in the last 3 weeks my son has decided to try to get out of the house every chance he gets.I have a deadbolt on the front door which can only be opened by key, but if someone leaves it unlocked he goes outside alone and runs down the street and if a car goes by he starts chasing it. I have spanked him, yelled at him, told him no but he doesnt get it. Today my uncle was babysitting for me and when I got home my neighbor came screaming at me that my son could have been hurt or worse because he was out wondering the streets. Please any suggestions on how to make him understand??
2007-02-28 04:50:50 · 22 answers · asked by krazyyybiotchh! 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
You can get one of those alarms that beeps when the door is opened. it's loud and obnoxious and you can't miss hearing it when it is set off.
also, stop setting the situation up. always keep him in a secured area. put more baby gates up to stop his access to more areas that give him what is apparently way too much freedom to leave your sight.
when my kids were toddlers, they spent a lot of time in their bedroom, where they were safely kept in with baby gates. there, they were able to play with each other and their toys, with nothing to injure them.
Any time they spent outside of the playroom, was spent in strict supervision, no exceptions; and we didn't even live near a busy street.
The cardinal rule of parenting has never changed:
"Safety 1st"
and safety only happens with precaution and supervision.
2007-02-28 05:04:05 · answer #1 · answered by smartkid37138 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
YOu CANT make a 21month old understand that running in the street is serious. You can talk to them and spank them but they just dont always think this kind of thing through. They have their own little minds. I would suggest calling your Dr. and having this discussion with the child's Dr. They should be able to help you find some great solutions. In the meantime, make sure that deadbolt is locked at all times and if you have to, post a BIG note on the door to remind anyone at your house. Or they do make these little door alarms that you can put on your front door and makes a loud sound whenever opened. Might scare him next time he trys to open the door.
2007-02-28 04:57:55 · answer #2 · answered by Mum to 2 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately kids don't understand the road or cars until they are older. My pediatrician told me at my 3 year olds last appointment that children into elementary school should not be expected to understand and stay safe on their own. You will have to repeat yourself numerous times. I have a toddler lock on all outside doors to keep my 1 and 3 year olds in.
There have been studies on young children responding to their mother's fear. They put crawlers on a see through table and the babies that saw a look of fear on the mother's face didn't cross, usually. If you can let him see that you are scared by him doing this he may get the point. I think screaming your head off will just be confusing.
You may want to start a red light green light or a freeze game so that you can get him to stop when he does break out. Jack's Big Music show has a fun "Dance....Freeze" skit that may help.
My daughter who is 16 months olds did this a couple of weeks ago. I've had nightmares ever since. You aren't alone.
2007-02-28 05:13:35 · answer #3 · answered by Heather S 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A 21 month old has no concept of death or harm to him. YOU are responsible for him. At that age you can't make him understand and yelling certainly isn't going to help. I suggest gates at the door, where are you when he is opening doors and going outside? Are you not in the room with him? Do you not hear the door open. You should never leave a child unattended for even a few seconds. Especially not at that age. My 20 month old is in every room with me, hard, yes, but I am his mother and it is my responsiblity. You need to use gates and keep him with you at ALL times and anyone who babysits needs to have these same rules. Spanking might work, but not if you dont' do it every time, you need to be consitent. Children that age don't have a vocabulary to understand things. so you need to be the one in charge.
2007-02-28 04:57:22 · answer #4 · answered by Barbara C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's 1 1/2, he won't understand that its dangerous. You have to take more measures to keep him from getting out. Go to Walmart and get the door alarms that sound when the magnets separate, they're about 4 for $10, also get the door handle covers that make it so he can't turn the handle. He does not have any impulse control at 1 1/2 so you HAVE to make it impossible for him to escape until he is old enough to understand (and that will take years).
2007-02-28 04:58:00 · answer #5 · answered by Heather Y 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can buy those door alarms that just stick to the tops of the doors. I have them on both the front and back door and all the windows of my house. Mainly because when my youngest son was 2, he would get up before me and his daddy, go unlock the back door, and go outside. Scared the life out of me. (We too live close to a busy street). So, I bought those alarms. The next time that he done it, the alarm went off and scared him. It only took that one time to make him stop. I hope that this helps and I pray that your baby stays safe!!
2007-02-28 05:21:06 · answer #6 · answered by Crystal 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Firstly you never smack a child for anything. At 21months he is hardly a man of the world is he? He is learning daily until his brain matures at the age of 25....yes that is when the brain has stopped growing. You do not leave a 21mth old on their own for seconds never mind minutes. You are his parent/mentor/childminder everything to him. Put some baby gates on each door
2007-02-28 05:00:29 · answer #7 · answered by Angelfish 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Fit a bolt across the top of the door. Who ever is at home with your son MUST remember to close it though.
Problem solved.
If you don't want to do that, get one of those door alarms that go off whenever the door is opened. It will alert you faster, (I know how sneaky and quiet children are, so you don't always notice what they are up to) so you can get to him quicker.
2007-02-28 04:58:07 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Pamela♥ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Get an alarm system put in and keep it on at all times (except for when you need to open the door, of course). When he opens the door, the alarm will go off and scare him. He won't open the door anymore.
2007-02-28 05:24:12 · answer #9 · answered by polarbear 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
YOU CAN'T MAKE A CHILD THAT AGE UNDERSTAND. He is still a baby. It is 100% on the adult in charge to ensure that he is safe. You can't lay the resonsibility for his safety on him, he's a baby. It's YOUR JOB. It is unacceptable to have the door unlocked at any time. I'm not saying not to reinforce it with the baby--I would still spank him good, and make sure he knows he's done something wrong, but at his age YOU MUST MAKE SURE HE'S SAFE. You CAN'T trust HIM.
2007-02-28 05:13:25 · answer #10 · answered by toomanycommercials 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