Grandkids are locked in their bedrooms

My SiL did this with my neice, just for 'go to sleep' time. Once she was asleep the door was unlocked. It was done for nap time and bedtime. My neice was a very difficult child. If the door hadn't been locked, she would never have gone to sleep.

My DGS had a gate on his bedroom door for the same reason. Also because he would have (and did pre-gate) got up and wandered around the house. Given that he could walk and climb out of his cot from 9 months, it was too dangerous to consider.

I'm so glad this has been highlighted.

My gchild, one in particular was locked in the bedroom with a bolt on the outside of the door.

Just to save the parents being disturbed by the child in the night.

I was shocked that someone could even think this was a good solution to the problem.

It fills me with horror, too.

I don't know how you would approach this with your DD, Charlotte. They must be very young if they are still needing a day-time nap; perhaps you could start by discussing the fire dangers etc with her? Asking if they still need day-time naps or offer to buy a stairgate for the top of the stairs if they aren't able to negotiate stairs yet?

I taught mine to negotiate stairs from a very early age as at least one of them climbed out of the cot and so in the end I left the cot side down.

What exactly does 'locking' mean in this case? When my GC were small, they mostly slept all night but could wake very early. GS went through a sleep walking phase, and our house has a long corridor and landing upstairs, and a steep curving staircase. We fitted a cabin hook at the top of each bedroom door, and explained to the children it was to keep them safe if they did have a 'sleepy wander', and they knew that if they called out one of us would be there in an instant. It gave us peace of mind and didn't worry them in the least - I really can't see how this could become a fire hazard, as the hook could be flicked off in a split second while opening the door, and how long does it take to turn a key? The reasons might be innocent - is this post a wind up?

Charlotte have you said anything to your daughter about it, if so what? And what was her reply?
I don't think you can pussyfoot around the issue so you've got to have that awkward conversation NOW.
Perhaps something along the lines of "Do you know its illegal to lock children in their rooms? If social services find out you'll risk losing them". Not true of course, but a conversation you really must have even if you risk alienating your daughter.
There's no tactful way of approaching this.

I would complete a safeguarding referral if I was informed that children were locked in their rooms at night/during naps regardless of the reason. It is considered a safety issue and a red flag.
There are a very few occasions that a child with severe and specific special needs may need to be secure but it is very very rare and should only be done with outside professional help.

Sago

How many homes have locks on the bedroom doors nowadays?
I think this is another wind up.

I’ve reported it so HQ can have a look

Well the thread was only posted yesterday so there's time for the OP to return. I imagine the practice started because the children got out of bed and wouldn't sleep, a problem which is very common and takes a lot of hard work to break.
But its going to be a difficult conversation for Charlotte to start with her daughter.
She's asking us for help with that - not asking us if it's OK - these replies aren't helping, she already knows its not a good idea and is asking for help, not criticism.

Children should never be locked in their bedrooms!!!!! Child gate yes , locked door NO NO NO !!!
OP has not come back ?

Definite No from me as well.
I once taught a child whose parents locked him in his room at night. He told me about how he climbed out the window and onto the kitchen roof and went round the streets at night.
I had to tell the parents.

It could be entirely sensible, but we won’t know until we have more information. Either way, you can discuss it with her but you can’t make your daughter do anything.

Charlotte63 - you haven’t given us enough information to be able to give advice without alarm bells ringing! ?

Surely not? It's dangerous. I hope this is not true.

We have a lock on the kitchen to stop the cats roaming around the house at night. You wouldn’t use it with humans,though.

How many homes have locks on the bedroom doors nowadays?
I think this is another wind up.

Future claustrophobia
Whyever would you not discuss this with your daughter, Charlotte?

Ask her why she does it.

Then either accept what might be a good reason or question her about it, you can’t ‘not discuss’ it when it could be a safety problem for your GC.

Not enough information given

I had a friend in the early 1980s who put a stairgate across the bedroom door at "nap time". Even that worried me. She justified it by saying that her little one was always reluctant to sleep unless there was no other option.

Locking a child in their bedroom! ?.
Never!
Like Bluebell - the thought makes my blood run cold.

Locking internal doors when anyone is in the room is a fire risk. Do not believe you can get to the door and unlock it to rescue the child if a fire breaks out. You cannot.

How old are they Charlotte and how long is ‘nap time’.
Is your daughter imposing naps the children don’t want or need? Do the children cry and try to get out?

The bottom line is, children should never be locked in bedrooms. It’s a red flag. Your OP suggests you are anxious about raising this with her. That suggests walking on egg shells.

I’m afraid this does happen. My GD used to be locked in her bedroom. I was very upset and couldn’t talk to DS about it. Turned out she felt safer that way!

Oh no I don’t like this you should never lock a child’s room what if there was a fire, they were sick, needed anything

Imaround that’s awful they is no valid reason to lock a child’s door Are you having a laugh why would locking a door make a child sleep ? He/she must have been petrified
The thought makes my blood run cold

No this can’t be a real post ( I hope)

Same question as Mandrake and Hithere.

I used to have to lock my oldest in her room to sleep, because she wouldn't sleep. Ever. And wandered. It was for her safety.

So there are valid reasons why this could happen.