Pocket door child proofing

[Sidney]

My parents just purchased a new house that has a sliding pocket door that leads down to the basement, so we need a way to childproof the door. Is there a recommended way to do this?

Thanks!

[truly scrumptious]

We are in the process of installing one in our house and wondering the same thing. How about an old fashioned hook latch like this one?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004CO...298232-9260606

[hellokitty]

Lol, good luck! DS3 was ok with the pocket door, until he became strong enough to open it. We just deal with it. However, I agree that the hook latch might be the best option.

[o_mom]

I would just gate the stairs. Pocket doors are a pain to childproof because if you attach anything to the face of the door, it will not be able to slide back. Also, if you attach anything to the edge, it won't be able to fully close.

In our previous house we used the hook and eye set up to keep them fully open. If you attach it so that the door is fully closed, with one part on the door face and one part on the frame, you won't be able to open the door all the way. You may be able to attach the eye to the edge and make it so that it will fully open, but when the hook is latched, it will be cracked about an inch. You could place some sort of padding or stop on the frame so that if someone tries to close it they won't bang the eye into the frame.

[RunnerDuck]

We used hook and eyes with the theory the adults would know not to open them far enough to mess it up... but in time tie girls learned to drag things over to reach the hooks, flung the doors open, and knocked the eyes out...