Toddler-Proofing Your Doors: Essential Hardware Upgrades for a Safer Home

Watching your children grow into curious toddlers is exciting, yet it also signals that it’s time to pay close attention to your doors. As you may already know, toddlers love to explore — they are naturally curious about what lies behind closed doors and often try opening them throughout the day. Without taking the necessary precautions, they may encounter problems that pose a threat to their safety within your home. Thankfully, you can toddler-proof your doors to create a safer home for your children. 

This blog post serves as a guide, providing you with vital information for toddler-proofing your doors, as well as the essential hardware upgrades you need to make a safer home. 

Why Toddler-Proofing Doors Is a Nonnegotiable for Parents

Door safety for toddlers is a nonnegotiable step necessary for keeping your child safe. Ignoring it can expose them to several hidden dangers and accidents, such as getting their fingers caught in a door hinge or gaining access to rooms containing dangerous objects. You should prioritize toddler-proofing your doors for several reasons, including: 

• It’s age-appropriate: At this stage in your child’s life, they are naturally curious, and simply telling them not to open or close a door may not yield the desired results. However, when you toddler-proof your doors, you can rest assured that your child is safe and protected from exposure to unwanted elements. 
• To prevent unsupervised exits: Toddler-proofed exit doors help keep children safely inside the house, preventing them from wandering outside unsupervised.  
• To prevent accidents: Toddlers are at risk of several door-related injuries in the home. By taking door safety measures, you can protect your toddler from these accidents. 

A Guide to Childproof Door Hardware Options

There are several layers involved in toddler-proofing your doors to create a safer home. Every door leads to a different room or place, and as such, you should ensure that you use the appropriate hardware for each one. Let’s examine the various doors in a home and some of the best baby proofing products you should consider investing in. 

How to Childproof the Front Door

Toddlers love to enjoy the outdoors as much as adults. Front doors are your first line of defense against intruders and also keep your child from wandering outside unsupervised. Here are some essential hardware upgrades for your front door to keep your toddler safe within the home: 

• High-quality deadbolts: One way to ensure your toddlers can’t open your front door without assistance from an adult is to install high-quality, childproof deadbolts — preferably in a position out of their reach. This way, your toddler will never wander outside unsupervised. Deadbolts act as a complementary security measure to your standard door lock. In addition to providing door safety for toddlers, a high-quality deadbolt also protects your home from intruders. 
• Child-resistant door levers: If your exterior door features lever-style handles, consider investing in child-resistant door levers to enhance safety and prevent toddlers from turning the handle. These childproof door handles are still available in elegant designs that can complement your home’s aesthetics. 

Securing Interior Doors to Unsafe Areas

While every door in your home should have door security to protect your toddler, some doors leading to specific rooms require extra attention. For instance, areas like bathrooms and kitchens are considered unsafe because unsupervised access can pose higher safety risks — children can easily slip and fall in a bathroom or pick up sharp objects in the kitchen. The following are essential hardware upgrades you need to secure these unsafe areas in your home. 

• Childproof door handle: This solution is designed to prevent toddlers from accessing unsafe areas of a house. 
• Safety door handle lock: Door handles are a common target for toddlers and can be easily operated without safety precautions in place. Door handle locks make it extra difficult for children to turn knobs and handles of doors leading to dangerous spaces. 

How to Childproof a Sliding Glass Door

Sliding glass doors enhance the visual appeal of a space, both internally and externally. They provide excellent lighting and views, but at the same time, can pose a safety hazard for children, from risks of accidental opening to the danger of trapped fingers. These associated risks make it pertinent to childproof sliding glass doors in your house. Some door safety solutions you can explore include: 

• Sliding glass door lock: With sliding door locks installed at the top of your door, it’ll be impossible for toddlers to slide it open from inside or outside. 
• Security bar: Placing a security bar at the bottom track of your sliding glass door prevents it from sliding open. 

Supplementary Safety Devices

Supplementary door safety solutions can provide an extra level of protection for toddlers in your home. Some common ones include: 

• Doorknob covers: This solution works by encasing doorknobs with covers that are difficult for a toddler to grip and turn. 
• Door alarms: A door alarm is a reliable way to draw the attention of nearby adults if your child opens a door to the outside or accesses unsafe areas unsupervised. 
• Door stops and holders: In situations where you have to keep specific doors open, door stops and holders help prevent them from slamming shut and potentially injuring a toddler in the house. 

Maintaining Your Home’s Aesthetic — Safety Meets Style 

The safety of your toddler doesn’t have to be at the expense of your home’s aesthetic. At Premium Hardware, we prioritize both elegance and reliability when it comes to toddler-proofing door hardware. Whether you are looking for child safety door locks with no screws or the best child safety locks for your front door, we have products that combine safety with style. Some of our top picks of essential hardware for door safety include: 

• High-quality deadbolts: Our collection of childproof front door deadbolts offers a variety of designs and finishes to match any desired aesthetic, while providing superior protection for toddlers. 
• Sliding door locks: Combining elegant design with enhanced security, our range of sliding door locks protects toddlers against risks associated with sliding glass doors. 

Protect Your Toddler With Reliable Hardware From Premium Hardware

Toddlerhood is an exciting phase of a child’s life. They are curious about everything and, as such, will most likely attempt to open doors that lead outside or to dangerous areas in the home. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to toddler-proof your doors and invest in the proper hardware necessary to keep your child safe. Doing so gives you more peace of mind while allowing your child to explore their home safely. 

At Premium Hardware, we are committed to helping parents create safer homes for their children without compromising on aesthetics. We offer a wide range of elegant, secure and reliable door hardware for toddler-proofing doors in the house, including front doors, sliding glass doors and doors leading to restricted areas. To make your home safer for your toddler, explore our extensive range of products. You can also contact us to request product recommendations.