What To Do About Lever Door Handles? (X-Post Baby Proofing)

[randomkid]

I posted this in Baby Proofing, but haven't gotten any replies so I'll try here.

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Well, DD can now reach the door handles in our home. I was really hoping it would be much later, but this week she has proven me wrong. We have the lever type handles throughout the house, but there are only a couple of doors that concern me.

Has anyone used this lock and how well does it work?

http://www.safebeginnings.com/WebCom...=Childproofing

Any suggestions for something better? I really don't want DD escaping into the garage anymore! I can keep the door locked, but this is really inconvenient on the weekends when DH is working in the yard or garage.

TIA,

[MichelleRC]

We have lever door handles and on the doors leading to the outside (garage, patio, etc), I had them changed out to regular doorknobs with a deadbolt higher than the kids can reach and put those spinny doorknob covers on too. For the interior doors, I used something similar to the one you posted about but it was made by Parents Magazine and I found it in Target. I have 2 little escape artists and a big 'ol Siamese cat who can open the lever handle doors also!

HTH!

[DebbieJ]

We used these:

http://www.safety1st.com/images/product/614_1_48400.jpg
http://www.safety1st.com/product.asp?productID=614

We have them on the door that leads to our basement and the door into our laundry room. You have to be careful installing, though, and be aware of the casing around your door. I can't exactly explain it, but these really only work on one side of the door because otherwise they will hit the casing and dent it.

And for doors that lead outside, we either locked the door or redirected him every single time and now he doens't even touch them.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/sty...onths-bfar.jpg

[smilequeen]

I have those. They have worked great for us, and were SO easy to install.

[CiderLogan]

Yes, we have the Safe Beginnings one. We like it. The only problem is that your child COULD take it off the door if they try hard enough (it's adhesive). My DD hasn't tried.

Jenny
Mom to Julia, 8/03
...and another GIRL due 5/29/06!

[kellyotn]

Ours is similar to this. Its Parents brand from Target.

I was slightly annoyed with it at first, because you have to actually lock and unlock it each time.

Then (lightbulb), it dawned on me to put in on upside down. That way, the adult can open the door by LIFTING the knob up vs. pushing it down. My daughter couldn't physically reach high enough to open the door, so it worked great. We didn't have to remember to lock it everytime, and you could always get in FROM the garage by just lifting the handle up. (ie, no getting locked in the garage!)