Dumping everything out

amother

OP ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 12:07 am

And he's getting better at it, and less interested in putting things back.

I had child locks on dangerous things but do I need to start installing locks on my underwear drawer too? Every dresser and closet in the entire house? I have a hard enough time getting the laundry put away in the first place, I can't keep doing it over and over. Groceries. Toys. I can't function anymore! I can't keep literally everything out of his reach!

amother

Ultramarine

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 12:18 am

That's why there are refrigerates locks
Hook and eye goes nicely on closets including sliding doors
There are knob locks that stop toddlers from opening up doors
Keep looking there are every type of lock you can think of to stop toddlers fro mgetting into a room or drawer

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 12:52 am

So you're saying you literally have every single thing in your house locked down? Every dresser drawer? You unlock every single thing you ever need to take out or put away? You live like this for years?!!

amother

Catmint

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 12:54 am

amother OP wrote:

I keep bedroom doors locks & most of the rest of the closets locked as well or have child proof doorknobs.
The cabinets that are not locked, I don't mind them getting unpacked.

ray family

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 12:57 am

Some kids are dumpers and tearers ( rip books etc) unfortunately with those kids, for your own sanity it’s better to lock things up.
These kids are different than the regular kids who like to dump but will also listen when it’s clean up time.
I know. I’ve had both

amother

Daffodil

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 1:15 am

https://www.kohls.com/product/.....t.jsp

We use these for cabinets and drawers. I don’t childproof bedrooms and bathrooms except the toddler room. I put these on the doorknobs and doors stay closed

https://www.evenflo.com/produc.....overs

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 1:28 am

So I do keep room doors closed mostly but the problem is the room I'm in, especially my room and the kitchen. I need to do things there and he needs to be there with me for supervision.

I have a similar type of cabinet lock to the one linked above and it's pretty bad because he can open the cabinet just enough to get his fingers stuck. So there's less dumping but much sadness.

My wardrobe doors are full height and don't really have knobs, and I keep everything in there so having to lock and unlock will be a real pain. But the last couple of days have been more and more intense with pulling things out so I'm ready to try drastic measures.

Makes sense about different personalities because this is not my first child but it's been a long time since the first one so I thought maybe I just forgot how it works. But truthfully this baby is just extra enthusiastic about everything. I think my first kid was pretty lively and engaged but I don't remember this vigorousness in tearing everything apart. And when this boy sets his mind on something there's no stopping him. I don't know what career he's headed for but I would not want to be the competition. Confused

amother

DarkRed

Tue, Oct 22 2024, 1:47 am

Is he redirectable? When some of my kids were dumpers I assigned a certain drawer in the kitchen to them and any time they tried to play with the pots or the cutlery or whatever I sent them back to that drawer. (I kept plastic cookie cutters and unbreakable trays and some other things in there)

Alternatively you can find him a "yes zone" and try to keep him there, maybe a room where there isn't anything much to dump. That way you can close/lock other doors so you don't have to worry about everything else.

It's crazymaking! Hope this stage passes soon.