How to child-proof sliding glass screen doors

tbone_bride · February 2013

This spring DD1 will be 3 years old this spring and I need to figure out a way to keep her from going on the deck. We have a sliding glass door and a screen door with a lock. She can't open the glass door, but she can unlock and open the screen door on her own. How do I child proof this so I can let the fresh air in but keep her from going outside?

Thanks!

rjeller32 · February 2013

Maybe a baby gate? I am not sure how else you would child proof it to be honest, I let my DD run in and out of the house into our backyard as she pleases.

barnwife · February 2013

The only thing I can think of is to put a 2x4 or something in the track of the door so it won't open.

FWIW, J. could open both the sliding glass door and the sliding screen door last year. We had a 2x4 there and he quickly figured out how to get that out of the way. So he just goes in and out.

brettsmama · February 2013

You could install a lock up at the very top of the screen door. We recently installed locks at the top of all our exterior doors because DS can now reach even the dead bolts.

Jaxmom11 · February 2013

Good luck! Last summer DS just pushed the screen right out of the frame and headed out the door! Didn't even bother to try to slide it!

tbone_bride · February 2013

Thanks for the ideas! I wish I could let DD roam freely, but our deck is in the back of our townhouse and it's up 2 stories - it's completely enclosed, so there's no stairs to walk down. If she ever tried to climb over the bars.... well, I can't even think about it. So there's no way she can go out there without supervision.

groovygrl · February 2013

Do you think she'd actually try to climb over the side of a deck at 3 yrs old? I have twins w/ very different personalities but neither of them would do that I don't think...but I can understand being nervous about it for sure when it is so high up.

But what I would do if you can't find a way to lock it is to install one of those alarm things- we put them on all our doors when DS was apt to try to unlock & try to leave the house, they're really loud, you can get them at hardware type stores, it is just a piece that attaches to the doorway & one to the door so when the door opens it alarms.

GL!

mommytoconnor · February 2013

My son does same thing and he would just pick up the wooden dowel I put in the track to keep him from opening it, I found that those curtain rods that are adjustable are great, you put it up high where you can reach it but little hands cant and it just prevents them from opening it. Works great.

Kdonohue13 · May 2013

I could see my 2yo doing this...now I need to figure out how to prevent it! Thanks for the post, now I'm 1 step ahead lol!

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How to child-proof sliding glass screen doors

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