- Plywood across the doorway—classic move.
- I’ve seen folks try baby gates, but those are just jungle gyms for determined kids.
- My go-to is zip-tying temporary fencing panels, though it’s not exactly pretty either.
- Ever tried using those magnetic child safety locks on interior doors? Wonder if that’d slow down a mini escape artist...
Magnetic locks are decent for cabinets, but on doors? Most determined toddlers figure out the trick pretty quick, especially if they see you use the magnet. I’ve seen folks try stacking two baby gates—one above the other—if you’re desperate, but it’s not exactly elegant. If you want something less ugly than plywood, a tension-mounted pet gate with vertical bars is sturdier and harder to climb. Not perfect, but better than most options I’ve seen.
Most determined toddlers figure out the trick pretty quick, especially if they see you use the magnet.
Stacking two baby gates always cracks me up—like, are we building a toddler fortress or just buying time? I get the appeal of tension-mounted pet gates, though. Have you noticed if the vertical bars actually stop climbing, or do some kids just treat it like a ladder anyway?
Honestly, I think vertical bars are hit or miss. Some kids see them and just go full Spider-Man, especially if there’s any kind of horizontal support to use as a foothold. I actually swapped out a pet gate for a solid panel one after my nephew scaled the bars in about ten seconds flat. If you’re really worried about climbing, those plexiglass-style gates might be ugly, but they’re basically unscalable. Not the cheapest fix, but better than playing defense all day.
“Some kids see them and just go full Spider-Man, especially if there’s any kind of horizontal support to use as a foothold.”
That’s exactly what happened at my place—my daughter saw the demo kitchen as her own personal jungle gym. I tried to get creative with some old doors as makeshift barriers, but she figured out the hinges in minutes. I’ve wondered if there’s a way to reuse scrap wood or even cardboard for a temporary, climb-proof wall… Has anyone tried something like that, or is it just wishful thinking?