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Kitchen Cabinets and Child Safety

When you have small children in the home, kitchen cabinets and drawers can turn from beautiful to deadly in a matter of moments. A heavy drawer of silverware pulled out all the way can topple and land on a child's head. Unsecured cabinet doors can be opened by tiny hands to reveal deadly chemicals and cleaners stored inside. Thankfully, there are products designed to help ensure that kitchen cabinets are made as safe as possible.

Sliding Cabinet Door Locks

There are many different types of cabinet door locking devices. One of the most popular is the simple plastic U-shaped bar that slides under two door handles and is cinched tight. This prevents little ones from opening the doors and getting into the contents behind. A drawback to this type of locking device is that, usually, even with the cabinet locking device on, the doors can still be opened a fraction of an inch. While children cannot get to the objects inside, they can get their finger caught in the tops of the cabinet doors. If using this type of device, make sure that it is cinched closed as tight as possible.

Y-Loop Cabinet Door Locks

If your cabinets have knobs instead of handles, the sliding cabinet door lock cannot be installed. The Y-Loop cabinet door lock is, however, perfect for knobbed cabinet doors. It is made of plastic and features two loops fashioned into a y-shape. They are placed around the cabinet door knobs and are cinched tight with the same type of sliding mechanism as the other type of cinching locks. They are placed on the exterior of the cabinets and are usually white in color. However, if the knobs are too small, it may be difficult to get the locking mechanism to stay in place without being easily removed by the child.

Inner Door Locks

This type of cabinet door lock is also popular, mainly because it is out of sight. It installs on the inside of the cabinet door and along the cabinet frame. A simple downward pressure releases the latch and allows the cabinet to be opened. Again, the danger of this type of latch is that it can result in pinched fingers. However, for those looking for a cleaner, less obvious child-safety device for kitchen cabinets, this is a good option.

Drawer Stops

Although many drawers are automatically installed with drawer stops, it is a good idea to reinforce the manufacturer's stops with additional high-quality drawer stops. Preventing the drawer from being pulled out all the way will go a long way to ensuring the safety of your children. If you need assistance or have questions about what to use, ask an expert at a cabinet supply shop or a local home improvement or hardware store.

Remember that the first two locks above are designed for double cabinet doors where the handles or knobs are facing each other. If you have a single cabinet door, it is better to use the inner door lock. While placing locks on cabinets above the counter top may not be necessary, protecting children from getting into the base cabinets is important. Heavy pots and pans, as well as cleaning chemicals stored under the kitchen sink can all pose potential dangers. A few minutes of installation can save countless hours in the ER.

Professional designer Jessica Ackerman, writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, and specializes in decorating with tropical wall decor and outdoor wall art.