Whether you’re a first-time parent of a toddler or a head of an ever-expanding household, safety is always a priority at home. As much as you want to, you can’t watch over your children 24/7 to make sure they’re free from harm. Child-proofing your cabinets with child-proof cabinet locks are one of the best ways to protect them in the kitchen.
The first step to child-proofing is to identify potential hazards. Get down to your child’s height and see the world through their eyes. Many accidents that happen involve injury from accessing dangerous objects such as sharp kitchen tools, falling objects, fingers getting jammed in drawers or doors, ingestion of hazardous substances, and getting stuck in small spaces.
As toddlers grow up, their curiosity grows along with their mobility, as they develop the need to explore things and places they’ve never reached or touched before. A common area of safety concern at home are cabinets and drawers.
Some steps that can be taken to avoid these accidents from happening can range from hiding potentially dangerous objects, putting them out of reach, to successful communication on what can cause harm, but the best method is to install child-proof mechanisms on cabinets and drawers. Here are there are useful tools we can rely on to effectively child-proof our cabinets and drawers and how to install them:
Child-proof Cabinet Locks
There are various easy to install but effective kinds of safety locks for both drawers and cabinets, these include:
Magnetic Child-proof Cabinet Locks
Magnetic Locks utilize a strong magnet installed inside cabinets/drawers and another magnet as key to open; comes in screw on and adhesive types.
Adjustable Child-proof Locks
These locks keep the drawer/cabinet door closed by pulling on two ends; attach one end on a drawer/cabinet door and the other to the drawer/cabinet surface
Latch Locks
Latch locks come in both screwed-on and adhesive types. Depending on the type, they can be installed on either the interior or exterior of cabinets and drawers. Exterior latches keep the door closed, while interior latches keep it from opening beyond a few inches.
Sliding Locks
These locks go around the cabinet knobs and handles. Similar to a bike lock, you need to press on the lock mechanism to pull it off to free the cabinet doors.
Pull Cord Locks
Similar to ones used in backpacks, just place the cord around both cabinet knobs and press on one of the attachments, and slide all the way up to secure.
Other Ways to Child-proof Cabinets
Foam Bumpers
Another important aspect of child-proofing your cabinets would be protecting the sharp edges or corners that your child can run into. You can use a pool noodle or similar foam padding, and cut a slit to one side of a section to wrap around the cabinet’s sharp edges.
Furniture Anchors
Cabinets could topple over and be a danger to kids if they attempt to climb it. To prevent this, you can use furniture anchors or straps to hold furniture in place. Just secure the anchors/straps to a wall and the piece of furniture to keep it from toppling over.
Knob Covers
Bumping into cabinet knobs could cause bruising to your child. To prevent this, you can install covers on knobs that could be made from soft materials – split tennis balls, soft foam, and the like.
If you want to save on cost and resources, the following can be used as alternatives:
Tension rods, slides, rulers, yardsticks, or dowel rods to secure all drawer handles to child-proof cabinet drawers.
Velcro as furniture anchors/cabinet locks (use adhesives to stick to both cabinet door edges or wall/furniture surface)
Rubber bands wrapped around knobs to act as locks
Zip ties and ribbons/ropes in place of pull cord or sliding locks
After child-proofing your cabinets, perform one last safety check to ensure that all safety measures installed are working properly. It’s also a good idea to check on them every once in a while to make sure they’re still working as time goes on, and do some maintenance if needed.
Customized child-proofing cabinets are something we build here at Hesti Cabinet. Contact us today to get started!
Sources:
How to Babyproof Your Cabinets and Drawers
How to Child & Baby Proof Cabinets & Drawers Without Drilling
How To Babyproof Drawers and Cabinets
10 Brilliant Ways to Baby Proof Drawers & Cabinets (Without Drilling)
