Childproofing Tip

Once again, I'm back in the stage of "lock down"....This means that every cupboard, oven door, toilet seat, and stairway must be safe and secure because we have a toddler on the loose.

But there is definitely something very different about this time and this toddler. We have created a "monster"...A "MacGyver" of sorts. With our older children, parents would enter my house, take one look around (while picking their jaws up off the floor) and ask, "How in the world?' Translation: How do I keep so much stuff out with a toddler? I can honestly say that they never bothered anything. And they'd go into anybody's house and only play with toys. They weren't busy. They were merely curious.

Smugly, I used to think, "They only learn to leave stuff alone when it's out and not an option"....I really should learn to keep my keep my mouth (or mind) shut...I'm eating those words now.

After an entire week of relocating Leyton from the cupboards, toilets, dog bowls, pantry, entertainment center...Only to chase him again...I decided it was time to do some childproofing. I searched the internet for "hidden" cupboard locks.Those of you who know me well know I'm pretty particular about my house. I like it neat and orderly. I don't like ugly things hanging on cupboard doors or staircases.

 I found some, ordered them, even paid for two day shipping (yes, I was THAT eager). They arrive and we quickly learn that they aren't as easy to install as we thought (plus we have to somehow keep track of a key or we, too, are locked out of our cupboards)...They aren't as strong as we'll probably need and we realize that we paid $15 and only got TWO locks!!! This means our 24+ cupboards were going to be quite the investment.


But did I mention I'm married to a genius? Really! I am. He is so innovative and frugal (too bad he married me, right?). He decides, while I'm working all weekend, that he's going to make a trip to our local hardware store. This is what he comes up with...I'm still so thrilled with this...

They are these magnets that can be drilled in any which way you like...And they are STRONG...But for added strength (Refer to above comment, we have somehow created MacGyver) Brad put one on the top and one on the bottom of the door. This way he can't somehow maneuver his little fingers into the bottom and work his way up.

The BEST part? These cost $1.58...!!!! So, we purchased 16 of them for roughly $32...The cost of 4 locks of the "Kidco" brand.  Sigh...

So, now that all the cupboards are locked up, I can go back to working out the "normal" way...which includes an elliptical...instead of chasing MacGyver...