3 year old and FRIDGE

[harvalp]

We had one of those latching locks on the fridge, but the little one rapidly discovered how to open it. Now he is taking food from the fridge and snacking continuously. He's attained the 91st percentile height to weight ratio, and you can't see his ribs. Has anyone discovered a 3 year old boy proof fridge lock please?

At 3 I'd be inclined to make a shelf or cupboard an accessible place with things he's allowed to help himself to (fruit, veg, whatever) and then ban fridge access. By that age mine knew not to touch the cooker or fire, so teaching that he needs to ask permission before having food from the fridge shouldn't be too much to ask IME.

Thanks for the reply, but he feels so terribly hungry... I suspect only a combination padlock is going to work. And, though nominally 3, he's really still developmentally in the terrible twos.

He probably feels hungry all the time because he has got used to the feeling of being permanently 'full' if he is snacking so much. I'd try and stick to 3 meals and then 2 small snacks in-between if absolutely necessary. I have 3 boys and if there is no food about they don't really think about it! Don't have an answer for the fridge - try not to put anything nice in there!!

Is it a full-height fridge? Can a latch go out of his reach? TBH I'd put my foot down - dd knows she's not allowed to take food from the fridge or the side without permission and she gets in trouble if she does.

what kind of food is he snacking on? Is there any way you could allow him to help himself to healthy snacks from a particular shelf and make sure everything else is in secure containers?

Some children don't seem to be able to make it through to mealtimes without snacks (my dd2 being one of them) but I do limit them and try to keep them healthy. Dd1 on the other hand could easily skip a meal and not notice!