Effects on children locked in room using child safety locks

Is it O.K. to use the safety locks on your child's bedroom door to keep him in at night or when the parent wants time to herself/his self.  I see a four year old boy who has experienced problems with aggression..  The mother locked the child in his room so she could have time for herself.  When her second child came she locked the older child in his room while she nursed the baby.  The child is on the other side of the door knowing that she is with the baby.  I see the four coming five year old having attitude, agression, almost like a depression.  Could this be from locking him in?  How do I get the child help?  He is no longer locked in a room but things for him are not great.

[91004]

I wouldn't lock my child in his room, especially at night what if there was a fire the child would not be able to get out. I could possibly see if the child was totally uncontrollable putting the child in his room for awhile till he calmed down but not everytime a break is needed. Why did she have kids you just have to learn to get things done with the children present or take them for a visit to the grandparents. I would call child services and report it. Honestly though I have seen alot of things be reported there and the children are still left in the home. I am talking kids with bruises from their thigh to there knee, on their arms and a bruised nose and nothing was ever done. So make sure there is proof of these things because it could just make it worse on the child.

[margypops]

There is no way any child should ever be locked into a room alone this sounds abusive, you say it has stopped now but things' are not good for him' does this mean he is abused or ill treated ? if he is or even verbally abused you should contact child sevices you can do this anonimously, do not delay you will be forever glad you did and thank you for being brave. Children are worth standing up for .

[skepticalpeach]

How exactly is he being mistreated still? Unless you have clear proof, unfortunately there may not be much you can do. Because some people report to child services out of spite or revenge there often is a penalty for false accusations. In IL you can be fined $1000 and get up to a 1 year in jail. So think about it very carefully before you call. If you ever see them hitting him or actually abusing him I would just call the police. It's more reliable and you're better off letting them decide whether or not to make the call to child services.

[margypops]

The best thing you can do for this child is to google first to get all information including anonimously calling them, I think in coming here you already know that you do whatever it takes to help a child in need.From reading your thread I think you are genuine and care what happens so if it were me, my opinion is, you get help as soon as you can .Good Luck

[margypops]

To be sure that you know you are not personally at risk, I have googled and there is absolutly no way your information is used against you and you would be fined , ,To see for your self go to ' How to make an Anonymous Report to CPS"  or make a call to 1 800 4-A- Child it is the child abuse hot line . they say make notes of all you see and hear, so you have information to give them.Good luck let us know how it goes, PM if you wish to .

[skepticalpeach]

I understand the importance of being able to call a child protective service hotline, but it is so easy to misunderstand what you are seeing; no matter how sincere you are. It's difficult to say whether you should call child services now because I don't know the specifics. You probably should have when you saw him being locked in a room, but since that was so long ago there isn't anything you can do about that particular instance now. When I see children at the grocery store, or anywhere else being yanked up into their carts by one arm or yelled at I HATE that they do this. But what I saw of the situation may not be the complete picture and I'm not willing to make a report unless I know for sure.

I think they have the fines for people who call in constantly with false reports.

"Any person who knowingly transmits a false report to the Department commits the offense of disorderly conduct under subsection (a)(7) of Section 26-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961. A first violation of this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to one year, or by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by both such term and fine. A second or subsequent violation is a Class 4 felony."

http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/child/index.shtml#hotline