Toddler Cupboard / Draw Locks

gravitytolls

I didn't bother either, after teh first one. He could get into anything, and I found the only really effective way was to use a stair gate, and keep him out of the kitchen, which is where I kept eveything potentially harmful.

All the others, I didn't bother with, I just kept cleaners etc up high, and the rest of the stuff I didn't worry about - pots and pan and the like. Oh and breakables were up high.

They soon learn what they can and can't touch anyway, and only get the stuff you want left alone when they're filled with devilment; teh little stinkers:D .

The big question is, how do you keep them out of your stuff when they're older? My make up, perfume etc. seems to spend more time in the girls room than in mine:mad: .

Oh well, I guess I'm too old to worry about how I look now.:p

PeteB_2000

Thanks again people for your advise, its not really the two year old he is as good as gold, its the monster 11 month year old girl she seems to be testing us and our voices

Pete

mumof3girls

i have tried the srew on ones but have since moved and have gone for the teaching no option. past experiance has shown me if they want to get in it they will this applies to burglars and children!
my kids used to get in the cupboard even with the knobs off. now they no better!!!

BrokeBrokeBroke

In my experience have a 'fun' cupboard with tupperware etc that they can play with and move anything dangerous etc up high. They are clever little monkeys!! My son watched how we opened the cupboard locks about twice and had it all sussed!!!

PeteB_2000

Thanks again for your words of wisdom, We have a lot more lower cupboards than upper ones and it seems that 90%ish contain breakables or chemicals, so the ratio isnt there for moving things up, its just the little girl is a !!!!!!, like your ideas though, she was left for literally about 20 seconds in her walker this morning when there was an almighty sound of glass breaking.
She had only pulled a glass pyrex jug out of the cupboard and flung in onto the kitchen floor.......thankfully no man / woman or beast was hurt, she has had the same treatment as my 1st born, but she is the complete opposite of him in everyway, makes me really appreciate how good he was and still is.
Ho hum if we where all the same the world would be a boring place anyways.

Pete

hurricanewyn

I know my advice isn't helpful for making your kitchen look more attractive - but to be honest I haven't found any of the shop-bought childlocks to be much use. My two year old has gooten into everything. The only thing we've found any use is to tie the handles shut with string (on your double base units tie the two handles together). We originally used carrier bags, and then moved onto string because it didn't look so bad. I've tried just saying no, but my little "angel" managed to balance himself on the edge of the bath and pull the bathroom cabinet door so hard that he snapped the plastic lock and got the cleaning fluid out. I was in the kitchen oblivious when he brought the "yacky juice" into me. (He did himself no harm, but knocked about 10 years off my life expectancy) Some of them are just more determined than others!

Savvy_Sue

Tying the handles together only works if you've got handles ... If you haven't, I really do recommend the magnetic locks I mentioned first. We have them at work, and at one point someone 'locked' both magnets inside the cupboard (you know how it is, you open the door, put the magnet down, get what you want and whoops! shut the door!)

It took weeks before we got them open again, and that was only through VERY judicious juggling and a little brute force!

You can also set them so that the magnet is 'off' once it's no longer crucial to keep them locked.

They are a bit fiddly to fit but well worth it, IMO.

Also for those who want a 'stick-on' solution, I saw some in a local chemist, sorry I can't remember if it was part of a chain or not. It was a plastic 'loop' which sat over two separate 'buttons' which you stuck either side of the opening. It said it was ideal for anything with a curved surface, eg if you had a very retro fridge. Looked a bit fiddly to me and not terribly robust, but maybe worth looking out for if that will meet your needs?

jenpoptab

Another alternative to string on the handles is a hair bobble twisted around- this works in my little girls room, however can't do it in kitchen because of the cupboard layout. I sympathise with peteb_2000's problem and guess it will have to be a bit of trial & error.