Running away, opening gates

[middlecm]

Hi
Does anyone have any good ideas on how to stop my toddler (21months) from running away from me when we are out. He thinks it is a great game and has got into a few dangerous situations lately. When he is running away he will actually stop to wave to me then continue running (cheeky monkey). I was thinking of the game "freeze" to play with him to get him to stop when called, do you think he is old enough to understand the concept of the game.

When we are out, if he is not in the pram (double pram as I also have a 4 month old) I have him on a walking harness. He has always been great on the walking harness until lately if he doesnt want to go some where will just lay down (on the footpath, road or in the shop). Thinks this is a great laugh as well. Reminds me of a horse I use to own that did the same!!!

The last problem I have is with him opening gates, windows, doors etc to 'escape'. So far he has opened a child proof gate at a friends and after 5 frantic minutes of searching found him at a nearby park. Has climbed out our open front window and was walking down the street. And the lastest was when he opened the child proof gate at playgroup and let all the kids out into the carpark. Any ideas on how to stop this happening, now I take a chain/rope with me to secure gates when out.

Is anyone else living with a 'houdini' child? :rolleyes:

Look forward to hearing your suggestions, as Im running out.
Christine
Callum (21mths) and Aaron (4mths)

[bronny-jane]

:eek: how scary.

my dd's can get out of anything too.

when were walking, i ask dd 1 if she can help me push the pram, she loves it, and if their good they get a treat:D

as for gates, we have a dog lead tied around our front gate, you have to lift it over the wood to get out, wont be long till they do though.

dd1 actually used to slide under it:eek:

[becca74]

Wow, sounds like all my boys.....we used to have to bolt lock our front door at night for my eldest, because he worked out how to get a chair and undo the chain and latch - all when he was 2 - one Saturday morning we heard him banging and shouting at our next door neighbours door at 6am :eek:

It is a totaly nightmare - and mostly I now just make sure they are in a stroller till about age 3 1/2 as the minute they are set free, it is like that image from black beauty, where you hear that music as the horse bolts away across the field......

Now when I see parents with a bigger kid in a stroller, I never think to myself, gee isnt that kid a bit too old - I immediately think, I bet that kid would run off if he wasnt in that thing.....

With my current 2 year old, I actually have had to twist the straps on his stroller to make them even shorter than they are designed to be, as he just would slip right out otherwise.....he's also still in the cot, and I have no intention of moving him out of it yet.....I just know he would run-a-muck of a morning if he was in a bed where he could get out, like his oldest brother did (I lived and learned;) )

Dont know what the solution could be, as my only solution has been more restraints.....all I know is that they do eventually grow out of it.....

[MissBrightside]

I bought a wrist strap for my older son when I had my younger one in the pram, but I never had to use it. Alot of people think this is degrading I think, but at least you know where they are! Its still around here somewhere, so if you like the idea its yours if you want it.
Dont have many other suggestions about the gates and windows etc though! Scary :eek: ! You would probably already have all the safety locks and stuff so its a tricky one.

[chandapie]

Hi there. I'm new here. I know this is an old thread, but I have the same problem with my child. I found this site by doing a google search of 'how do I stop my toddler from running away', LOL. Can you please tell me if the behavior ever passed? My child will be 3 in 5 weeks and I don't know how much longer I can handle this. We would like to try for another child, but I can't imagine having a newborn and a 'runner'. I'm just praying that there is hope! Thank you so much.:fingerscrossed:

Oops, I guess I should add that we've been using a harness since around 2 years old. We can't go anywhere without it..or he takes off. I'm dying to get rid of this thing!