Unfortunately, the psychological effects and behavioral outcomes of locking a child in their room makes the practice a terrible idea. “It's not okay to lock kids in their room,” says Lynelle Schneeberg, Psy. D., a clinical psychologist, Yale educator, and Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
That's why it might be tempting to lock a toddler into their bedroom when they transition to a big kid bed. Unfortunately, it's a bad idea. “It's not OK to lock kids in their rooms,” says Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg, a licensed clinical psychologist, Yale educator, and Fellow of American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Keeping bedroom doors closed at night provides more protection in case of a house fire. That's right; it's actually safer for you and your entire family to keep your bedroom doors closed at night.
A locked bedroom door provides you privacy and allows you to take the time to unwind and relax at the end of a long day, but it's really up to you to decide what's best based on your family's needs and your kids' personalities.
Assuming that they are feeling okay, calmly but firmly tell them that they're not allowed out of their room until morning. Walk them back to bed, say goodnight, give them a quick kiss, and let them know that there will be a consequence if they leave their room again.
Locking a child in a room is an act of desperation that causes fear, anxiety, social isolation and disdain for school and school authorities. It is neither effective nor humane. Instead of relying on seclusion, schools should use effective interventions that help children with behavioral health needs.
But none of those supersede the most important reason for closing your bedroom door at night: Surviving a house fire. It's actually one of the key fire safety tips you need to know. Closing your door may not seem like a big deal. But in the event of a house fire, it could give you more time to escape the flames.
Locking in a dark room
Isolating your child might seem like a simple punishment without hurting him physically. But it wrecks the child emotionally. This sets out the message that I am not loved or needed anymore, explains Dr Sonar.
It also significantly keeps carbon monoxide levels down. By limiting a fire's ability to spread, closing your bedroom door at night also gives you more time to react when the smoke alarm goes off. And these days, every second counts.
According to sex educator and therapist, Shirley Zussman, the answer's pretty simple: Lock your doors. Zussman advises, "In my opinion, parents' bedroom doors should always be closed, not just for lovemaking. Even at an early age, children can be taught to respect privacy and to knock before entering a room."
Co-sleeping is not recommended, but a 7-year-old child sleeping with parents is considered normal in many families and cultures. The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against co-sleeping at any age, especially if the infant is younger than four months.
If you have reasons not to trust your teen with more privacy, a door lock may not be the right option for your family. However, if your child hasn't given you any reasons not to trust them, you may want to consider giving them this added degree of privacy.
Turn on a night-light if this makes your child feel more comfortable. Before you leave the bedroom, you can say that you want your child to stay quietly in bed – for example, 'It's time to rest quietly in bed'. You can also say, 'I'll come back and check on you once you're quiet'.
What time should a 2-year-old go to bed? A two-year-old should ideally get around 11 to 14 hours of sleep. At this age, your two-year-old might still be taking one nap a day at this age, so depending on what time your child takes a nap, the ideal bedtime would be around 6 pm-7:30 pm.
It's better for kids to sleep in total darkness as it promotes melatonin production in their bodies, which helps in falling and staying asleep. However, if your kid is afraid of the dark, you can used a red-based nightlight.
A warm-toned night light is a great fix to ensure children don't feel scared throughout the night. It's also important to keep clutter to a minimum: a pile of clothes may not look too scary during the day but can transform into something much more sinister under the veil of darkness.
Light is stimulating to your baby's brain, while darkness promotes sleep. That means light is perfect for awake time, but darkness is best for nights and naps.
According to a Nationwide Insurance study, 25% of people always leave the front door unlocked, and many lock the door only at night. But most burglaries happen between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., right when most of us are at work, out running errands, or picking up the kids from school.
Therefore, when exiting a room and moving toward safety, make sure to close doors behind you. A closed door can also reduce a fire by 900 degrees. That's why the FSRI always recommends sleeping with your bedroom door closed.
Some people have a superstition that sleeping with your feet facing the door is bad for your health because dead bodies are taken out of a room feet first. Some people also have a superstitious fear of being dragged out feet first by ghosts and spirits.
Although some parents see benefits to co-sleeping with their child, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend it. It's much safer for your infant or toddler to sleep alone in their own bed.
A toddler waking up at night is common and could be caused by many reasons. Rapid body changes, teething, routine changes, development of fears, or daytime naps could be some causes. To put your child's sleeping schedule back on track, identify the cause and try to resolve it.
The Consequences of Locking Children In Their Rooms
Your child may feel frightened, isolated, and disempowered. They will not learn responsibility or that actions have consequences. Your child may develop anxiety around sleep due to being locked in their room, could become hypervigilant to escape, or have nightmares.