Secure Your Cabinets With the Best Baby Cabinet Locks
Cabinets are a handy way to store items at home, especially in the kitchen. They have plenty of room, can be compartmentalized for easy organization, and they’re easy to access, too. That last bit, though, can turn out to be a problem if you have kids, as they too can easily open and browse through whatever’s inside the cabinets, which can be a problem if it’s something dangerous, like cleaning supplies.
If you want to babyproof the cabinets in your home, take a look at these top-rated baby cabinet locks of 2024. They’re designed to be durable and easy to use (for you, at least), and your child won’t be able to open them as they please.
Buyer’s Guide: Baby Cabinet Locks
Cabinets are very important to babyproof, and this guide can teach you all there is to know about baby cabinet locks.
When babyproofing your home, there are a few things you need to prioritize before anything else — if you have stairs at home, for example, you may want to consider getting a baby gate so that your little one doesn’t just wander too close to the stairs. For most homes, though, one particular element of the house that needs babyproofing ASAP is the cabinets.
Cabinets can hold just about anything, and it’s the especially dangerous items and substances you’ll want to keep out of your child’s reach. Storing chemicals such as cleaning agents, pest killers, and alcohol is usually done in a floor cabinet, and these cabinets are often the easiest for your child to access — this means you’ll want to ensure that they can’t open that particular cabinet no matter what.
Let’s take a look at some things that can help you find great baby cabinet locks in 2023:
The Benefits of Baby Cabinet Locks
They’re designed for adults
Baby cabinet locks wouldn’t serve much of a purpose if they locked you out of the cabinet as well. This is why these locks are made in such a way that, while nearly impossible for young children, they’re surprisingly easy to open when you’re old enough to know how they work. The mechanism differs from lock to lock, but the principle is the same — if you’re too young to know how the lock works, then you’re too young to access the contents inside.
They’re reliable
Once you get the hang of baby cabinet locks and how to open them, they can be very reliable for everyday use. You don’t have to keep tabs on your child 24/7, and you can leave them to their toys as you do your work or take care of chores. Even if your children do happen to wander over to the cabinets, the baby cabinet locks will prevent them from getting inside.
Types of Baby Cabinet Locks
Cabinet lock straps
Cabinet lock straps connect both ends of a cabinet with a strap that can be detached if needed. These are the easiest locks to install and work with most cabinets, except for single cabinets that have no space for the other side of the strap.
Cabinet handle locks
Cabinet handle locks connect cabinets by holding the two handles (or knobs) in place. This results in a more secure lock than that of a lock strap, but like cabinet lock straps, this kind of lock requires two adjacent cabinets, and they must also have a supported handle or knob shape to work at all.
Invisible cabinet locks
Invisible cabinet locks are interesting, in the sense that their mechanism is found inside the cabinet. This is great if you think your child may have the ability to figure out how the lock works from the outside.
Magnetic cabinet locks
As the name suggests, magnetic cabinet locks use a magnetic system to lock and unlock from the inside. The system unlocks or locks using a provided magnetic key, and has the advantage of being the most secure out of all kinds of locks thanks to their necessary key. You will need to keep track of the key, though, as it’s your only way inside the cabinet.
How We Chose the Top Baby Cabinet Locks
There are a few things that we paid attention to when choosing cabinet baby locks. We thought about the type of cabinet lock, the number of locks you get per purchase, and the size of the locks as well. We also considered how difficult it may be for a child to open the lock themselves.
Comparing the Top Baby Cabinet Locks of 2024
DLux Baby Cabinet Lock – Best Overall
If you have cleaning supplies in your cabinets and also a baby at home, you know what kind of trouble that could cause. To ensure the safety of your child and relax a bit, look no further than the DLux Baby Cabinet Lock. This baby safety kit can seal all of your lower cabinets so your little one can crawl and walk around in the kitchen without opening a drawer to a dangerous or toxic item. Just about anyone can install these locks for how easy it is; this cabinet lock kit comes with straightforward installation instructions and all the tools you’ll need for assembly.
If you don’t want chunky, ugly cabinet locks on the front of your beautiful new kitchen cabinets, these are completely invisible from the outside! They sit on the inside as magnetic locks that will stay put once installed properly. The ultra-strong FS2000 adhesive makes sure the locks won’t come off the inside of the cabinet doors and stay there for years while your child grows up. If that doesn’t give you total peace of mind, the brand also promises a 10-year warranty for any issues with the kit. With 21 locks, 21 latches, three magnetic keys, three key bases, and 12 replacement tapes, this full kit is the best overall on our list.
