Childproofing a front door

[tigerpug]

Just about to move into our new house. The front door has a lock like this one:

www.diy.com/nav/build/doors/door-security/door_latches/Yale-Britsh-Standard-Nightlatch-Brass-Finish-40mm-9276784

Our 3 year old can reach up and twist the handle, letting himself out of the front door and onto a road - not good...

Do any of you clever folk have any ideas on how I can childproof the front door? Obvious solution would be to add a door chain, or deadbolt the door when we are at home, but that means that no other key holder can let themselves in.

Is there any other way to secure the door from the inside, whilst allowing other people to let themselves in?

A mortice lock or a standard yale lock. A yale lock is usually placed higher than a handle and when it is closed a 3 year old would not reach the catch. A keyholder just lets themselves in from the outside. A mortice lock could replace the current locking system. However,if this not a wooden door, you may have a problem as fixing additional locks is difficult.

Yes, you'd have to add another lock with a keyhole which can be opened from inside or out.

I'd probably just go for the chain TBH. You could take it off when you know DH or whoever is due home, or since you'll be in when it's on anyway, the person who wants letting in can shout through the half opened door.

Or can you gate off access to the door with a stairgate?

The one in your picture has a keyhole in the internal knob.

Turning that means that a person cannot turn the internal knob to open the door. E.g. if they have smashed a glass panel in the door and shoved their arm in, or through the letterbox, or if they have climbed into the house through a window and want to open the door so they can walk out carrying your possessions.

The intention is to make life difficult for burglars, but it will also prevent a child opening the door from the inside until they have learned to get the key from your bag.

The door can still be unlocked with a key from outside.

People who lock the door at night can screw a cup-hook into the edge of the frame, at the top, on the hinge side, and put the key there in case of emergency. It will be out of sight or reach of any callers outside the door.

Oh yes that's a point - even if it doesn't have that, yale locks usually have a sliding knob on the inside to fix it either locked or unlocked.

It does mean you can't open it from the outside though.

We have a front door that DD could have opened from the inside from when we moved in when she was 2.5years. She never tried.

it looks to me that there is a keyhole on the inside. lock it, take the key out, put it somewhere nearby out of toddler reach (and letterbox fishing) but where all the adults know where it is.

simple.

Oh mumsnetters, you are ace! Ive just tried the key in the inside handle and it only bimmin' locks the door from the inside. Amazing. Im a donkey... apologies for my stupidity.

I will get another key cut and keep it somewhere safe, out of reach and near the door so we can get out in emergencies.

Mr PigletJohn, I owe you one....