Drawer latches - do 'real' ones actually exist?!

[goddessofdawn]

Can anyone tell me the brand name of a drawer safety latch that works with bottom drawers?
The only ones I can find work with the top drawer only (very handy, seeing that my 14 month old can't reach the top drawer anyway), or work only with drawers that have 'dividers' above.
Help!

[melbel]

subbing.....having exactly the same issue.....

[goddessofdawn]

Hmm, was going to say 'glad I'm not the only one who can't find them'... but then that might mean they really don't exist!
Ideally DD would be kept away from drawers altogether and usually is, but occasionally when she isn't happy to stay in her playpen or other safe place, I end up letting her in the kitchen... otherwise I would have to explain to hubby why there is no dinner!

[leckert]

you could try the maglock (?sp) by Dreambaby. I'm not sure if they'd work on bottom drawers but they say they can be used on drawers. (They use a strong magnet to unlock the latch - works well on the first cupboard I managed to get it on yesterday - got 7 more still to do)
(I don't have stacked drawers in my kitchen. I have drawers at the top of each of my cupboards under the kitchen benches so I don't need to try that feature out.) They are expensive to purchase but they can be permanently unlocked once the "exploring" stage is over - the packaging even recommends their use for grandparents' homes as they can be turned on and off. And they're not those horrible catch the top of the cupboard, almost kill your hand, latches.

[leckert]

I've attached some photos to a BB album I've got here - so you've got some idea of the latches I'm talking about. I got mine from Baby Bunting as they were cheaper than Bunnings (hardware store). They come in packs of 4, 2, or 1 (with the maglock keys) and packs of 1 or 2 without the keys. You can also get spare keys.

[Snowy Love]

With DS1 we stuck a dowel through the drawer handles, with a lock on the top drawer, not very pretty but it worked. This time we haven't gotten around to locking the drawers, I've moved plastic bags and sharp things to inacessible places & DS2 just scatters my utensils around the house daily.

[alicia]

We have large drawers in our kitchen rather than cupboards and the magnetic locks work really well on them. I think they are worth the investment as you can't see them at all and can 'turn them off' when the little ones aren't around or are over exploring in there.

[goddessofdawn]

Thanks all so much! Maglock looks like it's the go.

[melbel]

unless you have thick timber cupboards....they won't work on ours cos the timber is too thick and tha magnets aren't strong enough so if you have thick solid timber cupboards don't waste your money on maglocks...we tried one and had to take the other packs back

[Frangipani]

I too recommend the maglocks for the cupboards too (and for your draws if you can)...but unfortunately doesn't work for our draws...still haven't found anything that works. Our draws are stacked on top of each other, with only an inside lip - itms- on the top draw. Those maglocks need to be attached and screwed into something (both the lock and the latch) - or so ours are anyway.

We've just got those latches that have a plastic strip that stretches around and you clip it in (then push 2 buttons either side to release). They work ok when they actually stay stuck (we have laminex type material so ...we've had ours on for over 2 years now and only the bottom draw has remained why...its been the most pulled at.

We did start with those ones you open the draw a little to push the clip down and open in a couple of draws in our lounge room, but found that little fingers tended to get jammed when they were partially opened.

So I would be interested to know if there is any other options too...though when I look back those inquistive phases have already passed for my just over 2.5year old son (has been for a little while) so I'd probably only have just over a year for DS2 to move passed it too. Plus I don't keep anything sharp or dangerous at their level anyway...just going to have to go looking in 2 bedrooms and the loungeroom for all my utensils

[goddessofdawn]

Ohhh thanks Bec7. Sounds like your drawers are the same as ours - we have 4 drawers one after the other, without any kind of 'divider' separating them. Is that what you mean?

The clip types you describe are no good, as DD will definitely get her fingers jammed. That's why we need drawer latches - to prevent jamming, not so much because there is dangerous stuff in the drawers...

EDIT: I think hubby is just gonna buy a dowel ..... we're not into making the kitchen look pretty anyway lol