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8 best child safety locks for babyproofing your home
Toddlers are curious and love to explore, but the cupboards, drawers and doors in your home can prove dangerous for little fingers. Here are the best child safety locks to keep your toddler safe inside the home.
By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Apr 11, 2024
Once your baby starts crawling and walking, everyday household appliances and objects suddenly become potential accidents waiting to happen. Cupboards become dangerous traps for small fingers, kitchen drawers containing sharp knives are no longer out of reach and there is a genuine risk of hazardous cleaning products getting into the wrong hands.
Luckily, you can preempt some accidents by investing in some childproofing equipment for your home. In addition to stair gates and playpens, which can contain your child or keep them out of certain rooms, child safety locks, including magnetic locks, adhesive mount locks, pull cord locks and latch locks, can help prevent your little one from rummaging through cupboards and drawers.
To choose our curated picks of the best child safety locks, we first took to the Mumsnet forums, the largest network of parents in the UK, seeking tried and tested recommendations on the child safety locks Mumsnet users rate, We thoroughly researched locks based on how easy they were to install, how easy they were to use and how difficult they were for children to open, before analysing wider consumer reviews and the impartial expert reviews of consumer champion Which?.
While we're on the subject of parenting peace of mind, don't miss our guides to the best toddler reins, best toy storage and the best baby monitors.
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Quick and easy installation
Withstands 30kg of pull force
Comes with a one-year guarantee and a 30-day warranty
May not be suitable on all cupboard materials, such as MDF
You need to ensure you correctly align the lock with your drawer
Price on writing: £19 | Adhesive: Yes | Works on cabinets without handles: Yes | Works on toilets: No | Works on fridges: No | Quantity: 10 locks and two keys
This pack of ten AYCORN Magnetic Safety Cupboard Locks make a really versatile choice, suitable for securing cabinets, cupboards and drawers all around your home. You’re also in luck if you have thicker cupboards or drawers, as these locks use two powerful magnet keys that can open doors up to 1.5 inches thick.
We know that parents are busy, so you’ll love the specially designed installation adapter and clear instructions that allow you to install these locks in less than 30 seconds. Once installed, the 3M self-adhesive tape can withstand forces of up to 30kg, making it a failsafe option for most families, keeping out even the most determined of toddlers.
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Dreambaby Secure Catches Child Safety Cabinet Locks
Good value
Easy to use
Sturdy and strong locks
Need to screw the locks in place
Installation may be a bit fiddly if catches are not lined up correctly
The drawer or door can still open a little bit with these locks, meaning your child might still be able to trap their fingers
Only suitable for cupboards and top drawers
Price on writing: £5 | Adhesive: No | Works on cabinets without handles: Yes | Works on toilets: No | Works on fridges: No | Quantity: 14 catches
Do you have an adventurous child who loves to rummage through cupboards? If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to childproof your home, you can’t go wrong with the Dreambaby Secure Catches Child Safety Cabinet Locks, with a pack of 14 setting you back just over five pounds.
Compatible with most cabinets and top drawers, they cannot be seen from the outside once secured. While you do need to use screws to install them, this is easy enough to do as long as you align the catches correctly.
Young children will be stumped by these child locks, which need the inner hook to be fully compressed for the door to open fully. Because the door opens a fraction, however, this design might not be suitable for all families - especially those with particularly curious children.
Quick and easy installation
Effective on uPVC doors and windows
Easy to use
Requires screwing on
Not suitable for all front doors
Price on writing: £15 for 10 | Adhesive: No | Works on cabinets without handles: Yes | Works on toilets: No | Works on fridges: Yes | Quantity: 10
When your child is on the move, it can feel like you need eyes in the back of your head. If you're concerned about your child opening your front door, conservatory or a uPVC window in the mere seconds it takes you to go to the loo, these Sash Jammers from ASelected could be the perfect answer. Installed to your window or door frame high out of reach, they offer an additional layer of protection to prevent your child from opening them.
