Few things define a toddler as much as their curiosity. They are at an age where their brains are in full development mode, and as a consequence, they’re driven to learn as much as they can about the world around them. Unfortunately, this often drives toddlers to go places they shouldn’t, often faster than mom or dad could ever notice or catch them! Of course, around the house, a great tool to keep your child safe is childproof locks to secure doors, both internal and external, so your child can’t easily roam out of sight.

But these locks are so popular, it can be difficult to choose the right one. As a parent, particularly if you’re a first time parent, you want to make the right choice, but there’s often no clear guideline to differentiate between the different options you might see on the shelf. While we don’t sell childproofing sets, we do know quite a bit about doors and locks, and thought might be able to offer some unbiased and helpful advice on your journey by highlighting some criteria you want to consider when choosing a childproofing plan.

Durability: Kids are rough on pretty much everything. Your house, your furniture, and even you. With that in mind, when choosing a childproof lock, you want to find one that will stand up to the abuse of a curious toddler. Kids unfortunately don’t try to open a door then walk away when they fail on the first attempt. Chances are, they’ll keep trying. Again, remember their curiosity is in high gear at this point, so they’ll keep at it, trying to get through. This may mean pounding on the door, or shaking at the nob repeatedly, so you want to find a lock that won’t snap on the first good push.

Ease of Use: You’re going to have your hands full as a parent, both metaphorically and literally from time to time. With that in mind, you want to find a lock that’s easy for you to use. If a childproof lock is too difficult to use, you’re creating possible safety hazards by leaving yourself stuck fiddling at a door you can’t open. The alternative is you may find it too tempting to leave the childproof lock disengaged for a significant portion of time, making it easier for you to pass through the doorway, but also negating the safety that should be provided by the childproof lock in the first place.

Childproofing: Of course, the final factor to consider is whether the child proof lock is actually childproof. This isn’t a binary choice however, some locks may be fine if you have a younger child who hasn’t developed the fine motor skills that will come with time, but as your child grows and develops, your childproof locks will need to advance as well. A simple latch or over handle barrier is fine for restricting the movement for some toddlers, but you may find your child needs something more advanced. A child that’s curious enough to figure out how to open some childproofing locks may also be curious enough to venture into places they shouldn’t go unsupervised. While you will do your absolute best as a parent, the simple fact is that children can be unpredictable at times, and you’re doing what you can to protect them.