cabinet door child-safety latch

Forgot your bran flakes this week?

Latches on cupboards, like locks on doors, are designed to keep out the
casually curious, not the determined mischief-maker. Nothing more elaborate
than http://www.hofshomesafety.com/kitchensafety.htm is required, given the
attention span of toddlers.

For control of the deadlies, which go far beyond your pesticides and
solvents, through most cleaning supplies, a _locked_ container or cupboard
is the only thing to have.

BTW, the corner of your coffee table, if you have one, probably causes more
deaths per year to toddlers than poisoning, if you believe
http://www.poisonprevention.org/faq.html .

"T." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Wed, Oct 15, 2003, 3:58pm (EDT+4) [email protected]
(Clint Neufeld) says:
You mean something like this? <snip>

Yeah, sure, right. And, then you lose the knob.

Something like that would only work to a certain age. Then the
kid sees what you're doing, gets a magnet and opens up whatever. If you
actually think something like that is child-proof, I'm taking it you
don't have kids. Just remember how you were when you were a kid.

You want child-proof, for the average kid, probably a lock would
work, combination, or key. Child-resistant would probably be a better
term.

Probably the best bet would be a bank safety deposit box.

Wed, Oct 15, 2003, 3:58pm (EDT+4) [email protected]
(Clint=A0Neufeld) says:
You mean something like this? <snip>

Yeah, sure, right. And, then you lose the knob.

Something like that would only work to a certain age. Then the
kid sees what you're doing, gets a magnet and opens up whatever. If you
actually think something like that is child-proof, I'm taking it you
don't have kids. Just remember how you were when you were a kid.

You want child-proof, for the average kid, probably a lock would
work, combination, or key. Child-resistant would probably be a better
term.

Probably the best bet would be a bank safety deposit box. Second
best would be a hidden compartment, with a key lock, and the keyhold is
hidden by a wood decoration, held in place by magnets, all well above
floor level, and you only open it when you are 100% positive the kid is
not in the house, and at least 100 yards away from it. This would only
work if the kid didn't know anything about the hidden compartment in the
first place.

Of course, part of it would be what you wanted to hide, how large
it is, and if the police dope dogs would be able to sniff it out. LOL

However, if the subject is a little kid getting into things, then
there are latches sold in the hardware stores that work well, and are
inexpensive. I would buy rather than make.

JOAT
I find the best approach is to take life as it comes.
- Death

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 13 Oct 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/

George wrote:

> BTW, the corner of your coffee table, if you have one, probably causes
> more deaths per year to toddlers than poisoning, if you believe
> http://www.poisonprevention.org/faq.html .

I definitely believe that. My daughter tried to break the corner off a
brick planter with her head when she was around three. All the little
corner protector doodads all over the house, but nobody ever thought about
the potential danger of the bricks *outside*. She tripped over her own
feet while we were walking around to look at the flowers. One step behind
me, and then she was on the ground screaming, with blood pouring out of her
head and pooling up in her eye. At first I thought she had gouged out her
eye. I was incredibly relieved to see that it was only a little
seven-stitch split in her forehead.

I'm kind of sorry this thread brought the memory flooding back in. Wow, I
could have gone a long time without taking those pictures out of my head
and looking at them.

<shudder>

It's a wonder anyone ever survives childhood.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

I've used the magnetic latches, and they work pretty well. If you are
concerned about losing the key, buy two (though I suspect any magnet will
work).

If you are concerned about your kids getting into cabinets when they are old
enough to find the key and use it, then you are doing something wrong with
your children!

In article <[email protected]>,
T. <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>Wed, Oct 15, 2003, 3:58pm (EDT+4) [email protected]
>(Clint Neufeld) says:
>You mean something like this? <snip>
>
> Yeah, sure, right. And, then you lose the knob.
>
> Something like that would only work to a certain age. Then the
>kid sees what you're doing, gets a magnet and opens up whatever. If you
>actually think something like that is child-proof, I'm taking it you
>don't have kids. Just remember how you were when you were a kid.

Heh. I *still* hear about it. When I was literally a 'toddler' (i.e.
walking, but almost entirely on the ball of my feet, not putting the
heels down), the plumber got called to do some 'medium serious' work in
the kitchen. There he is, head-and-shoulders in the cabinet, with the
"tools of the trade" spread around on the floor. *Including* the acetyline
tank and burner, for melting lead for iron-pipe joints. I come upon the
scene, make a bee-line for the tank, picking up the _correct_ wrench en-
route, slap it on the valve, and *turn*it*on*! All before anybody can
catch/stop me. It's a good thing the plumber was a family friend, he
got quite a knot on his forhead, where it hit the bottom of the sink, when
he heard the tank open up.

I wasn't let anywhere *near* any other repairman for _years_! <grin>

I know the feeling. My youngest daughter, who's just turned 18, never seemed
to put her hands out when she fell as a toddler and, consequently, her head
took some grief with corners and sidewalks. However, her granddad told
swears she came by it honestly ... says he used to think that if I ever
landed on my feet, I'd probably kill myself.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 9/21/03


"Silvan" wrote in message

> I'm kind of sorry this thread brought the memory flooding back in. Wow, I
> could have gone a long time without taking those pictures out of my head
> and looking at them.

Swingman wrote:

> I know the feeling. My youngest daughter, who's just turned 18, never
> seemed to put her hands out when she fell as a toddler and, consequently,
> her head took some grief with corners and sidewalks. However, her granddad
> told swears she came by it honestly ... says he used to think that if I
> ever landed on my feet, I'd probably kill myself.

LOL!

Now that you mention it, I'll bet that's what it was. No reflex to put out
her hands. She's had several other encounters of that nature, though
thankfully none so gruesome.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/