I think all parents would agree, crawling is the one of the most significant milestones in a baby’s first year. It also brings the most fun because your baby is finally mobile! Playtime becomes a lot more active with new games, toys and learning.
Then comes the realization that crawling comes with a lot more mischief and even danger! We finally decided it was time to baby-proof our home after a few attempts by our son Benny to open kitchen and bathroom cabinets. After all, to quote Benjamin Franklin: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. After combing through expert advice, speaking with other moms and adding our own observations, we made a thorough baby-proofing checklist and set out to research products and solutions.
One by one, we found solutions to neutralize or prevent every hazard on our list. While some were easier than others, we really struggled with baby proofing the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. We knew kitchen and bathroom cabinets were potential hazards in so many ways for Benny, and for us. We kept sharp knives and shears in kitchen drawers; cleaning agents under sink were poisonous; cabinet drawers and doors could slam into little fragile fingers…Or just get slammed for fun, causing wear and tear; pots, pans and stainless steel mixing bowls made great drums, wreaking havoc on our ears!
Finding the right product turned out to be harder than we thought. We were renting so we knew we any solution needed to be removeable without leaving a trace. There were still hundreds of options with completely different locking systems. If you’re just as lost as we were, we have shared a complete comparison of the different baby proofing systems below.
Cutting to the Chase
We rated 6 of the most popular locking systems against 4 qualities:
- Effectiveness: how well did the locking system work at keeping babies and toddlers out?
- Versatility: could the system be used universally? Or did it only work on specific cabinets?
- Convenience: how easy was it for adults to open and close the cabinets and drawers, especially with one hand?
- Looks: aesthetics is very personal, so we rated locking systems on how visible they were, with fully invisible products receiving the highest rating
Please note, this is not a product evaluation, rather, we are rating how well each locking system performs according to each criterion. Within each system, there are lots of brands and products of varying quality levels. This article is meant to walk you through the pros and cons of each locking system to narrow your search as a starting point.
We have cut to the chase and provided a chart summarizing the evaluation. This is followed by detailed descriptions, pros and cons for each system below.
| Lock System |
Spring Latches |
Magnetic Locks |
Adhesive Straps |
Sliding Locks |
Cord Locks |
Elastic Bands |
| Overall ★ |
4.5 |
4.3 |
4.0 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
1.8 |
| Effectiveness |
★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
★★★ |
★★★★ |
★★★ |
★★ |
| Versatility |
★★★★ |
★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
★★ |
★ |
★ |
| Convenience |
★★★★★ |
★★★ |
★★★★★ |
★★ |
★★★ |
★★★ |
| Invisible |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
★★★ |
★★ |
★★ |
★ |
| Cost/Door |
$1.20 - $2.30 |
$1.36 - $3.75 |
$1.40 - $4.50 |
$1.50 - $2.24 |
$2.00 |
Free |
Regular Elastic Bands
Yes, wrapping an elastic band around 2 handles will stop cabinet doors from opening. We found the best were the thick blue vegetable bands, but any thick band with the right tension will do the trick!
Pros
It’s FREE. Reuse elastic bands from store-bought vegetables or purchase a bag of elastic bands from the dollar store. Make sure you don’t use thin bands because they can easily snap and become a hazard for you and your baby!
Cons
Effectiveness ★★ - As mentioned above, elastic bands can become a hazard if they snap. Use thick elastic bands to reduce the risk. Even thicker bands can snap with wear and tear, so be sure to check regularly for cupping or fractures as these are signs the elastic is about to go.
Versatility ★ - Elastic bands are not very versatile. They only work when there are 2 cabinet doors with knob handles to attach to. They don’t work with bar, cup or pull handles, drawers or single cabinet doors.
Convenience ★★★ - Cabinets can be opened and closed with one hand, although the elastic band can sometimes fly off. Even worse, babies watching mommy and daddy will try to imitate. Because they don’t have the finger strength and dexterity, the elastic can fly off and scare or injure them.
Invisible ★ - Finally, these are unsightly. We didn’t mind and tried it in our ensuite bathroom, but we needed another solution for our kitchen cabinets that had bar shape handles.
Cord Locks
Cord locks function similarly to elastic bands except they use a non-stretch cord with a lock that can set tightly to keep the cabinets closed or be loosened to open the cabinets.
Pros
They are easy to install and very safe for babies. There is no risk of snapping elastics bands.
Cons
Convenience ★★★ – Opening these with one hand is a breeze, so you can quickly grab something while holding something else in the other hand. Unfortunately, cord locks require 2 hands to lock up again, so you’ll have put down what you’re holding, or remember to lock up after you’ve finished your task.
Effectiveness ★★★ - Because locks can be opened with the push of a button, they are also easy for toddlers to figure out. We used these after deciding the elastic band was too dangerous. They were great at first, but it didn’t take long for our son Benny to figure out how to open the cord lock and get inside the cabinet.
Versatility ★ - Like elastic bands, these are not very versatile. They only work when there are 2 cabinet doors with knob handles.
Invisible ★★ - From a looks perspective, these are an upgrade from elastic bands, however, they are still visible. For our kitchen cabinets, we preferred to have an invisible option.
