How To Keep A Toddler Out of the Fridge
Your baby grows taller, stronger, and more curious by the day. Gone are the days when you could plop them down in a play yard so you could get some housework done or answer some work emails.
Babyproofing your home may be top of mind as your baby grows into a toddler. If you catch your child getting into things they shouldn’t, your home starts to look like a battleground of dangerous appliances and furniture that desperately need to be secured. But don’t stress! We’re the masters of baby-proofing, and we have the solutions you need.
This post breaks down how to effectively child-lock your refrigerator to keep your toddler safe and your food secure.
Products to Child Lock Your Refrigerator
Fortunately, quite a few products can help keep your toddler out of the fridge. They are easy to install and won’t damage your refrigerator or other appliances, so you can remove them once your children are old enough.
Here are some of the highest quality and best-rated products for child-locking your fridge.
Cabinet Lock Latch
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If you have a refrigerator with French doors, a cabinet lock system is a great option. The latch’s soft strap won’t scratch the surface of your fridge doors and doesn’t require any drilling, screws, velcro, or adhesive to install.
You can choose a combination for the lock that is easy to remember for easy opening. Your child won’t stand a chance against the safety lock and will quickly become distracted by something else in the kitchen.
The lock straps are adjustable to fit various fridge sizes, and the combination can easily be reset in 3 steps. The cabinet lock latch system is a solid choice if you need a product to keep your mischievous toddlers out of the fridge and secure certain food products.
Adhesive Strap Locks
These handy strap locks are similar to the latch system but are more accessible and more convenient to unlock. Rather than a combination to release the strap, you simply slide the gray button with one hand to gain access to your fridge. This type of strap is ideal for refrigerators with a door that opens from one side rather than the French door style.
The sliding mechanism is too complicated for tiny fingers to work themselves, effectively childproofing any appliance, toilets, drawers, and cabinet doors from your toddler’s curious mind. The straps are adjustable and easy to attach to various surfaces without damaging the paint or wood.
This product uses a sticky adhesive to attach the strap to any surface securely. Most reviewers rave about the effectiveness of these straps and how well they prevent toddlers from trying to open furniture, drawers, appliances, cabinets, and more. This particular product comes in a pack of 6, so you can conveniently babyproof more appliances and furniture as you see fit.
Fridge Lock Cable Ring
Made from sturdy PVC and stainless steel, the cable fridge ring lock offers over 1,000 combinations so everyone in your family can remember the code.
Simply attach the ring to your refrigerator’s French doors, choose your combination, and set the lock. Your child may notice the ring around the fridge handles and want to play with it, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing the doors will stay shut and everything inside is secure.
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French Doors Fridge Lock
This invisible door lock has a transparent design, so it won’t attract your toddler’s attention and will keep your doors securely closed. Featuring a round, smooth surface and easy-to-install adhesive, you’ll have no issue attaching it to your fridge’s French doors.
If you’re looking for a stylish design that is effective at keeping your refrigerator doors shut, this elegant fridge lock may be a great fit for your family. It will blend nicely with a stainless steel or dark refrigerator and has a convenient transparent lock on the underside so you can easily access the fridge when needed.
Related post: How to Babyproof House Plants
DIY Tips to Childproof Your Refrigerator
If you’re more of the handy type, here are a few DIY ideas that you can implement to keep your toddler out of the refrigerator. You only need a few tools, a dose of creativity, and a can-do attitude!
Command Hooks
Invest in heavy-duty Command hooks to attach on either side of your refrigerator, then use a stretchy band like a hair tie to keep the door securely shut. When your toddler grabs the handle and tries to open the door, the band will stretch, but the door won’t budge.
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Baby Gate
If your toddler is relentless and won’t give up on trying to access the refrigerator, you can outsmart them by simply preventing access to the fridge entirely. Install an adjustable baby gate so they can’t get close enough to the fridge to open the doors or access anything that may harm them.
A baby gate may not be a permanent solution to your childproofing. Still, it will get the job done temporarily if you have multiple children or you have friends coming over who have young children and your home isn’t securely baby-proofed.
Related post: How To Babyproof Drawers and Cabinets
Wrap up – How to Keep a Toddler Out of the Fridge
Babyproofing your home doesn’t have to be stressful or happen all at once. As your child continues to grow and explore, you will catch on quickly to the items that need to be secured from their curious minds and fingers.
It’s a great idea to have some childproofing supplies on hand; from command hooks, cabinet and drawer locks to latches and locking mechanisms, you won’t regret having a few products on hand when your child discovers something new and potentially harmful that they want to explore. It can’t hurt to be prepared!