Childproofing Undone

Even though our son is just thirteen months old, I can't help but watch him and imagine the career possibilities. He tosses the ball deftly with his left hand and I think perhaps he'll be that southpaw the Red Sox are always looking for. Watching the glee with which he helps us check the mail, I think maybe he's bound for a career with the postal services. Respectable professions to be sure.

But his latest move has me worried he might become a safecracker. Just yesterday, our cabinets seemed secure. Now, as of today, he can open the childproof locks in less than 10 seconds.

As you can see below, he's pretty pleased with himself. At least for now, he's being cooperative, giving the lock back to me after he takes it off. Or is it taunting..."Go ahead, put the lock back on, I dare you!"

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Comments: 12

gautami tripathy Sep 16, 2006, 1:35pm EDT

KIds! You can never figure them out!

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Jodi C. Sep 16, 2006, 5:18pm EDT

Definitely "I dare you!" :)

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Loretta J. Sep 20, 2006, 9:48am EDT

That is so funny! He sounds like Jordan! Kylie was pretty sneaky, too. Fun!

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HGM Moya Goatley Oct 15, 2006, 5:37am EDT

Brilliant - you know what they say if you can't do something - find a child!. They are the experts at undoing locks, sorting out the latest technology. Moya

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David C. Oct 27, 2006, 5:34am EDT

I'll have to watch out for the medicine bottles!

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Janna O'Donnell Jan 13, 2007, 7:16am EST

LOL! Too funny. My daughter used to open the spinning door handle things for her older brother because she could get her tiny little hands into the middle of the thing to turn the handle. No locks could hold her. I just had to move everthing out of reach--then she learned to push chairs over to help her climb. She did live through it. I wasn't sure I was going to.

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David C. Jan 13, 2007, 12:33pm EST

we did find a better lock that has worked so far...though if we leave it a bit loose he quickly can break in.

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Kathy D. Mar 24, 2007, 12:56pm EDT

My nine month old daughter ripped one of our table cushions off - less than 24 hours after I put it on!

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Rachel D. Jul 11, 2007, 8:08pm EDT

Yep - my 2 1/2 year old son was defeating all the clip locks at 13 months too. I had to go and buy the super-expensive magnetic locks to prevent him from opening the cleaning supplies cabinets! I also gave up on the tapes that come with the appliance/sliding closet door safeties. Instead, I had to go to Home Depot and get some industrial epoxy to put those on! And just wait - my 2 year old now knows how to climb up over the baby gates! It's going to be a LONG 5 months until 3....

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David C. Jul 11, 2007, 9:01pm EDT

My now almost 2 year old hasn't yet figured out how to climb the baby gates (yet!), though climbing has gotten more popular with him lately. I'd better watch out!

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B F. Sep 18, 2007, 11:40am EDT

Mine (now 3) could get out of the playpen before he could walk, figured out the gates as soon as he could walk, safety locks for doors/cabinets/drawers/fridge last about a minute once he sees them, and now he has moved on to unscrewing anything that he can unscrew-like the doorknobs... He can also open his window and take the screen out... We now have alarms on everything and hinge locks at the tops of the doors...

Best of luck with your little genious!!!!

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Cyndi B. May 4, 2008, 10:18pm EDT

That is so funny! My son does that too. When he is overtired, he pulls out everything from my cupboards and spreads them all over the floor. My son also might be a lefty...and I think my brother in law was hoping he would be pitching for the Red Sox, too :)

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Childproofing Undone

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