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Child locks for kitchen/household cupboards...

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Hi there

Have a very active 14 monther who is trying desperately hard to investigate just about everything... which is fine by me, but I am fed up with the child locks we got from Homebase - they are far too flimsy and I've already had to replace about four of them in the last six months.

I was just wondering whether anyone else here has had experience of good child locks for ground level cupboards... they need to be:
- strong / lasting
- easy to use (i.e. aren't 'adult' locks too!)
- discreet (i.e. not on the front of the door)

Anyone got any recommendations?

Thanks

John
CarQuake / Ergo Digital
«1

Comments

  • Nile
    Nile Posts: 14,845 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    As the kitchen can be a very unsafe area for a child to be in, wouldn't a gate across the kitchen door be a better idea?
    10 Dec 2007 - Led Zeppelin - I was there. :j [/COLOR]:cool2: I wear my 50 (gold/red/white) blood donations pin badge with pride. [/SIZE][/COLOR]Give blood, save a life. [/B]
  • Would a gate across the kitchen door be a good idea ??

    It would be a good idea if you don't mind your Tot screaming and crying because he cant see what his Mum or Dad is doing in the other room ;D

    A really cheap idea is to get strong elastic bands and wrap themn around the handles of double cupboards - but of no use at all with single cupboards.

    Or move everything of danger/damageable from ground level and let your Tot explore at his/her leisure.

    MTC ;D
  • Spendless
    Spendless Posts: 24,641 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    A gate would be awkward for us too as we have to walk thru dining room to access kitchen so a gate would keep them out of 2 rooms and we wouldn't be able to see them.

    I also did rubber bands and moved things about to adult height level. With a cupboard that opens into dining room i filled it with their toys, so they were more interested in what was in there.
  • jellyhead
    jellyhead Posts: 21,555 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    i used the same child locks from mothercare for years, they didn't break. as soon as i removed them my nephew ate a washing powder tablet - ick!
    52% tight
  • - Rubber bands - no good, most of the locks would be for single doors AND he's too strong.
    - Child gate - no good, open plan living area, there are two entrances to the kitchen area, one of which is 2 metres wide

    Essentially, I don't mind him being in the kitchen. He is well behaved and generally does what he's asked to do, and all dangerous items are out of reach... BUT I would prefer to ensure that he does not go fishing in cupboards.

    Will look at the Mothercare ones...
    CarQuake / Ergo Digital
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 47,298 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Magnetic ones may fit the bill. And you can get them from Niche Locks.

    Described in detail here - check your doors are thick enough to take them. They sell both single packs and multipacks.

    They are a bit fiddly to fit but very discreet. I believe you can 'switch them off' if you don't need them any longer.

    The downside is that you then have to keep the magnet which opens the cupboards in a safe place, but I believe it is designed not be a choking hazard - you might want to check this! Put one of the magnets in a safe place because I can vouch for the fact that it takes a very strong magnet to unlock them! (Someone put both magnets down inside the cupboard and shut the door ... fortunately ours weren't very well aligned and I managed to jiggle one door open, but it took several weeks or intermittent jiggling to do it!)
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • Glad
    Glad Posts: 18,926 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    we used this type from mothercare
    lasted through 2 children and then removed them and passed them on to friends
    I am a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Wales, Small Biz MoneySaving, In My Home (includes DIY) MoneySaving, and Old style MoneySaving boards. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • robnye
    robnye Posts: 5,411 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    we used this type from mothercare
    lasted through 2 children and then removed them and passed them on to friends

    oh my goodness.... I thought you meant the kids when i first read this :o
    ;D :P
    smile --- it makes people wonder what you are up to.... ;) :cool:
  • I am pretty sure we got ours from Mothercare (although not the ones mentioned above). You can turn them sideways so that they don't 'catch' if you want to.
    something missing
  • Thanks for all your help.

    The Mothercare ones you've shown are similar to the ones that I already have, I am quite interested in the magnetic ones - they seem an innovative solution - if more expensive...
    CarQuake / Ergo Digital
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