How to Keep This Monster Out of the Pantry!!

Stop keeping the goodies in the pantry where he can reach them! Either move them to a shelf he can't reach or stop buying them altogether! And watch him more closely - when he starts making a move toward the pantry, tell him NO, he can eat what he's been given already if he's that hungry. Offer him 2 healthy choices and leave it at that.

I had a friend whose daughter was getting out of bed at night and pulling goodies out of the pantry. She didn't realize it until they were moving and she found tons and tons of various wrappers hidden in her daughter's room. At their new place they put a lock on the pantry. It can be a pain in the rear end but it kept her daughter out of the goodies.

Stop buying the junk.
Or keep it in that cabinet WAAAAAAAY over the fridge.
Or in the veggie crisper bins--they never look in there! ;)

Move the goodies? If that's not an option, the consider taking those goodies and putting them in a "non-clear" container up high on a shelf so he can't see them.

Out-of-sight, out-of-mind!

Give him the Teddy Grahams whenever he asks, every time, and I bet he doesn't even want them anymore after a week or so.
Control and denial has this effect on people--helps us learn to be sneaky. Makes the forbidden thing, even if it's not that great, seem even more wonderful.

I thought about maybe putting a gate across the door, but at 3 he can certainly climb over that, so maybe not. The idea of non-clear container was good, but that makes it hard for you b/c every time you go in there you'd have to hide what you're doing so he doesn't see what's inside that container. How about not changing the lock entirely but putting one of those hook and eye closures at the very top of the door. That way you can reach it and even if he stands on a stool or chair, he probably can't reach it. Then you don't have to change out the design of your pantry but it will keep him out and you can access it easily.

Change out the doorknob with one that has a key lock? ;-)

Move the goodies to a higher shelf?

Good luck!

Don't buy them anymore?
Implement rules and out him in the time out place when he disobeys?
Put them in a cupboard higher than the shelves?
Hide them where he absolutely doesn't go, like in your underwear drawer?

Hi Molly---Just don't bring home things that he wants to go after. If they're not in there, he won't go in there. Is there another place you can keep your daughter's preschool snacks...or send in fresh fruit as has been suggested. I have a friend who puts cinnamon on her cut apples. No browning and they taste delicious.

Good luck. D.

Hi, my grandson who is 4 decided to imitate what he saw on AFV and climbed int he fridge and shut the door. I freaked out!!! I caught the door just as it shut. It fit snugly and is sometimes hard for me to open. I put a hasp lock on it the next day and hit the Freon line which ruined our fridge.

We got a new fridge and it has a key lock on it. It is like a very long U that slides around the handles then the padlock slides on to the bottom of the U and locks in place.

I feel cruel sometimes but he tried to GET IN THE FRIDGE!!!!

If it is an impulse issue that might put his health at risk then I feel it is something that can be done. If you have handles that a chain lock, like a bike chain, then that would be an option. If you have a door that has 2 doorknobs or something like that you can use the chain here too. The key is kept out of reach at all times. It is on top of the fridge right now but has been staying in a coffee cup in the cabinet over the microwave. Or you could use a combination lock on a chain so you have no need for a key.

We had to get a lock for our pantry too once my son learned to open doors. Actually we got locks for a few doors in the house :o)
The one we got (at Lowes) just flips over the door (from the door frame) and locks in place so you can't open the door. You have to put it up higher of course. It's just metal and has a flat part that screws into the inside of the frame then theres a hinge and the other metal flat sticks out past the frame and can flap over the door when it's closed. (it slides down a little to lock into place then you lift it a little and flip it back over to unlock it) Hopefully that describes it well enough that you can find one if you want! :o)
Good luck!
(For our bathroom we actually got a front door handle that has a key and have the key hanging on a hook that's way up on the door frame. lol!)

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Whatever lock you use, put it very high up so he cannot even reach it.

Is it really only the grahams he's eating? Is that the only thing? Then put them elsewhere; it's OK to hide them. Your daughter should be able to have them for her snack without his raiding them. If there is any other junk or sweet stuff iin there, stop buying it and show him that the pantry no longer has X or Y in it.

Finally, along with a lock that''s high up, and discipline, try putting an alarm on the door. You can buy cheap door alarms at Home Depot types of stores. These have two parts, one for the door frame and one for the door itself; when the door is shut, the alarm is off, but when the door opens and the two parts are separated, a loud alarm goes off. These can be stuck on and don't require hardware, drilling, etc. Do not tell him it's there. If he does defeat the lock, not only will you know it, he will get quite a startling experience. And yes, put it high up so he cannot mess with it either!