Jammers are recommended by Mumsnetters not only for baby-proofing purposes but also for extra peace of mind when it comes to protecting your home from intruders. The jammers screw into place easily, providing a secure lock that's also easy to operate, simply turning to unlock when you need to release the door or window.
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Ideal for ovens (but also works on fridges, cupboards, drawers and cabinets)
Easy to install - no drilling or screws required
Easy to use
Comes with a one-year guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee
Takes 72 hours for the adhesive to set
Can’t touch the oven lock until the adhesion has fully set
Price on writing: £7 | Adhesive: Yes | Works on cabinets without handles: Yes | Works on toilets: No | Works on fridges: Yes | Quantity: One
Children love to observe their parents and mimic their behaviours, so watching you make dinner can quickly leave your child obsessed with opening the oven. If this sounds familiar, then the BeeGo Oven Safety Child Lock could make a practical solution for your home, preventing access without slowing down your mealtimes.
Super easy to install using strong adhesive tape, it’s recommended that you wait three days before using it to ensure the maximum hold. Once fitted, however, it couldn’t be easier to operate - simply pressing the two safety buttons simultaneously and rotating to switch between locked and unlocked modes.
While this heat-resistant safety lock is designed to fit most models of ovens models and microwaves, it also makes a practical choice for keeping children out of cupboards, drawers, cabinets and fridges.
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Keep your children and belongings safe inside the car
Comes with step-by-step instructions
Is reusable and recyclable
Doesn’t fit every car model
May need to lift the winding handle in cars such as the 2010 Ford Fiesta (but instructions and equipment are included)
Need to clean the door panel before installation
Price on writing: £20 | Adhesive: No | Works on cabinets without handles: No | Works on toilets: No | Works on fridges: No | Quantity: One
While most cars with automatic windows have an inbuilt child lock, cars with manual windows, unfortunately, don’t have that luxury, providing a huge temptation for little fingers to open the window during travel.
Thankfully, the DruJam Car Window Safety Lock makes a great solution, attaching to the rear winding handle and acting as a guard to keep your child and your belongings firmly inside the car.
Suitable for most car makes and models with manual windows, including those with cloth and fabric interiors, the DruJam is easy to install with an easy-to-follow step-by-step instruction guide. It's also possible to move between cars, by simply washing the sticky pads in warm water and drying before reinstalling as required.
Four extra adhesive stickers
Comes with an instruction manual and is easy to install
100% satisfaction guarantee
Non-reusable adhesive pads
Less discreet than in-cupboard locks
May not stick to all materials
Price on writing: £8 | Adhesive: Yes | Works on cabinets without handles: Yes | Works on toilets: Yes | Works on fridges: Yes | Quantity: Ten
In this pack of CHEEKY MONKEY Child Safety Cupboard Straps, you get ten multipurpose childproof locks and 14 3M adhesive stickers, which can easily be fitted onto cupboards, drawers, cabinets, fridges, toilets, bins, ovens and windows to hold them securely closed. The adjustable straps work on both flat surfaces and around corners and are easy for adults to unlatch using one hand as and when required.
To apply one of the safety locks, all you need to do is wipe down the surface and dry it, press an adhesive pad onto your cabinet or fridge and press the safety lock onto the sticky pad. The durable and flexible strap can cover distances of three to seven inches, before positioning on the other side and sticking into place
Unfortunately, the adhesive pads aren’t reusable, so you’ll need to buy more if the lock falls off or you need to remove it. While effective, they’re also less discreet than some of the in-cupboard options outlined above.
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Protects children’s fingers
Transparent design
Easy to install
Prevents door closing fully
Price on writing: £24 | Adhesive: Yes | Works on cabinets without handles: No | Works on toilets: No | Works on fridges: No | Quantity: One
As if opening and closing cupboards wasn’t risky enough, children also love opening and closing doors, with a risk of serious injury if your child gets their fingers trapped. For peace of mind, the 120cm Cardea Child Door Finger Guard strip can certainly help, acting as a barrier to cover the gap between the door and the frame.
