I Used a Home Security System to Keep My Toddler Safe at Night

When I switched my then-2-year-old daughter from a crib to a bed, my biggest concern was resistance.

I wanted to help her sleep soundly in her new “big girl” bed. But once she did, I didn’t expect my own sleep to continue to be disrupted as well.

I woke up at every creak of the house, wondering if it was my daughter roaming around, exploring her newfound freedom. I knew it was incredibly unlikely, but I feared that she would unlock the door and walk outside in the middle of the night.

I looked for gadgets designed for this exact situation; there are dozens of devices meant for securing small children in their rooms. The solution I decided on surprised my friends: a home security system. While home security traditionally focuses on keeping intruders out of the house, it also works surprisingly well at keeping tiny humans in.

I struggled during the transition

I did nearly everything wrong during the crib-to-bed transition with my daughter. I made the switch on the same week we returned from an international trip, which involved a 15-hour time difference and jet lag that made us both feel delirious. And, instead of researching recommended ways to introduce her to the bed and help her learn to stay in her room at night, I just winged it. I sat outside her door, exhausted, and put her back into bed every time she came out.

Night after night, it did not get any easier.

Finally, I changed my approach and researched the best ways to transition toddlers to a bed. Once I learned the best practices, it clicked, and I kicked myself for not starting there in the first place. I successfully reintroduced my toddler to her new bed, and, as proud as I felt once she started falling asleep peacefully, I still felt unsettled.

Even though she was staying in her room until she fell asleep, I kept wondering what would happen if she wandered out in the middle of the night? The idea that she might slip outside while I was asleep felt far-fetched, but the tiny chance that it could happen lingered in my mind.

I debated locking her door

There is a heated debate among parents and experts on whether it is appropriate to lock your toddler in their room at night. Some experts cite the concern as a safety issue: in the event of a fire or other emergency, the child wouldn’t be able to get out. Though I realized that when my daughter was previously in her crib, she wouldn’t have been able to get out on her own either, which made the safety argument feel less clear-cut to me. Others argue that locking a child in can create emotional distress.

There’s also the other side: preventing a toddler from leaving their room can help keep them safe. I feared that my daughter might get confused in the middle of the night and wander not just out of her room, but out of the house entirely if she wasn’t secured in. My daughter is cautious, but toddlers are unpredictable, especially if they unexpectedly wake in the middle of the night. I weighed using a baby gate or doorknob cover, but ultimately decided to get a home security system instead.

I got a home security system to keep her safe inside

While there are plenty of DIY home security systems, I’m not handy and didn’t have the time or energy to devote to figuring it out. I decided to go with Vivint, a smart home security company, instead. My top priority was getting door sensors so that I would be alerted if anyone opened an outside door at night. This ensured that I didn’t have to worry about my daughter quietly leaving the house in the middle of the night. Who knows? This may continue to be beneficial when she becomes a teenager as well.

From the catalog, I also added an outdoor camera so I could keep an eye on her in the backyard if she is out playing while I am cooking dinner. I also started planning ahead for features that would be useful when she’s older; I decided to get a smart lock for the front door. When she’s older and more independent, she will be able to enter the house with a code instead of carrying a key.

During the day, the Vivint app is programmed to alert me to different activities around the house. So, I get alerted if my daughter forgets to close the sliding door when she comes inside, among other things. At night, the system is programmed to be armed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., which means that if anyone opens a door, a loud alarm will sound and the security company notified.

When I go to bed, I’m reassured knowing that if my daughter does wander outside at night, whether out of curiosity or confusion, I’ll know about it instantly. Now, instead of waking up at every small noise, checking her baby monitor to make sure she’s still safely in bed, I finally sleep more soundly.

A security system won’t solve bedtime struggles. But it helped me get more rest once my daughter was sleeping well in her new bed. While home security may typically be used to get bad guys out, it can also give you peace of mind that you’re keeping your toddler in.