Cabinet Locks, Drawer Latches and Outlet Covers (2026)

The cabinet under the kitchen sink is where poisonings start: dishwasher pods, drain cleaner, bleach. Add the bathroom medicine drawer and a few low outlets, and you have the main hazards a crawling baby reaches first. This guide covers what the regulators say and eight locks and covers that handle them.

How we chose: we did not test these products. Each is sold by Amazon.com or its maker's own store, was in stock in September 2026, and is described from its listing. Safety 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.

Which Lock or Cover Should You Buy?

What Needs to Be Locked Up?

CPSC 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 advice on medicines and cleaners is short: "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 is protected even when you forget.

Two points from the AAP and CPSC 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 especially dangerous. 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."

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: Which Lock Type?

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." And a lock only protects 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, so there's nothing to see and nothing for a child to fiddle with. Check before buying that a lock catches on its own when the door shuts, which is what the AAP recommends. The catch: lose the key and you can't get in, 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're cheap but visible, and you have to re-latch them each time.
• Sliding locks (Skyla Homes, Safety 1st) slip over two knobs or handles on a double door. No adhesive, no 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 before use. Test each lock with a firm tug before you rely on it.

Recall note: in 2012 CPSC announced two recalls of older Safety 1st cabinet and toilet locks for lock failure. The Safety 1st locks listed here are newer models, but check any hand-me-down locks in our recall checker or on CPSC.gov.

How Do You Make Outlets Safe?

CPSC says "outlet covers and outlet plates can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution." Its advice 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 are built into the outlet itself. 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," and that the requirement "ensures all new homes and apartments are safe for children." The NFPA's advice is to have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.

For outlets in the meantime:

• 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.

Why no plug-in caps here? The small plastic caps sold for outlets vary, and the best-selling ones we looked at are listed as "easily removable," the opposite of CPSC's advice. If you use them, check they're hard for a child to pull out and too large to choke on.

Where to Start

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

1. Under the kitchen sink: cleaners and dishwasher detergent. Use 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 for outlets in use, full covers for the rest.

Our babyproofing checklist by age covers gates, anchors and windows too.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I install cabinet locks?

Before your baby crawls. Our babyproofing checklist puts cabinet latches and outlet covers in the "before your baby crawls" stage, following AAP and CPSC guidance.

Are magnetic cabinet locks better than strap locks?

They're hidden from view, and a latch that catches on its own when the door shuts matches the AAP's advice to use a latch that locks when you close the door. Strap locks are cheaper and work on corners and appliances, but you have to re-latch them each time.

Are outlet plugs a choking hazard?

CPSC says outlet protectors should be large enough that children cannot choke on them, and hard for children to remove. A cover box or a full outlet cover avoids small loose parts entirely.

What's the Poison Control number?

1-800-222-1222. Poison Control says it's free, expert and confidential. Call 911 instead if a child has collapsed, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be woken.

Do child-resistant caps mean I don't need to lock medicines away?

No. CPSC says even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away and kept out of reach.

The Bottom Line

Bottom line: lock the cabinets that hold medicines, cleaners and detergent, with hidden magnetic locks like the Safety 1st 4-pack ($24.99) or Skyla Homes 12-pack ($26.99), or strap locks like Skyla's 8-pack ($9.99) on a budget. Cover outlets with a cover box such as the Jool Baby ($14.99) where something's plugged in. Save 1-800-222-1222 in your phone today, and anchor your furniture next with our furniture anchor guide.

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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.