Cabinet Locks and Outlet Covers (2026)

Kitchens, bathrooms and outlets are the babyproofing jobs to finish before a baby crawls. What to lock up comes first, then the three kinds of cabinet lock (magnetic, strap and sliding), and covers for outlets in use and unused.

How we chose: the eight locks and covers are sold by Amazon.com or the maker's own store, were in stock in September 2026 and are described from their listings, not tested. Guidance comes from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Childproofing Your Home guide, the American Academy of Pediatrics' guide to childproofing your home for poisons, Poison Control and the National Fire Protection Association's tamper-resistant receptacle FAQ.

The eight locks and covers

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

What to lock up

CPSC's childproofing guide says cabinet and drawer latches "can help prevent children from gaining access to medicines, laundry detergent, household cleaners, matches, or cigarette lighters, as well as knives and other sharp objects."

The AAP's poison-proofing advice on medicines and cleaners: "Store in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children." It also recommends a latch "that locks when you close the door," so the cabinet stays protected when you forget.

Two points that are easy to miss:

• Child-resistant caps aren't enough. CPSC says "even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away and kept out of reach."
• Laundry pods are concentrated. The AAP warns that detergent in single-use packets "is very concentrated and can be toxic. Even a small amount of the detergent can cause serious breathing or stomach problems or eye irritation." Our baby laundry detergent guide covers pod safety and fragrance-free picks.

Key point: save Poison Help in your phone now: 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control says the service is "free, expert, and confidential." Call 911 if a child collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be woken. The AAP adds: "Do not make your child vomit because it may cause more damage."

Magnetic, strap or sliding

CPSC's test for any lock: "look for safety latches and locks that adults can easily install and use, but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children." A lock only works when it's latched: CPSC says devices "must be properly installed and reengaged after use."

• Magnetic locks (Safety 1st, Skyla Homes) sit inside the door, with nothing visible for a child to fiddle with. Check that a lock catches on its own when the door shuts, as the AAP recommends. Lose the key and you can't get in either, so keep a spare out of reach.
• Strap locks (Skyla Homes, Munchkin) stick to the outside and bend around corners, so they also work on drawers, refrigerators and toilets. They are visible, though, and you have to re-latch them every time.
• Sliding locks (Skyla Homes, Safety 1st) slip over two knobs or handles on a double door. No adhesive or tools, and they come off cleanly, which suits renters.

Pro tip: adhesive locks need a clean, fully dry surface, and Skyla says to let the adhesive set for 24 hours. Give each lock a firm tug before you rely on it.

Check any hand-me-down locks before you use them. In 2012 Safety 1st recalled its Push 'N Snap cabinet locks (CPSC notice) and its Cabinet Slide Locks and Sure Fit toilet locks (CPSC notice) because young children could disengage them; the notices list the affected model numbers to check against an older lock. Search anything else in our recall checker.

Outlets

CPSC says "outlet covers and outlet plates can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution." On which to use:

• "Be sure outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children and are large enough so that children cannot choke on them."
• "If you are replacing receptacles, use a tamper-resistant type."

Tamper-resistant receptacles have the protection built in. The NFPA says they "function electrically like a standard receptacle" but add "a built-in safety mechanism that helps prevent electricity from energizing anything that is stuck into the receptacle that shouldn't be."

It says they "greatly reduce the potential for electrical shocks," that the requirement "ensures all new homes and apartments are safe for children," and that electrical work should be done by a qualified electrician.

Until then:

• Outlets in use (a lamp, a monitor, a humidifier): a cover box such as the Jool Baby box encloses the plug so a child can't pull it out or reach the slots.
• Unused outlets: a full cover such as the Safety 1st OutSmart Outlet Shield hides the outlet completely.

We left out small plug-in caps: several we looked at are listed as "easily removable," the opposite of CPSC's advice. If you use them, check they are hard for a child to pull out and too large to choke on.

Room by room, in order

Work through the house at your baby's eye level:

1. Under the kitchen sink: cleaners and dishwasher detergent. A magnetic lock, or a sliding lock on double doors.
2. Bathroom cabinets and drawers: medicines, razors, cosmetics.
3. Laundry area: detergent pods, in a locked cabinet or container.
4. Kitchen drawers: knives and button batteries. The AAP warns "button batteries can cause severe injury or death if ingested."
5. Low outlets: cover boxes where something is plugged in, full covers for the rest.

Then anchor your furniture with our furniture anchor guide; our babyproofing checklist by age covers gates and windows too.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I install cabinet locks?

The AAP says "Before or as soon as your child begins crawling or walking." Our babyproofing checklist puts cabinet latches and outlet covers in the "before your baby crawls" stage.

What will Poison Help ask me when I call?

The AAP's poison-proofing page says to expect questions about your child's age, weight, medical conditions and medicines, what they swallowed, when, and how much. Keep the container to help answer.

Does the trash need a lock too?

It can. The AAP says trash containers holding spoiled food, sharp objects or batteries "should have a child-resistant cover or be kept out of a child's reach."

Are houseplants a poisoning risk?

Some are. The AAP says to call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 "for a list or description of plants to avoid," or keep all houseplants out of reach for a while.

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NurseryProof is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This guide summarizes public safety guidance and is not medical advice; in a poisoning emergency, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or 911.