Child Proof latches to protect grand children

[Chuckanut]

I need some recommendations on types and brands of child proof latches that will keep the grandkids out of drawers and cabinets they should not get into.

My drawers and cabinets basically are flat surfaces with a gripping area on the bottom to open them. No knobs, handles etc.

What works well for you and is not to difficult to install? I don't mind drilling a few small holes and screwing them into the cabinets and drawers. The parts should be fairly easy to line up so they work properly. Thanks.

 

[easysurfer]

Check out Amazon for various latch options.

I don't have personal experience with them, but there's a big selection of different types there.

Amazon.com: child proof latch

 

[Taxman59]

With three sons, I can say that a determined 3-5 year old can defeat ANY latch. We ended up with twine wrapped around handles connecting two cupboards together. It entertained them for hours and they couldn't defeat it. The down side was it took us more time than we wanted to spend to get into the cupboards!


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

 

[Bestwifeever]

Maybe consolidate the real dangers in one high-up cupboard and secure that one? Hopefully your grandkids will visit often but not be unattended (of course those little imps have their ways of slipping off unnoticed every once in awhile despite our best efforts!). Even at two years old our DS could simply yank open the childproofed undersink cabinet, disregarding the complicated opening method we adults used ("press in here while turning counterclockwise and lifting the latch").

When DS visited with his young family, we woke up the next morning to all the electrical sockets having childproof guards in place (it hadn't occurred to us grandparents to take care of that even when our kids were little) and more expensive toilet paper in the bathrooms (another issue from his childhood, but I digress). At least they hadn't brought the toilet closing devices that are very hard to circumvent in the middle of the night without instruction.

 

[MichaelB]

When we bought our house we replaced all the knobs with latches. A few years later, when the grandkids began showing up, we found out just how much easier we made it for them to open doors.

+1@ Kids defeat latches easily. They watch you do it a couple of times and that's all it takes. Best advice is to move dangerous kitchen and bathroom things out of reach. Plug all the outlets. Keep them out of laundry area with pet gates. Attach door locks or latches 5 ft high for doors going outside and into the garage.

 

[Dash man]

For extreme cases a double deadbolt on the front and back doors works well.

 

[Gumby]

You could try this solution. Biohacking Your Body to Open Doors Without Keys - Bloomberg Business

 

[Chuckanut]

You could try this solution. Biohacking Your Body to Open Doors Without Keys - Bloomberg Business

Not sure I want to do that yet.

 

[Chuckanut]

For extreme cases a double deadbolt on the front and back doors works well.

I may use that when they are teenagers to lock them out.