Pros
- Gives you peace of mind
- Very strong adhesive
- Includes easy instructions
Cons
- Little pricey
Benny Bradley’s Invisible Baby Cabinet Locks – Runner Up
This babyproofing lock from Benny Bradley’s can prevent snooping and sneaking; It will appear “invisible” on your cabinets, and it’s designed so that only you know how to open them using the mechanism inside.
This baby cabinet lock is easy to install, and you won’t need any tools to do so. It also has a nearly universal design, so matter what cabinets you have this lock has got your back. Even if your child is a little genius, they won’t be able to open this baby cabinet lock thanks to its discreet, secure design.
Pros
- Invisible design that won’t raise children’s curiosity
- Easy for adults to open
- Simple installation process — no tools, no damage
Cons
- Can take some getting used to
Wappa Child Safety Strap Locks – Great Value
One problem with babyproofing your home is the amount of money you’ll have to spend to cover everything, especially all your cabinets. This set of baby cabinet locks from Wappa can help you cut down on costs — for around $20 you’ll get 10 cabinet locks, all of which work right out of the box.
These baby cabinet locks are very easy to install thanks to their industrial 3M tape adhesive, and they’re compact and small, too, so they won’t take up much space. They’re great for many surfaces, not just cabinets, and can be used on both flat surfaces and corners as well. They won’t leave any sticky residue either, so when your child grows out of their inquisitive phase you can take the locks off and won’t have to worry about your cabinets being ruined.
Pros
- Strong adhesive for a reliable installation
- Great value — 10 locks, one low price
- Multi-purpose — use on more than cabinets
Cons
- Not as sturdy as other cabinet locks
Vmaisi Adhesive Magnetic Cabinet Locks – Top Magnetic Locks
This next type of cabinet lock may interest you — it’s a magnetic cabinet lock. This Vmaisi baby cabinet lock uses a magnetic device to trigger it from the inside, and a great thing about this type of lock is that there’s no way for your child to open it.
This baby cabinet lock can only be opened with the provided magnetic key, so only you will have access to what’s inside. This does mean that you’ll have to keep tabs on where you store your key, but if you’re just securing one or two cabinets that contain things like bleach or detergent, it’s definitely worth that extra bit of hassle. This baby cabinet lock is also invisible from the outside, meaning it’s less likely to pique your child’s curiosity, and the pack comes with 12 locks and two keys.
Pros
- Keeps cabinets closed from the inside
- Invisible from the outside
- Only opens with provided magnetic key(s)
Cons
- You’ll need to keep track of keys
Jool Baby Strap Cabinet Locks – Most Affordable
Babyproofing can be quite an expensive task, and even if you can find great deals they still might be above your budget. If you need (or simply want) to save as much money as possible, this four-pack of strap locks from Jool Baby Products should do the trick. It’s the top bargain we found, and it can be a solid option to keep your child safe.
These baby cabinet locks can be adjusted from 3 to 7 inches, letting you stick them on a variety of surfaces that you don’t want your little tike to get into. Their 3M adhesive will keep them secure after installation, and the installation itself is a breeze — you won’t need any tools to get these locks in place. They’re also backed by a 10-year warranty, which can be great to have for extra peace of mind.
Pros
- More affordable than other locks
- Tool-free installation process
- Comes with a 10-year warranty
Cons
- Inexpensive option, but not a great value
QT BABY Baby Proofing Cabinet Locks – Great for Handles
For cabinets that use knobs and certain types of handles, this QT BABY babyproofing lock is a great choice. This lock is made with pairs of handles in mind, and it locks the two handles together, preventing them from being opened.
These baby cabinet locks have the advantage of being a lot more durable than strap locks, which can’t hold on to cabinets as effectively. Double safety lock buttons provide added security, and you can adjust these locks from as small as one inch to as large as six inches. The downside to these locks is that they won’t work on cabinets without supported handles (or any handles at all), but if they look like they would work with your cabinets at home, then consider giving them a go.
Pros
- Holds cabinet handles or knobs in place
- More effective and durable than strap locks
- Easy for you to lock and unlock
Cons
- Does not support all cabinets
People Also Asked
A: Baby cabinet locks are designed to be easy for adults to open and close, but difficult for children.
A: Baby cabinet locks use a variety of locking and unlocking mechanisms to deny cabinet access to children and even pets.
A: The unlocking mechanism of a baby cabinet lock differs from lock to lock. Some may require unstrapping, others need to be opened a certain way, and others may even require a certain key.
