Yep this was my saga yesterday. My three year old has done this once before but hubby was here to get it opened. Well this time she locked our bedroom door where all the diapers are, where we sleep, take baths. Yes, I was stressing to say the least.
I used a nail and hanger and still couldn’t get it open. This went on for about three hours. Finally, Finally.. my good friend Nan over at Mommy Circle sent me this in IM:
If you’ve locked yourself out of the bathroom, or your toddler has locked themselves in, you will need to know how to open a locked interior door.
Push button locks: The doorknob on the outside of the door has a small hole in it. Find a thick nail or something similar, and push it straight in the hole. You will hear a click, which is the door being unlocked.
Turn button locks: The doorknob on the outside of the door has a small hole in it. In this case you will need to find a small flathead screwdriver which will fit through the hole. Insert the screwdriver straight in, and rotate gently until you feel it slip into position with the notch. Turn the screwdriver, using pressure to make sure you turn the inside bolt as well. You will hear a click, whish is the door being unlocked. If turning the screwdriver doesn’t seems to work one way, try it the other direction.
If a screwdriver won’t work eHow Friend Get a credit card to push into the crack of the door right where the latch is located. One of the flimsy, thin, credit cards work best. Bank cards could be too thick for this use.
I had a push button door, so it worked like a charm when I used a safety pin alway back. Finally after many tears shed, stressing where we were going to sleep we were in our bedroom at last. We took showers and hit the sack. AHHHH relax and restful sleep it was 😉
Thank you so much for this posting! I too have two girls and one of them locked her bedroom door and I had no idea how to get it open. (She was not inside thank goodness, but it was stressful none the less.) I really appreciate you sharing this info. as the flathead screwdriver did the trick!! Thanks again!!
When replacing doorknobs, make a point to look for the push-button type. It’s not that the turn-button types are that much harder to open…
…but I just spent over an hour looking for a screwdriver small enough to do a 2-minute job. You can almost always find a stiff wire, appropriate nail, or what-have-you to undo a push-button job. If you’ve got inquisitive kids (or forgetful spouses with elderly eyeglass frames), finding that itty-bitty flatbladed screwdriver (while you and your seven-year-old really need to tinkle and it’s 20 degrees outside) can be a killer.
Thank you so much for this info! I actually found the orginal tool these locks came with to open the door with but it’s basically like the end of a small screwdriver. You have to be very patient and turn the tool (or screwdriver) just so and it’ll fit into the slot where you then have to turn very gently to get it open.
You’re a lifesaver! What mom’s have to go through sometimes. UGH
Alyssa Nelson