help, my toddler can open the door to outside?

Question

We have a deadbolt she can't reach, but nothing stops my other kids from going out the door and leaving it unbolted. We have one of those lever type handles, so I'm not sure they make covers for them.

Do you have any ideas? Is there some product for this? She's 15 months and has no idea what she's getting into.

Answer 1

They do make a safety cover for a lever-style door handles.



Here is a link to the Toys R Us page:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2792265&CAWELAID=107505438&pla=plab&cagpspn=pla



Or, search for "Safety 1st Lever Handle Lock" to find other retailers.



You can also disassemble the door handle and reinstall it upside down. It isn't hard to do. This requires that the opener lift UP on the door handle and pull, rather than pulling down. Most children your daughter's age lack the strength and height to do it, and it will buy you about 6-12 more months to teach her about the door!

Answer 2

At 15 months you can start teaching her that she cannot go out the door without first asking a parent. That said, she is only 15 months and you cannot completely rely on her ability to manage her own behaviour.



Some suggestions:



- Small gate before the door would make sure she couldn't reach the door while allowing your family to step over it.

- Put a brightly coloured sign beside the bolt that says "LOCK THE BOLT FOR (insert child's name)". That way your family will have a visual reminder to lock the door and shouldn't forget. Also, tell your other children how very important it is to lock the door.

- You can purchase small plastic pegs and latches that could be used to keep the door shut.

- If this is becoming a serious issue, you can also purchase small alarms that go off when the door is opened. It simply attaches to the door and door frame.



Finally, take the mystery out of the door. She is at an age where she wants to explore everything. Don't go overboard on the door. Let her explore it, see what it is, where it goes. In otherwords, let it become boring for her. Afterwards, simply redirect to another activity rather than drawing too much attention to the door.

Answer 3

There are a lot of really great answers here. We've used the baby gates also, and as someone else pointed out, they do make safety covers for lever handled doors. Another idea is getting a child safety lock that you install at the top of the door frame. You just flip it over and it slides down to lock so the door won't open.

Answer 4

That may be a crimson flag to me becuase it suggests he doesn't have the security recognition that he will have to at that age. I know he is handiest 18 mos, however he must be afraid to leave you. My son with autism did the identical factor, and we really had to train him security consciousness. How is he when you find yourself in crowds? Is he difficult to handle and walking off? There are doors that lock in the back of you, probably valued at a are trying? Additionally there are these buzzers the place one part sticks to the door and the opposite to the door jam, that approach every time the door opens you hear a beep. Keep an eye on all different features of his progress although.

Answer 5

Change it to a knob as opposed to a lever. They also make child safety things for lever type doors.

Answer 6

Put one of those toddler gates across the door. The older kids can still open the door and step over the toddler gate to get out, but she won't be able to get over it. Good luck !

Answer 7

If your 15 mo. old is getting outside without you knowing about it, then she can potentially get into a lot of other trouble you don't know about.



You need to stop whatever it is you're doing and keep a hawk's eye on her and teach her every step of the way.

Answer 8

You need to teach her. You don't go outside unless you ask. You do not open doors to the outside. She is young but will learn.