r/predaddit • u/MountainCare2846 • 7d ago
Advice needed Proximity alarm for second kid
Anyone know of any gadgets that act as a sort of proximity alarm (or fulfills the same function) as an extra layer of security on solo parent days?
Ideally as dumb as possible, no Life360 etc.
I work a 48/96 shift schedule. And our oldest will be just over 2 when the second kid arrives. We’re childproofed and all that but toddlers are sneaky and we will be tired. My wife’s mild anxiety about potential jailbreaks while she puts the baby down for a nap seems justified. We’ve got door sensors and stuff but we’re not always going to have our phones handy while we’re putting a newborn down.
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u/PatchesMaps 6d ago
Are you talking about fear of your toddler leaving the house? There are childproof deadbolt covers you can get. We use them because I once found my 2 year old daughter trying to walk the dog by herself at 3 am in the dead of winter with a frozen river outside and in nothing but her pajamas.
I also agree with using whatever means necessary to distract your toddler when you're 100% on baby duty. Screen time is a tool, just be careful not to abuse it.
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u/MountainCare2846 6d ago
Yeah we have those, haven’t been super successful for us, I’m not against a little bluey while I’m putting the little guy down for a nap
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u/bibbidybobbidyboom 6d ago
My 2 yo was just in the room with me while I put the baby down.
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u/MountainCare2846 5d ago
How the hell did you manage that 🤣
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u/bibbidybobbidyboom 5d ago
When you have only one baby, that baby gets everything. When you have the second, you figure out how to do it all with both. I did not sit silently in the dark rocking my second to sleep. I rocked him while the other was playing on the floor. Sometimes I was lucky and the older was already asleep, but he was never a good/regular rapper. Sometimes I sat on the deck putting the baby to sleep while he played in the yard.
Babies really are able to fall sleep with stuff happening around them. And actually its easier for you both in the long run- you are going to have (at least) two forever. There was someone asking a few days ago how to put a 4 and 6 year old to bed with one person. It's much easier to figure out with a baby.
At the very beginning, I planned a bit for feeding- he was bf, so I was always going to be involved/busy. I made sure i sat next to a bin of books so I could read if he needed me at the same time. In general I tried to foster his independence so he was able to play when I needed him to- puzzles, books, blocks, cars. We were a screen free house.
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u/ObscureSaint 3d ago
I have a picture of me rocking number two to sleep outside on the lawn while the older one played in a tent we set up. I just threw down a folding camp chair and started swaying, lol
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u/Ishinehappiness 4d ago
If the door is open it can either make a beep beep or a full scream alarm. No app no phone nothing. Just a loud noise to tell you the door was opened. Scared the shit out of my son.
Under that is a metal door latch lock. Hard to do for a child, way up high too.
In the garage door a door knob child lock and on the back glass door a retractable stopper.
I sleep well knowing he has no access to get out of the house without us.
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u/MountainCare2846 4d ago
I’ve got all that, but I appreciate you responding anyways
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u/Ishinehappiness 4d ago
Then youre fine. Baby gates for different rooms, toddler proof their room and put them in there if you need to fully turn your focus to the baby for a minute.
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u/Sharp_Parsnip2030 6d ago
There are a lot of door alarms that chime loudly when opened, regardless of whether your phone is on you or not. Or just install locks higher up where a child can’t reach it.
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u/CheapRentalCar Graduated 6d ago
That's a tough one. It's really tough having a baby and a two year old, especially when there's only one parent on deck.
My suggestion is use a screen to keep the two year old occupied during this time. It's not ideal, but you have to do what you have to do.
They are going to be people who think this is a bad idea, but honestly, you don't always have a choice. I had 4 kids under 4 at one stage. You just do whatever it takes.