Drawers pose a danger to small children and babies, especially when they contain small objects that an infant or toddler can choke on or sharp items such as knives and scissors. Aside from the contents, drawers also may slam closed on tiny fingers, fall all the way out onto an unsuspecting toddler or unbalance the furniture so that it topples onto the child. According to KidsHealth, unintentional injuries are the top cause of death for kids under 14 years old, so childproofing is essential to all parents.
Step 1
Locate all of the drawers in the home. Focus mainly on low-lying drawers such as those under the entertainment center, bottom desk drawers and kitchen drawer sets that reach almost to the floor. Don't forget about higher drawers, however, since these may pose a hazard if the baby or toddler reaches out when being held or climbs on top of other furniture.
Step 2
Clean out all low-lying drawers of anything dangerous to a young child. Place sharp or small objects in a latched box on a high shelf or in a high drawer with a lock on it.
Step 3
Fill low-lying drawers with books or other heavy objects. This will make furniture bottom-heavy so that it is less likely to fall over once the baby starts cruising the furniture.
Step 4
Purchase drawer latches. These come in a range of styles, including spring-operated latches and magnetic latches that require a magnetic key to open. Choose the type of lock that will be most convenient for you while being safe for your child. You may have to try several styles before you find one that works, since sometimes a toddler may learn how to get around certain types of safety locks after attempting for a while.
Step 5
Install the safety latches according to the manufacturer's instructions. Different types of latches may require specific tools or techniques to install them properly.
Step 6
Check each drawer after installing the latches to make sure that the drawers are, indeed, unable to be opened. If a latch was installed incorrectly, you want to catch it at this stage, not when a baby or toddler bypasses the latch and opens the drawer.
Tips and Warnings
- If you're uncomfortable or unsure about childproofing the drawers in your home by yourself, you can hire a professional childproofer or child safety consultant to come do it for you.
- Don't substitute childproofing for supervising. Infants and toddlers should have a responsible adult watching them at all times.
Things You'll Need
- Box with a lock
- Books or other heavy objects
- Child safety locks for drawers
