Having a small child in your home means you have to learn to develop a sense of "ESP" and learn to always think ahead and forecast all potential actions and behaviors that your little toddler will go through. With this second sense comes the important need to implement and execute measures to make your home safe and childproof. An important area of the home that should not get overlooked on your quest for making the home a safe place for your child is the bathroom, because the bathroom can definitely be a place of curiosity, but also a place that can be hazardous to an inquisitive toddler. One measure that can be implemented is installing a toilet lid lock.
A toilet lid lock is a device that can be attached and installed on the toilet to prevent the curious toddler from playing around in the toilet bowl and stuffing up the plumbing with toys, or worse, falling in potentially drowning. Some toilet lid locks use a spring loaded arm-like attachment that latches the toilet lid closed, while others are more of a seat lock that clamps the toilet lid shut, making it difficult for the wandering toddler to open it and create an unsafe situation.
What to Look for
When searching for the right toilet lid lock to childproof your home, be sure to note the type of toilet lid you have, because some toilet locks do not fit all types of lids. For example, you may have a hard time finding a quality toilet lid lock that works well with a padded toilet seat, in which case you may want to change out the toilet seat to better accommodate a childproof toilet seat lock.
A quality toilet lid lock will be easy to open for adults and will have a one-hand release mechanism that's easy for an adult to operate, but will be difficult for the small hands of a toddler to operate. Some utilize a spring-loaded arm that swings out over the actual toilet lid to prevent it from being opened, while other types clamp on to the side of the toilet seat and lock it in place. It should be easy to install and fit properly on to your specific toilet, meaning it works well on both standard and padded toilet seats. Try to stay away from toilet lid locks that require screwing them into place or the use of a sticky adhesive, as these types may damage your toilet seat while not really ensuring safety anyway.
Common Pitfalls
Installing a toilet lid lock may create problems for the toddler that is in the process of potty training. You will want, at some point, to encourage toilet independence, but installing a toilet lid lock may not allow the toddler to be totally independent and there may be some "potty accidents" as a result. There are also problems with the spring-loaded arm type of toilet lid locks, because young toddlers may try to pry at the arm and, if strong enough, break it. Remember that children are like sponges and take in everything; they may be observant enough to watch how you open the toilet lid lock and learn real fast how to open it themselves. In this case, a toilet lid lock will be an ineffective means to childproofing the bathroom. Typically, when the toddler reaches age 3, the toilet lid becomes an unnecessary need.
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