How to Choose "Child-Proof" LocksAug 13 '04 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line With so many dangers lurking in your home, knowing how to choose the right products makes all the difference.
Choices, Choices, Choices! One of our many responsibilities as parents is to keep our children safe. If you’re anything like me you have NO IDEA how dangerous the most innocuous looking things in you home can be to your growing, developing bundle of joy. After a baby you see dangers that you never would have realized. The question that comes to mind then is, “How can I protect my little one without getting rid of it?” The answer for many different things is child-proof locks. Drawers Every home has drawers in it. Well, every home I’ve ever seen has them. Cupboards in the bedroom, the kitchen, the bathroom, and other places. Some of these cupboards contain harmless items, some contain dangerous chemicals, sharp items, etc. In selecting locks for a drawer, you must first take into account where the drawer is, how often it will be used, and what material it’s made of. The most common of drawer locks is the simple ‘press-down’ lock. A prong mounts on the drawer face and the ‘hitch’ mounts on the drawer frame. To open the cupboard you simply push down the prong to release it from its hitch. There are a few different methods of mounting these including adhesives (what a joke) and screwing them into the drawer and frame (much more stable). While these locks may not be the best, most secure products every made they do help to keep little ones out of mischief. The big downfall with these (and they’re the only style I’ve used) is that they don’t always latch well and are easy for kids to learn to manipulate. Cupoards Depending on the style of cupboards you have and their knobs, there are a few options for securing them. You can use the ‘press-down’ style locks described in the ‘Drawers’ section, and they will work reasonably well. I have used these locks with reasonable success on my entertainment center and computer desk. They work (at least for me) much better for doors than drawers. Another option for securing cupboard drawers is a loop-style cupboard lock. They work best with handles, but they can also be used on many styles of knobs. You simply thread one loop of the lock through (or around) on handle (or knob) and then thread it through the lock. Then you repeat the process for the other side. Loop-style locks are very difficult for children to open and will generally keep what your cupboard doors closed. The trouble with loop-style locks is that they are usually very awkward for parents to open as well and can take excessive amounts of hand strength to manipulate. Yet another option for cupboard locks is the ‘slide lock.’ This is the style of lock that consists of a giant ‘U’ and a sliding lock that adjusts for various sized cupboards. This style is actually one of my preferred locks because it is complicated enough to keep kids out (or severely delay them and allow you to intervene) but easier than the loop-style for parents to open. Toilets Okay, this may sound silly to people who don’t have children, but toilet locks can be a very useful thing. Do you really want to reach in and fish out whatever junior has decided to try to flush? Me either! For those of you who absolutely need (or want) a toilet lock, there are several different styles available–locks that attach to the tank and lid to keep it shut, swing-arm locks that attach via the toilet seat bolts, and locks that clamp onto the seat cover/seat/bowl! I was very blessed not to have children who were especially interesting in the toilet, beyond an occasional splashing (yes, I know it’s gross!) spree. So my best advice to you in choosing a toilet lock is to try several. Read reviews here at Epinions and see what locks other parents liked and why. See what ones they hated or that just didn’t work. None of the toilet locks I’ve ever seen were terribly expensive, so if you buy one you don’t like it’s not much of a problem to toss it out and try something new. Outlets I think that outlet caps are one of the most well-known baby-proof locks around. Most parents are aware of the dangers that outlets pose to our little ones. By far the most common type of outlet cover is the simple plug. There are a zillion different manufacturers, but the basic concept is the same–a plug (much like and electrical plug only all plastic and sans cord) of plastic (some clear, some white, some colored) that fits into an electrical socket to prevent children from inserting unintended objects. The problem is, most kids learn how to remove these caps quickly. If your kid wants into an outlet, this will not delay them for long. I’ve also seen outlet covers that look like an entire outlet plate with pieces of plastic that slide to reveal the sockets. These are convenient because if you use the outlet you needn’t fear replacing the outlet caps, the cover does it all by itself. These are much more ‘child proof’ than the plug-style covers because it’s much harder for the kids to manipulate. General Thoughts First and foremost, when choosing what types of child-proof locks to use in your home you must consider the difficulty of use by your child. How long will it take them (and they are SMART, I tell you!) to figure out how to open it? Does it take strength and/or dexterity beyond their years? The second thing to consider in purchasing a child-proof lock is the easy of use by the parent. No, I don’t have these two things in the wrong order. If a lock is easy for a parent to open, that doesn’t mean it’s difficult for a child. You must first consider what the child can and can’t do. The lock may be tough and/or inconvenient for you, but isn’t that a price worth paying? Third I would look at the expensive of a given lock. If a lock is tough for a kid to open and workable for the parents, then and only then consider the cost when you are comparing brands. WARNING: Child-proof locks aren’t intended to save your child’s life. More often than not a child who is truly determined will get through the lock and into the ‘forbidden fruit.’ What a ‘child-proof’ lock does is buy parents valuable time in which to intervene in a potentially dangerous situation.  |
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