With no tools required, this self-adhesive strip is easy to install, although some reviewers found the adhesion started to wear off after a few months of use. With a transparent design, it blends seamlessly into your home decor, however by its very nature, it prevents the door from closing fully.
Stops kids opening doors with lever handles
Easy-to-operate release buttons
No tools required
Only suitable for cabinets with lever handles
Price on writing: £8 | Adhesive: Yes | Works on cabinets without handles: No | Works on toilets: No | Works on fridges: No | Quantity: Two
This lever door lock from Jolik has been designed to avoid the issue of kids locking adults out, which other lever handle locks can be prone to. The strong PVC lock stops handles from being moved up or down, while the dual-release buttons mean you can lock it out of the way to prevent adults from getting stuck on the wrong side of the door.
Installation is Instant using strong adhesive pads and if you are concerned about damage to your door when it's time to remove, the manufacturer recommends using a hairdryer to carefully heat the adhesive before removing it.
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What are 5 appropriate ways to childproof a house?
Child safety locks are just one way to create a safe home environment, but there are many other strategies you can put in place to keep your child safe.
Childproofing a house may come easily to risk-averse parents or those who already have experience with toddlers and children. But if this is your first child, then you might not know how to protect them from the dangers that are lurking in your home.
Luckily, we have five childproofing tips for you to implement in your home:
Keep dangerous products out of reach: The best way to keep your child safe is to hide dangerous items or keep them well out of reach. Think household cleaning products, chemicals, medications, plastic bags, matches, lighters and small objects that could be choking hazards. We recommend keeping dangerous items/products in a locked drawer or placing them in a cupboard that’s high up.
Cover dangerous items: Windows, radiators, exposed pipes, plug sockets and fireplaces can all be harmful to children. To keep your child safe, you can use window guards, protective material covers for radiators and exposed pipes, plug socket covers and fireguards to stop your child from touching the fire.
Use stair gates: Stair gates prevent children from falling down the stairs, however, they don’t always fit on all staircases unless you use extenders. If your staircase is too wide for a stair gate then we recommend that you install one between the door frames around your home. That way you can keep your children in one room and not have to worry about them getting up to mischief while you’re busy elsewhere in the house.
Secure furniture: Large and heavy items of furniture that aren't secured into place can be a serious hazard for children as they grow and explore. To prevent your children from pulling furniture onto themselves, you need to secure furniture, such as TV stands, bookcases, chest of drawers and shelving units, into the wall or floor. You can find a variety of anti-tip brackets and straps to keep all your furniture secure. You might also want to secure items, such as rugs, to the floor to prevent trip hazards.
Cushion sharp edges: Sharp corners can cause bumps, bruises and cuts, which is why you need to ensure your lower-level furniture is cushioned with corner guards. You can use corner guards to cover coffee tables, TV stands and bedside tables. You might also want to cushion things like fireplaces with a fireplace bumper cover.
When should I start babyproofing my house?
Babyproofing your home can take several days, weeks or even months, which is why we recommend you start as soon as possible. Many parents choose to babyproof their homes before giving birth so that, when the baby comes, you have one less thing to worry about and can rest easy knowing your home is safe and secure.
As you go around the house, keep an eye on things that could be harmful to your baby and find a way to make them safer. Most parents learn as they go, so watch as your baby interacts with their environment to spot any potential dangers that may need childproofing. The potential hazards will change as your baby grows, so you should reevaluate your safety measures once your baby starts crawling and walking.
How many child safety locks do I need?
There’s no right or wrong answer for how many child safety locks you need. It depends on the size of your home, the number of cupboards and drawers you have that are off-limits to children, and other safety preferences. You may decide not to secure your kitchen drawers and cupboards if you have a stair gate on the kitchen door.
Where should I install child safety locks?
You should consider installing child safety locks on low cabinets, drawers and cupboards in the kitchen and bathroom, and you might also want to install them in your utility room, living room and garage.
