree with putting a fan in your sons room. We use a box fan in each of our kids rooms (on the highest setting). When that fan is on, you can't hear a thing inside the room.