Locking children in their bedrooms

What jeni says, suggests to me that it was the parents who needed sleep "therapy", not the little girl. Maybe they weren't getting any sleep because of the little girl's problems. If they have two other children, they would need their sleep.

It would help if the OP would come back and explain further. I find it hard to believe parents would lock a child in a bedroom for trivial reasons.

I wonder if the child had a hand in designing, decorating and choosing the furniture for the bedroom. If she felt some ownership and pride in it, she might be happier to sleep there. Also, I hope she has a night light of some kind.

I agree with everyone especially Hankipanki. The fact that the parents do not want anyone to know what they are doing confirms that they know it is wrong. I hope they sort this out quick and that the little girls school doesn't find out what happens to her at night. The school would be forced to act on such information.

If the little girl is so scared of new bedroom, why not let her siblings sleep in there with her for a little while to reassure her that it is a fun and happy place to be?

I'm afraid so. But there are some children that unless they are locked in the parents have to be awake all night to prevent them harming themselves or others. It is rare but it does happen. The parents usually look exhausted!
It is harrowing tales like this that I hear regularly at tribunals!
May account for my love of light relief on gn!

Your comment does put a new light on it, jeni — a rather shocking one!

Perhaps the reason Humbertbear hasn't commented on our replies is because of how we've replied? If she's very concerned, it may have shaken her to have seen that we are also concerned about the little girl? Just a thought?

No! I hear this regularly at tribunals with some mentally impaired children! I believe it!

phoenix and jacey, hmmmm indeed!

yes phoenix ...I know what you mean.

Really pleased to see you back again ...hope things go well tomorrow for you ...a difficult day

Bagitha we seem to be sharing a "hmmmm".

If this is true, and not a wind up, the so called sleep expert should be reported to his or her employers, managers, regulating body, depending on which so called profession he or she belongs to. This is so dangerous that it beggars belief.

Did wonder why no one seems to have ascertained what is making the child insecure ...assumption was that on a different floor...but could be something else...that the child themselves may not be overtly aware of?

But totally agree ...locking in is totally inapproriate ...seems more of a punishment than concern for her safety

We all seem to be of the same opinion here girls,where is the OP for an update of her thoughts on our opinions.?

My Son was a firefighter, until one incident to many and he had to get out or have a breakdown.

He confirms that a child will hide - under beds, in cupboards in a toy chest, anywhere where they cannot see the fire. It is heart breaking for them to bring out any dead from a house fire, but a child is the worst. I still reckon this constitutes child abuse and should be stopped asap.

On a lighter note ! my son did go back into one house and get a pair of hamsters and Buzz Light year! The little ones thought he was a hero - he assured me he was in no danger!

It makes me feel sick. Poor little child. And the fact that the parents 'feel uncomfortable' makes me ask why the heck are they doing it? The expert sounds a charlatan to even suggest this. It must be a wind up surely.

If the parents do not want anyone to know about it and feel uncomfortable they know it is wrong. Tell them quite forcefully how you feel humbar

Unfortunately, I think this behaviour is not unusual - my aunt used to tie my baby cousin down in his cot with sheets whilst she went out for the evening. There have been lots of reports of children being left alone and the parents' excuse has been that the children were 'safely' locked in. And we probably only get to hear about the cases where something goes wrong.

Surely this has to be a wind-up - I cannot possibly take it seriously!

I have always been claustrophobic and if my parents had locked me in a room I would have had a panic attack. Surely they can rejig their sleeping arrangements?

I used to know someone who used to lock her child (contemporary with absentdaughter) in her bedroom at night. It was on the same floor as the parents' bedroom but I still thought it was a dangerous and unkind thing to do. The parents were very loving and caring in every other way.

Totally unacceptable and very damaging to the child. I still fear the dark after being shut in the unlit hall as a tot.
This is such an emotive subject that I am worried it is here to prod caring grannies to react.

Good grief. She's insecure [probably scared; I'm scared in my loft if I go there at night] and the solution is to lock her in. Trouble is that I'd be concerned about her getting up in the night and falling down the stairs as well. I'm sure the fire brigade would have something to say about it as well. On the subject of which, when we had a talk at work given by them, they pointed out that, quite often, if a fire breaks out in a house, a small child will go and hide somewhere [would assume they'd look go to their parents, but they don't], so, in the event of a fire parents need to search for them..in cupboards, under beds etc.

Hmmmm. If this is true (it beggars belief), the parents are fools and worse than fools.

Although I loath to interfere in this case I would. How would her parents deal with their guilt if a fire broke out or she was taken ill. It is tantamount to child abuse. They obviously understand this if they are feeling guilty.

An absolute NO on this one. My mother used to do it to me when I was young, and I remember how terrified I was. It damaged any trust and created fear between us and I wondered why anyone who was supposed to love me would do such a thing. This so called "sleep expert" wants a kick up the backside - at the very least!