Ok I have decided that only way to keep food in the kitchen instead of being used as fairy dust on my floors is to lock it in. I would like to know what kind of kitchen locks you have used and if they worked or not. Thanks in Advance!
Coming from a Mom whose kid "gets into" things while I am using the bathroom, I feel your pain. Some helpful advice on cabinet locks. The one I liked the most was the magnetic kind. You use the magnet "key" to open the door. You can't see it from the outside and the rug rats can't open it w/o the "key." On a brighter note, I wish you luck! My nephew liked to get the chocolate syrup and paint the kitchen floor with it. CB
There is a bigger issue here than toddler locks. You are all over the place and "not giving your kids the calm consistent guidance and attention that they need". If you have a regular snack and meal time and do not allow them to dig in the food and dole it out to themselves then the problem will be solved.
The issue is about boundaries. They are not listening to you when you give a boundary and if it is not dealt with now then when they are 13 or even 8 they will be even worse.
You did not say what you were studying "online" but to me it would be better to go to school during the day if necessary full time and then when you are with them really focus on them.
we're happy with Tot-Locks. you simply install them and when you need to have them locked, you can do that, or you can choose to leave them unlocked which is very nice. with several other types of cabinet locks, you have to work around them all the time.
our little one isn't into the cupboards yet so we only engage the locks when our young nieces and nephews come over. i like that you can't see them from the outside of the cabinets and they aren't in the way when you try to open or close the doors. i hope this helps you.
Why not just say no and give time outs. If you involve them in the daily cooking, they can get out their curiosity at that time and then discipline for misuse. Not every home they go to will be childproofed and then you wil just face these issues there instead.
We have the magnetic cabinet locks, which work great. They were really hard to put in, but once they're in, they're great. You can turn them on and off, so you don't have to always have the cabinets locked if you don't want to. The magnet for opening the cabinets sticks to anything metal (light switches, power outlets, fume hood, fridge), so we haven't lost one yet. We got ours at Babies R Us, but I think Home Depot and Lowes have them too.
I'm in the same boat as the mom whose child gets into things while she's indisposed. The way our kitchen cabinets are, I pretty much have to have (some) breakables down low. Not a cabinet I want my little one into. Glass plate + Tile floor = Nice big mess!! Honestly, it isn't as much of an issue now that he's a bit older. But for some months, we *needed* something on at least a few cabinet doors in order to keep him safe.
I'll echo the magnetic locks recommendation. We used Tot Loks found at Lowe's, Home Depot (probably WalMart and Target too).
I'll also say that we had a Kids' Cabinet. Just one cabinet or drawer that they call their own. It has regular kitchen stuff in it: small (sturdy) skillet, a couple spatulas, large spoons, plastic cups, plastic bowls, etc. It let both my kids at that age feel more a part of things in the kitchen if they were able to go get something on their own.
HTH and hope it makes sense! Feel free to email with any questions!
K., mama to
Catherine, 5y
Samuel, 2y
EDD Sept '09
Honestly, I hated those locks. It's much easier for the kids to open them anyway. Once you install them, you have limited space to open them. But that space is perfect for little fingers. I think I kept them for a few months before I took them off. It was just easier for me to keep them out of the kitchen instead of fighting with the locks.
Sorry I couldn't be better help.
