My second heart attack.(not really) How can we get him to stop?!

[catzeye21138]

So my newphew and my sister live with us and yesterday we suddenly realized we didn't know where Cyan was. The nephew. We looked all over, and my mom found him infront of one house down the street with a lady waiting with him, who looked really worried. The lady looked like a mom.

He is almost exactly 2.

In the morning I watch him while my family all works. Watching him is my job. And I wasn't quite awake yet when everyone left and I BARELY heard the front door being knocked on. I'm not even sure how long he was knocking because I was only semi-concious. Tada, there was Cyan. He told me he found him in his backyard. I'm not sure where they guy lived, but I just about had a heart attack because, I DID NOT KNOW HE WAS EVEN AWAKE. He could have been way down the street! All Cyan had on was a diaper and a t-shirt, and this is the west coat, it isn't warm here until august.

Look at that, he just opened the back door, AGAIN. I think maybe he is pushing on the screen door until it opens.

How can I stop him?! Even with everyone home, he snuck away! I think maybe he can unlock the dead bolt... Should we put little anti-baby door knob handles on the door? The only problem with those is if he grabs them just right, he can turn the handle.

Has something similar happened to anyone else? What if someone grabbed him! Or he ran in the street?!

Sorry for the long post! Any feedback is wonderful! I pretty much have to have him on an invisable eye-leash right now.

[Jane_G]

Two year olds can sure be a handful. The key is you HAVE to keep your eyes on him at all times. Whatever room he's in, you are also in. If he leaves that room you have to follow him. He is old enough by far to understand the word "no". If he reaches for anything he's not supposed to (like the door knob), say a firm NO. He might cry, whine or say "no" back to you, but hold firm. It is for his own safety.

I wonder why no one in your family told you they were leaving if you were in charge of watching him. What does his mother say about all this? Does she know he keeps on leaving the house?

Try and play some games with him or draw with crayons. If you keep him occupied he might stray less often. Good luck.

[cavyinhawaii]

I used to put baby gates everywhere to keep containment to a certian area. I also put windchimes on the outside doorknob on all doors going outside. I can always hear when a door opens. I still use the chimes and my kiddo is 10.

[gooberific]

My son figured out the door knob covers before the age of 2. Because I'm much slower than he is, my husband installed a hook/chain type thing near the tops of each of the doors where he needs complete supervision (like our bedroom and the bathroom), as well as using the chains on the front and back doors. He can get those open, but he needs to drag a chair, and that makes a lot of noise.

Back when we lived in Missouri, I would put the big baby gate across the front porch so he couldn't get down the stairs, but if he got out he wasn't going to get off the porch by himself. Of course, the mail carriers hated it, but I felt better. That was before he really figured out doors, though, so it was so rare but happened more often when I had the screen door open so we could get air flow.

[lovelola]

Is it possible that you can put some sort of deadbolt lock on your doors that is high enough that he cannot reach it? Also baby gates are great, I have a 14 month old nephew who is very active now that he can get around by himself and his mom puts up baby gates to keep him from getting into places he shouldn't be. Wind chimes sound good but maybe a loud bell would be better?

[catzeye21138]

The chain lock idea sounds good. He can climb over baby gates. But he's living w/ his mom in their own apartment now. This was a temporary problem.

[MissGinger]

My mom had this when i was little.
WIRELESS DOOR ALARM - Magnetic Door/Window Alarm at MyPreciousKid.com

[Angelgal]

Hm well I'm not a mother but I do a lot of babysitting and its mostly younger children (4 and under) so I know how much of a handful things can get.
I'm babysitting my little cousin in a couple days and he just went into the "NO! -trantrum-" stage ... FUN!

I was going to suggest those plastic door knobs that you put on the doors.
Makes it very difficult for someone that sized to get ahold of and turn it just right to open the door. Um I'll see where my aunt got her's ... my 4 year old little cousin can use large words properly in a sentence but cannot quite figure out these door things .

Other then that, as it was suggested try putting a dead bolt or a chain further up on the door to where he cannot get at them, even if he was to drag a chair but still low enough that you can reach it. I also agree that he is old enough to understand "No" but I suggest after you tell him "No" try to distract him onto something else.

They need to be watched every second, especially at that age. When they leave the room, you need to fallow them and keep a close watch. I think maybe better communication through the family might be good? Like no one leaving until your up to keep an eye on the little guy. At least that's if I read things right (just got off work, still a little brain washed ).

Baby gates might work, for at least a short period. I know my little cousin tried to start climbing them at 3 and I remember I use to be oh so good at that as a small child. They might work for a short period but if he's determined enough he may just find a way. It still shocks me the amount of determination some of these little ones have to go somewhere.

[PIGGYMAMMA495]

I Can imagine how mad, and scared you were all in one. My son who is 3 was recently diagnosed with Assbergers syndrome a form of Autism. I spelled that wrong by the way. The one day I got done changing his diaper which is all he likes to wear. SOrry I mean big boy pull-up. So I figured it's unselfish of me to go pee myself. I was gone for 2 seconds max. Turned around and he was gone. MY heart sunk and I had palpatations. So I knew a half naked boy who was diagnosed with my worst fear was out god knows where.
Turns out that a guy who lives in town stopped him, and asked Hi whats your name? He replied My name is Dillon and Im from !!!!!!, PA so the guy asked him what color is your house just to see if he asked. Dillon told the guy that he don't want to go home, he's going to grammys store for candy cuz mommy has to pee.
The guy couldnt help but laugh. So I then seen the man holding Dill's hand on top of the hill.
Oh I was balling, and didnt know whether to scream at him, yell at the wierdo who's holding my kids hand or just fall over and die. LOL
But the guy said right away dont yell and calm down before I call a ambulance for you...He explained everything and I thanked him and sent him a fruitbasket and flowers and a guardian angel lapel pin.
I must say you never think a child will take off until it happens. He apologized to me and told me that he just wanted some chocolate thats it. I laughed and chuckled but oh I was mad.
We have safety gates at every entrance to any room. We also have those alarms that go onto the door and scream loudly. They work, and have prevented alot of new escape trys. I also suggest that if you have a mud room connected to any door or any screened in porches you put a latch lock on the outside screen doors. I got ones that you have a little slide that goes over the actual latch and holds it in place so a child can't unhook it with a object that can pop it. Like a broom handle. Trust me my daughter tried it when she was impatient. YOu actually have to slide the post over to get the hook and eye latch open.
So you can never be to over the top. Because you never know.
Im so sorry this has happened to you. And I know what your going thru.
I can also recommend that you get a child ID card printed up just in case. My insurance company does ones. It looks just like a drivers Liscense that has their photo and description, and health problems, med and regualar allergies.
It will help if that would ever happen again.
There is also a new device that is on TV. Its a tracking device. You put a little bracelet or a clip on their belt loop if it's a boy. Theres tons of different neat options for boys and girls, example: barrets, clippies, hair ties, shoe lace clips, belt clips. and of course bracelents. Then the mother or parent has a little devicelike a cell phone. Then if the child ever is out of reach, you press the locator and it sends a beep like a metal detector, till you get close to your child. It works my cousin out of state has one. Her child is fully autstic and is really really active and a good escape artist. This has helped quite a few times. Oh ya in the commercial it says USE DURACELL BATTERIES. LOL
THere is alot of great things you can use. In my eyes you can never be tooo cautious. Im nuts with the piggies and now Im psycho about my son getting out. I think the diagnosis has made him act out more than before he was diagnosed. Oh lord I need a miracle. ANy other advise on good security measures is apperciated.
THANKS EVERYONE