Essentially, you need to lock any dangerous items away, which means anything in reach that could cause injury or harm to your child. This includes (but is not limited to) items such as medicines, knives, cables and cords, glass jars or bottles, cleaning products (such as bleach or household cleaners), personal hygiene products (such as mouthwash and cosmetics), small items (such as batteries or buttons), gardening chemicals (such as pesticides) and car products (such as antifreeze or petrol).
How to choose the best child safety locks?
To choose the best safety locks for your children and home, here are some factors for you to consider before you buy:
Type of lock
There are plenty of designs to choose from, including magnetic, adhesive, pull cord and latch locks - all of which offer different levels of protection and ease of use. The type of lock you need depends on your child’s age, curiosity levels and problem-solving skills.
Magnetic locks: These are easy to use and offer excellent levels of protection as long as your child doesn’t get hold of the key. But they might be difficult to install, aren’t always suitable for thicker cupboards and you always need to have the key within reach to open the door (but out of reach of your child).
Adhesive locks: These locks are simple to install and remove, although some may be reluctant to use them on expensive cupboards for fear of leaving marks. Adhesive locks are often inexpensive, making them appealing to those on a budget. However, some brands don’t always provide adhesive stickers that last, and parents find that their children can rip them off.
Latch locks: These locks are easy to use and are screwed in, which while makes them particularly sturdy means they might not be suitable for parents who rent. Installing latch locks can be tricky and the cupboard door will still open a fraction, which won’t prevent your child’s fingers from getting trapped.
Installation
As mentioned above, some locks may be more difficult to install than others, so make sure you take this into account before buying. If you are not particularly confident using tools, you may prefer to opt for adhesive locks where you simply need to stick them into place.
Thickness of drawers
If you choose to use magnetic locks, you’ll need to ensure they’re powerful enough to open your drawers and cupboards, especially if they’re made from thick materials such as wood. Some magnetic locks come with more powerful keys that are strong enough to penetrate through doors up to 1.5 inches thick, so be sure to read the full specifications before making your choice.
Flexibility
Not all locks work on every surface, item of furniture or appliance, so it’s important to consider where you’ll need to place it. For example, some of our recommendations are a versatile lock that can work on cabinets, cupboards, drawers, fridges, toilets and bins, while others are specifically designed for cabinets.
Quantity
Child safety locks come in a variety of pack sizes, so depending on your home and child safety needs, you need to make sure that you have all your bases covered and accounted for. Count how many locks you’ll need before buying them, with a few spares to hand just in case.
Lock appearance
If you care about the aesthetics of your home then the appearance of the lock will also be worth considering. Some locks are designed to be invisible/installed on the inside of the cabinet, while others are installed on the outside and somewhat less discreet.
What are the best child safety locks?
We think the best child safety cupboard locks are the AYCORN® Magnetic Safety Cupboard Locks. These locks are highly rated in the Mumsnet community, and it’s easy to see why. This pack of 10 cupboard locks (and two keys) are quick and easy to install, and they work on a variety of cupboards, drawers and cabinets. What’s more, the AYCORN Cupboard Locks come with extra adhesive stickers included - meaning you can remove and replace them onto different cupboards as your child grows.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a Mum and Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.
Originally from a HR background with a degree in Business Studies, Lucy developed a real passion for blogging and writing when her children were young, going on to write for several online publications including US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard. When she’s not manically tapping the keys of her laptop, Lucy loves nothing more than to cosy up with her Kindle and enjoy the latest thriller, or compete in Nintendo Switch rallies with her daughters aged six and 10.
How we chose our recommendations
To find our recommendations, we took to the Mumsnet forums to find out which child safety locks real parents rely on to keep their children safe.
After compiling these real recommendations, we then went on to research each child safety lock and find out which ones were the best in terms of child safety, ease of use and ease of installation. We also evaluated expert reviews and advice on Which? and took to Amazon to discover what consumers thought about the safety locks.
From our in-depth research, we then compiled the top child safety locks that work best for most homes, and the ones that are most used and loved by real people.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.