Help Childproofing My House

I second the plastic handles that go over the door knobs. Most kids can turn the dead bolts but they can't get their hands right on these handles so they keep the kids in. I kept a 2 year old recently and he could get out any door without one but could not get those handles to work for him. If you don't want to drill in the door I would try that first and see if it works for you. They don't cost all that much and are only a minor inconvience for you.

Have you tried the door knob things from Safety First, they work really good. I had the same problem with my son when he was younger too. It really worked, but he is strong enough now that he just brakes them open if he really wants to go somewhere. So there geared toward the younger age children.

I put weatherstripping on my door because of drafts. The added benefit was the door became tighter in the frame and my son couldn't open it anymore. Maybe that would help?

If you have a long enough hook and eye, you should be able to drill through the door with the right drill bit. I'd go ask at a hardware store which one is best. It also helps to use a new one because they're sharper. Metal doors are almost impossible to drill through near the edge from what I've seen, but when you get away from the edge they're often a little easier to crack.

you can drill through your door silly, how do you think the deadbolt is on there! You just need to get a drill bit made to go through medal, go to lowes or homedepot

I am dreading the day that my son learns to do that. He knows how to unlock the bottom lock but he's still to short to get to the dead bolt(Thank God). What I would do and probably will in the future is ask the apartment complex to install a dead bolt higher up, and ask if you can install the hook an eye thing as well. Hopefully they will be understanding enough. If not, then I don't know what to do . Good luck!!

I installed the "flip over" type things up at the top of my exterior doors. You can buy them at the large home improvement type stores. They are great. I have to stretch up to reach it in order to flip it into the lock or unlock position. They are installed on the door frame, not he door, solving the problem of metal doors. (I have them too) Plus you have to "lift" it slightly in order to flip it, making it that much harder for kids to get open. Heck, my 7 year still can't figure it out!

We have the same problem in our house. My son was in the garage and I didn't even know it. We went to babies r us and bought these knobs that attach to the door knobs. The snap on over the actual door knob, and to open the door you have to squeeze in a certain place on both sides(there are 2 grey pads in the spots) and then turn while squeezing. Very easy for adults, but impossible for kids. At least for my kids. And the pads are placed at a width for abult hands, not child size grips. They were a lifesaver. Now my son doesn't even try to open the door anymore.

We had a metal door at our old house and my hubby just drilled a hole in it using the special drill bit for metal. It wasn't a big deal to install the hook and eye. Another idea is those plastic door knob cover thingys - most kids can't figure out how to squeeze right or have the hand strength to do it until closer to age 4 - when they know better to run outside. A friend of mine just set up a baby gate across the entrance to the front foyer (which also effectively blocked the stairs since they were near the front door). It's a wide opening so he had the kind that expand across a room and used like 3 or 4 panels with the gate in the center.

We have a metal door and added those "flip locks" that are used on most hotel doors. Not sure how to describe it. There's a ball on the door side and a "u" shaped latch on the wall side. It's very sturdy. We put it high enough that they would need a ladder to get to it. We bought it at Lowes. It took a little muscle, but it went into the metal door just fine.

you can drill in to metal esp doors they are usually hollow but if your in an apartment you may want to check with the land lord before you do anything like that so you dont end up having to buy a new door when you leave! I would go to babies r us or walmart where ever you shop and look in the safety areas for kids there are a few diff ways to keep doors closed. we actually had a refrigerator lock that may work well. it has 2 ends with plastic strap in the middle probe is its almost impossible to do with 1 hand.... good luck

Hi! You can buy little alarms that stick on the door and the frame, when they don't line up, the alarm sounds. It won't keep him from opening them, but at least you will quickly know when he does. Try Radio Shack.
Good Luck:)