What works for us is him having an area where he can go to get his own snacks in the pantry that way he is not digging thru the whole thing. And, if he does not close the door behind him or if he rifles thru the rest of the pantry then no snack ... took a few times but he gets it now.

Sounds like you do need a paddle-lock or a dead bolt. It's a pain I know. But sometimes these kids never stop. My daughter is finally losing weight on her own. She is 11 today. Last year I swear she was looking like a weeble. It was starting to break my heart. She has always ate non-stop and we try to keep only healthy food around. She sneaks and lies and it's so unhealthy to make the atmosphere about food negative all the time.

We went through the same thing. Moving items only made our son get more creative. And many times we would find our son just emptying random things. After dumping an Sam's club container of chocolate milk mix, I was done, things had to change! We installed a flip lock at the top of the door. We bought a color that matches our door knobs. http://www.homedepot.com/Doors-Windows-Door-Locks-Special... It has been a sanity saver. It's really simple to use and at the top of the door kiddos can't reach it. It doesn't bother us or get in the way. I installed ours in about ten minutes. I did have to put a small piece of wood (I used a paint stirrer) behind the side that attaches to the door, because the frame made the pieces not match up right. It cost five dollars and took ten minutes. Five years later I am still grateful to have it installed.

We made an early decision with DS. If we wouldn't allow DS to eat it because it would be unhealthy for him, then it would be unhealthy for us. So, we don't keep it in the house. The only foods in our pantry are foods that DS can eat (when prepared/cooked, etc).

I have never put locks on anything and we did spend some time when DS was 2-3 learning about spices and foods in the pantry. My son called it 'doing smells' He can recognize lots of spices by their smell, taste and appearance and understands why rice, beans and pasta need to be cooked to be edible, because he knows what they are like uncooked.

My DD is 3 and she'll get into things. When caught, she'll try to shove the contents in her mouth like I won't notice. I have taken things from her before, and also made her sit in time out. One day I was so irritated I had her spit out her stolen treat.

I've also explained to her that she can have x if she eats y. She can have teddy grahams if she eats her sandwich. But if she takes them without permission, the "bears" go in time out for the day.

I think part of it is she's at an age now where she has skills, opinions and preferences and wants to use them. I am trying to redirect that little brain into the sequence I prefer (good food, then treat, after asking).

I don't force DD to eat everything, but she needs to try things, and she won't get more blueberries if she doesn't eat some chicken.

my house is a gated factory....you cant go from one room to another without hopping a gate ....watching the older kids hop them in the afternoon makes me think my house should be incorporated in the olympics.....

Gate-Hopping....
Synchronized Folding.....
Speed Vaccing

Hide them in the coat closet. Works like a charm. :)

I don't know what you are using for punishment, but its obviously NOT working.

I solved this problem with mine very early, but that was 30+ years ago, and except for punishment and making them eat high fiber foods like apples and carrots so they were full, the problem was solved. I've seen so many parents only give their children food on their plates and then when they quit eating the foods they like, they throw the other foods away. That teaches them they are in control. I made my kids eat all the foods on their plate. If they wanted snacks, they got fruits and vegetables or PB&J. (My wife canned the jam or jelly, mostly jam.)

I have grand kids that the parents only "make" them eat what they want. So what's his diet? Chicken nuggets and french fries or tater tots and soda. Nutrition be hanged. Oh well!!! I teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves.

Good luck to you and yours.

I dont know,, mabe an air horn blasted from across the room, or an electric fence will stop him! lol. j/k, but really I see this at a couple friends homes too. Some kids are just relentless in the pursuit of treats. Gates, locks, hiding items, nothing works until you either stop buying the stuff, which is not really teaching them anything, and is unfair to everyone who should be allowed a treat now and then, or they just get old enough and stop on their own. What did you give him for breakfast that he wouldnt touch? Maybe you could make him things you know he will eat and give him 4 of the bear treats along with it. Its a tough one, especially when you are busy with the other kids and cant stand guard at the kitchen. Maybe, put them in a box, in your bathroom, lock the door, lock the bedroom, dont let him know where they are. easier said than done. Just say no, and find a punishment for bugging you about it. Or just let him have some.

Get the child locks that go up high on the door. We have something like this, it's only a few dollars at Home Depot.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41gNxN8ZoyL.jpg

Our pantry in an amoire, I actually have to lock it with a combination lock.

Hi Molly - we had a "little monster" too. We ended up putting one of those magnetic TotLocks on the pantry and then we just put the magnet on top of the fridge by the door. BTW - We also put one on the cupboard with medicines/vitamins and on the cabinet under the sink with the cleaning supplies

They work wonders - they are impossible to get into without the magnet. (Just ask my plumber, poor guy) : )

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B###-###-####W1/ref=asc_df_B###-...