Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is the point in a child lock?!

25 replies

MooseBreath · 21/07/2022 12:26

Our washing machine broke two weeks ago and our new one has just arrived. We chose this one for many reasons, one of which was that it has a child lock, as 2YO DS is a serial button pusher.

Just put on a load only to find out 15 minutes later that the child lock doesn't stop the child from turning off the machine mid-cycle! Surely this makes the child lock useless, as DS will continue turning off the machine whenever I'm doing the laundry? He's been told not to push the buttons, but as I said before...he's 2.

AIBU that a child lock should prevent any messing with the machine while it's in use?

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 21/07/2022 12:29

Yeah that’s annoying as hell. The child lock on my machine stops buttons being pressed.

Original poster
MooseBreath · 21/07/2022 12:37

Yes, my old one had a child lock that would stop any changes from happening (drawer and door locked, all buttons locked). Clearly designed by someone without kids!

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 21/07/2022 12:40

Are you sure its not faulty?

Ontomatopea · 21/07/2022 12:41

Mine does. I'd say it wasn't fit for purpose and send it back.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 21/07/2022 12:42

Safety feature only as far as I’m aware. Stops kids killing themselves from a spinning monster. Not protect your washing. I’ve never had that! Can still press buttons.

Original poster
MooseBreath · 21/07/2022 12:42

It's not faulty. I checked the manual and it said the Power function was not included in the child lock.

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 21/07/2022 12:44

Whats the point in it then?

babysoupdragon2 · 21/07/2022 12:45

Yep mine is the same. Bloody terrible design. Resorted to gaffer taping a piece of cardboard over the buttons when toddler was at the peak of button pressing stage.

TamSamLam · 21/07/2022 12:45

Mind is like yours. It stops the buttons doing anything (except the childlock button) and you can't change settings (dial) but you can turn it off with the dial.

So not super useful, but I guess it's getting them sales so it's working for them.

Original poster
MooseBreath · 21/07/2022 13:16

@PuttingDownRoots Genuinely not sure of the point!

OP posts:
Carrieonmywaywardsun · 21/07/2022 14:48

You can't disable the on/off button on an electronic device like a washing machine in case of emergencies. You always need to be able to turn it off and kids 'should' be kept away from it to stop them from pressing the buttons (obviously not always possible, but it's still expected)

gamerchick · 21/07/2022 14:53

You should never not be able to cut the power on a washing machine. They're a fire hazard. If the brain throws a wobbler while it's on spin or on a rinse and you can't shut it off, then what?

Maybe a babygate to the room it's in..

BringOnSummerHolidays · 21/07/2022 14:57

But you always need to power off in an emergency. I put a stair gate to the kitchen area. The washing machine isn’t the only hazard

EV117 · 21/07/2022 15:02

Child lock is for safety isn’t it? Not to stop children pressing buttons and messing with your wash cycle. Where is your washing machine? Can you put a gate up?

coffeecupsandfairylights · 21/07/2022 15:07

You should always be able to turn off a washing machine or dryer mid-cycle. What if there was a leak or a blockage or it started smoking, and you had the child lock on and could do nothing about it?

It's a safety feature to allow the machine to be switched off mid-cycle. Removing that would be madness.

TamSamLam · 21/07/2022 15:14

Obviously you need to be able to turn it off, but presumably anyone who is capable of running a washing machine understands the concept of a plug socket, and generally kids can't reach those.

RedWingBoots · 21/07/2022 15:19

TamSamLam · 21/07/2022 15:14

Obviously you need to be able to turn it off, but presumably anyone who is capable of running a washing machine understands the concept of a plug socket, and generally kids can't reach those.

Depends on where the socket is.

The OP needs to block access to the buttons or preferably access to the entire machine.

Babdoc · 21/07/2022 15:56

Most washing machines are located either in a kitchen or a utility room, both of which contain multiple hazards, and should not be accessible to unsupervised toddlers cruising round looking for fun ways to stab/poison/electrocute/scald or burn themselves!
Incidentally, DD actually had to fit a child lock on her fridge. She is childless - but the cat had learned how to open the door and take out chicken portions…! Security is an endless chore.

Wafflesnsniffles · 21/07/2022 15:58

My machine is a bosch - if the child lock feature is on........ no amount of button pushing alters what its doing unless the child somehow figures out which two buttons to push simultaneously (which is tricky even for me to remember!)

coffeecupsandfairylights · 21/07/2022 16:04

TamSamLam · 21/07/2022 15:14

Obviously you need to be able to turn it off, but presumably anyone who is capable of running a washing machine understands the concept of a plug socket, and generally kids can't reach those.

The way our units are fitted and the size of our kitchen means that you'd have to move the fridge and the oven out of the way to be able to access the plug for the washing machine.

I wouldn't fancy having to do all that while my machine flooded my kitchen or was roasting hot and smoking!

hedgehoglurker · 21/07/2022 16:09

It stops them changing your settings. If you put delicates in a cool wash with minimum spin, your child can't change it to a cottons 90 degree 1600 spin. I understand your frustration, but safety is more important as pp have said.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/07/2022 16:42

Could you stick a square of the rougher side of velcro onto the main button so he is deterred from pressing it?

Original poster
MooseBreath · 21/07/2022 19:01

I understand that for safety you need to be able to turn it off. But the child lock is quite simple to use if you know what to do, and there are instructions under the buttons themselves.

OP posts:
coffeecupsandfairylights · 21/07/2022 19:04

MooseBreath · 21/07/2022 19:01

I understand that for safety you need to be able to turn it off. But the child lock is quite simple to use if you know what to do, and there are instructions under the buttons themselves.

Even so, I suspect it's to make it as quick and easy to switch off as possible. If there's smoke billowing out of it, for example, and you're in a panic, you just want to turn it off, not worry about instructions.

RedWingBoots · 22/07/2022 13:01

Babdoc · 21/07/2022 15:56

Most washing machines are located either in a kitchen or a utility room, both of which contain multiple hazards, and should not be accessible to unsupervised toddlers cruising round looking for fun ways to stab/poison/electrocute/scald or burn themselves!
Incidentally, DD actually had to fit a child lock on her fridge. She is childless - but the cat had learned how to open the door and take out chicken portions…! Security is an endless chore.

😂

I've seen cats and dogs open cupboards to get to their food (or where they think it is), but not seen one open a fridge.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page