Why We Put A Lock On Our Three-Year-Old's Door... And Feel Great About It

"We recently started locking our son's door from the outside after lights out. 

We felt guilty about it for a night, because we felt like we were locking him in prison.

But the truth is, it’s not like he was able to leave his room at will before he knew how to open the door, or when he was stuck in a crib. So this really isn't any different.

And a psychologist friend told us that it was actually bad for our son to keep rewarding his nightly “escapes” from his room with attention. It was giving attention to the very behavior we wanted to get rid of.

We also learned that if there is ever a fire, the safest place for a child to be is actually locked in his own room, where his parents, or god forbid the fire fighters, can find him. If we didn’t know where he was, that would be terrifying.

Amazingly, after just the first night with the lock on his door, he started sleeping so much better. He falls asleep quickly at night, doesn’t wake up all night, and wakes up happy in the morning. We leave some dry Cheerios and a cup of water in his room and he will cheerfully look at books until we come get him. 

I can't believe we ever worried about traumatizing him with a lock on his door. He is so much better rested now, and we are all happier as a result." 

-- recent sleep consult (who put the lock on her son's door before her sleep consultation)

Are you struggling with a small Houdini who escapes from her room every night? Is everyone in your family feeling tired? 

There's hope for you, whether you choose to use a lock or not. (We can talk through the pros and cons of each option.) 

Schedule a free sleep consultation today and let's get your family the sleep you deserve in two weeks or less, guaranteed.