Sliding Locks
Sliding locks function similarly to cord locks, in that they loop around 2 handles, however, it is a rigid “D-Shape” lock with an end that can slide open or shut.
Pros
Effectiveness ★★★★ - They are also easy to install and very safe for babies. They tend to be highly effective because most babies and toddlers don’t have the dexterity and finger strength to pinch the opening mechanism (think child car seat belts). Sliding locks didn’t earn 5 stars on effectiveness is they do allow cabinets to open a little, so babies can still joggle the doors.
Cons
Versatility ★★ - Because the end can completely slide off, these can be used on cabinets with bar handles, so they are a little more versatile than cord locks. However, they still won’t work on cabinets with cup or pull handles and all drawers or cabinets with single doors.
Convenience ★★ – While it is possible to open these with one hand, it requires some clever maneuvering and a couple of steps. It would be simpler to just put down what you’re holding and use both hands to open the lock in one step. You have to set the lock somewhere as it does not hang on the handle when unlocked, increasing the chance you will forget to lock it again. Sliding locks are also impossible to lock up with one hand, so daily use can be little bit inconvenient.
Invisible ★★ - These are very visible and can be unsightly.
Adhesive Straps
Adhesive straps have 2 stickered ends attached by a strap. There is a lock on one of the ends that can be released to open the cabinet. When you no longer need to baby proof, adhesive straps can be removed with a hair dryer and some dental floss.
Pros
Versatility ★★★★★ - These are the most versatile of all baby proofing options. They can be used to lock virtually any cabinet type and can even be used to lock fridges, microwaves, and toilets. I would not use these on painted surfaces like doors or drywall as the paint might not hold up during removal.
Convenience ★★★★★ – Another pro is these can easily be opened and locked with just one hand. Of course, ease of opening for parents can sometimes mean ease of opening for babies (see con below).
Cons
Effectiveness ★★★ - These are both easy to use, and effective for crawling babies. However, we found they were less effective for toddlers. Most adhesive straps can be unlocked with a push & slide button or a lever, both systems could be overcome by most toddlers once they develop the finger strength and dexterity.
Invisible ★★★ - Finally, adhesive straps are visible, but they are still a huge upgrade versus cord and sliding locks because they come in multiple colours to better blend in with your cabinets.
Magnetic Locks
Magnetic locks are installed on the inside of your cabinet or drawer, so it is 100% invisible from the outside. A powerful magnet triggers the mechanism to unlock when you want to open the cabinet. These can be installed with screws or adhesive stickers that can be later removed with a hair dryer and some dental floss.
Pros
Effectiveness ★★★★★ - These are the most secure option, earning a 5-star rating on effectiveness. Once installed, the cabinet door or drawer will not budge. No joggling or peeking, your cabinets and drawers will be like walls to your toddler.
Versatility ★★★★ – Magnetic locks are very versatile and work with most cabinets and drawers. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s specs and measure the space in cabinets and drawers before purchasing. Most locks require a certain clearance for the lock and latch, so they don’t work with certain cabinet or drawer designs that have crossbars or high side walls.
Invisible ★★★★★ – These are truly invisible options. They are installed on the inside of cabinets and drawers, so you can’t tell they are there from the outside.
Cons
Convenience ★★★ – A major shortcoming in this lock is convenience. You need a magnetic key to open the locks, which can be easily misplaced or inconvenient to reach for. They also need to be placed somewhere babies can’t reach, like an upper cabinet. Once the key is in hand, we like that you can easily open and close cabinets with one hand.
Spring Latches
Spring latches are also installed on the inside of your cabinet or drawer, so it is 100% invisible from the outside. The latch is released by pressing down on the spring contraption once the cabinet door or drawer is opened slightly.
Pros
Effectiveness ★★★★ – These are highly effective because most babies and toddlers learn by imitation. With spring latches, they can’t see how mom and dad are opening the lock. A finger can be discreetly slid behind the door or drawer to release the latch. Spring latches did not earn 5 stars on effectiveness because by design, they allow cabinets to open a little, so babies can still joggle the doors.
Convenience ★★★★★ – Spring latches are very convenient once you get used to them. They can be opened and shut with one hand and don’t require any opening devices or keys like magnetic locks.
Versatility ★★★★ – Similar to magnetic locks, spring latches are very versatile and work with most cabinets and drawers. Once again, be sure to read the manufacturer’s specs and measure the space in cabinets and drawers before purchasing. Most locks require a certain clearance for the latch and buckle, so they don’t work with certain cabinet or drawer designs that have crossbars or high side walls.
Invisible ★★★★★ – These are truly invisible options. They are installed on the inside of cabinets and drawers, so you can’t tell they are there from the outside
The Overall Best Locking System
After much research, trial and error, we concluded spring latches were the overall best locking system, based on effectiveness, convenience, versatility and looks. Unfortunately, the products out there at the time were disappointing. We knew there was an opportunity to bring better spring latches to parents just like us.
Frustrated and inspired, we decided launched our own spring latch system. That was in 2017. Today, Benny Bradley’s is one of the best-selling spring latch baby proofing system in North America!
Interested in why they are better? Click here to learn more.
Interested in our story? Click here to read about the story behind Benny Bradley’s Invisible Latch Lock.
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