How to Baby Proof Kitchen Cabinets

When your little bundle of joy is born, it's hard to think of him getting into anything other than another bottle of milk or a cozy blanket. However, it won't be long before your little one is crawling around and exploring the world. In the kitchen, that means exploring cabinets that may contain heavy pans, sharp knives and dangerous chemical cleaners. Baby proofing your cabinets is an important part of keeping your baby out of harm's way.

Things You'll Need

  • Cabinet latches
  • Screwdriver
  • Screws
  • Cabinet locks
  • Baby gate

Instructions

    • 1

      Screw the "hook" part of a cabinet latch to the door and the "catch" part to the top of the cabinet frame. Make sure the screws are tight so that the latch parts do not move.

    • 2

      Place cabinet locks on the outside of the cabinets. These are cable ties or plastic sliding pieces that fit over the knobs on two doors and bind them together so the door cannot be opened. Cabinet locks are a good choice if you cannot use latches or if you want to ensure that the cabinets cannot be opened at all.

    • 3

      Screw latch parts onto any drawers above or next to the cabinets in the same way they were installed on the cabinet doors.

    • 4

      Move hazardous chemicals such as dish soap, drain cleaner, laundry detergent and floor cleaner to a high shelf or cabinet. The term "baby proofing" may be misleading because it does not offer any guarantee of keeping your baby out. "Baby resistant" may be a more appropriate term. As your child ages, she may figure out how to open the latches or locks. The only safe way to keep chemicals out of your baby's reach is to physically move them out of reach.

    • 5

      Purchase products with child-proof caps. On the off chance that your child breaks through the baby proofing you have put in place and gets to your household cleaners, medicines or other harmful substances, child-proof caps will offer another layer of protection to keep him safe.

    • 6

      Put up a baby gate to block entrance to the kitchen. It may be the only way to truly keep your baby away from potentially dangerous items.

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