Parenting Toddlers (1-3) Support Group

There is cutting the door in half just about the knob. That way you can still get in but lock the door and it's harder to climb out. However, it gets so expensive;)

We used a gate. If he's a climber, use two. Generally that's enough to stop them. We don't gate our son anymore as he needs to get to the potty but we also now can have a gate at the top of the stairs.

Can you attach a bell or something to the top so you know when he's up or do you hear him when he gets out of bed? What he needs to learn/understand that it's night time and you stay in bed unless you have to go to the potty etc.

Other than that, I'm not sure what else you can do. It surely sounds like you have your hands FULL! Good luck.

I agree with Smileyfish... I would put a gate on. I know this is going to sound awful, but you can get higher gates in a pet store (the ones they make for big dogs) so your little one can't climb over. At this point it is a matter of his safety. And you can explain it to him as such. The rule in the house is that everyone sleeps and stays in their own bed. Until he can show you can he can do that, you have to put a gate up in his room so that he can't get out at night and hurt himself. Be prepared for a few nights of screaming. But the great thing about the gate is that you don't have to lock him in (which would scare me too) and you can give him a chance. Leave the gate opened after a while and as long as he stays in his room the gate can stay opened.... if he gets out, the gate stays closed.

And I would also suggest as far as the front door goes, definitely keep that door bolted and put in a higher lock if he can reach it. That is frightening that he might have gotten out!

Sleepwalking Information
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a medical site. You should always discuss medical matters with your doctor.
Somnambulism
Sleep walking is one of a group of sleep disorders known technically as "partial-arousal parasomnias". It has been estimated that over 10% of people will experience at least one episode of sleepwalking during their lives.

Sleep walking usually occurs not during normal dreaming but during the deepest NREM sleep. It is sometimes associated with night terrors which also occur at this stage of the sleep cycle.

Children sleepwalk more often than adults, possibly because they spend more of the night in deep NREM sleep. They usually grow out of it. However if sleepwalking begins in adult life then the disorder is likely to remain.

Sleepwalkers are usually unaware of their activity the next morning. They may get up during the night, walk around then either return to bed or go to sleep somewhere else and retain no memory of their activities. There have even been reported cases of sleep walkers dressing and eating!

Sleep walking per se is not dangerous unless indicative of a medical condition, however the unaware sleepwalker could endanger themselves and/or others.

What Causes Sleepwalking?
Why do some people walk in their sleep? There are many possible reasons.

Sleep walking is a sleep disorder, by definition a disturbance of the normal sleep cycle. As such it can be exacerbated by anything that disturbs a good night's sleep - stress, fatigue, lifestyle factors, etc.

Another possible cause of sleepwalking and/or self mutilation done while in deep NREM sleep is emotional and/or child sexual abuse. Forty percent of all children studies who suffered from emotional and/or sexual abuse as children were pronounced sleepwalkers. That is three times the national average.

That said, some people are more susceptible to sleep walking episodes than others. Recent research (1) suggests a genetic component to this increased susceptibility.

Your first course of action should be to consult your doctor or a qualified sleep therapist for diagnosis and to see if treatment is indicated.

Is It Dangerous to Wake a Sleepwalker?
Despite urban myth, it seems that it's not normally dangerous to wake a sleep walker so long as you do so carefully - waking them, for example, on the stairs would be asking for trouble.

Waking a sleepwalker can be surprisingly difficult. They usually won't won't notice you or hear what you say, there's no point talking to them. If you do manage to wake them they will probably be confused, occasionally hysterical, and usually unhappy at being woken up.

So waking a sleepwalker is probably not dangerous in itself but inadvisable.

The best way of dealing with a sleepwalker is often simply to gently guide them with a soft touch to prevent them from moving into situations that might cause harm. If possible, gradually maneuver the sleepwalker back towards the bed.

Can Sleepwalking be Cured?
If you are prone to sleepwalking then there appears to be no simple cure. However incidence of sleepwalking can be reduced by taking the usual measures to get a good night's sleep.

Instead of trying to prevent sleepwalking, reaction to the syndrome is often focused on preventing the walker coming to any serious harm. If you or your partner regularly walk in your sleep then ensure that things in the home are left tidy, dangerous knives etc are locked away and that potential causes of accidents are minimized.

In particular you might consider putting the sleepwalker's bedroom on the ground floor and/or locking the windows. Above all else, ensure that all exits from the home are locked and the keys placed so that they will not be easily accessible to the sleepwalker but will still be available quickly in the event of a fire or other emergency. Do not lock someone in a room on their own, in case of fire.

If a person's sleep walking looks like it might endanger health then seek professional advice immediately.

By your other post about your son's violent behavior, I took the time to read your profile. The warning sirens are going off and the lights are flashing red.

I'd hate to ask such personal questions, but they might be what is causing your son's behavior. If left unchecked, he can get a lot worse in upcoming years. I watched my stepbrother go through the same thing and I'd hate to see the past repeat itself.

Had he witnessed or endured any abuse from your ex? What extent of influence did your ex have on him? He is displaying unusual and unhealthy behavior. Have you been in to see a child therapist?

It might be a good idea. A good therapist can undo some of the bad habits that your son picked up as well as help your son find an outlet for the anger that is built up inside of him. I'm not sure if its from the divorce or if he suffered from abuse, but it can be caused by either (or a combination of both). Its clearly having an effect on him. Just something to consider.

You are a very strong woman and we are behind you 100% here at DS. If you ever need to talk, feel free to message me anytime.

((hugs))