I have a 3 year old who was the master escape artist for a while. When we lived in a house we owned, we put a bolt up at the top of the door. So she could unlock the door, but not open it. And when we moved into the rental we live in now, the first thing we asked was if we could put a chain on the door. Thankfully, the landlord was fine with it, so long as we matched the hardware.

You could also see about getting a chime on that door. Then at least you'd know when she opened it.

I'd check with your landlord first, but I don't see why one would be upset with you adding some sort of dead bolt up higher, out of the reach of little hands. More security can only be seen as a good thing on their part, can't it? If you really don't want to ask them, I would think even something that is more like a latch, even just a little hook and eye, would be enough to keep a little one inside.

I'm a Peds ICU doctor and I can't tell you how many kiddos I've seen sneak away when a parent isn't looking for just a few minutes, or when they think napping is occurring. I'll spare you the sad and horrible stories, but thanks for being a proactive parent, you make my job easier!

i too suggest a bolt on the top half of the door. most landlords will probably allow you to do this if you ask.

we put a small hook and eye like at the top of the door on the inside ( not burgler proof but toddler-proof). We also rent and couldnt do anythign major. We did have to drill but it
is no bigger than a nail hole. We also got a door handle 'cover' from One Step Ahead. The kids can't open it no matter how much they turn it. This handle cover keeps them in but it alone is not enough because if they unlock the deadbolt, your door is still unlocked from the outside and you may not even know it. I make it a habit to check every time I walk by and then the hook and eye at the top helps a little too.

How about an old fashioned hook and eye mounted way up high, out of toddler's reach? It would be easy to take down and patch the holes when you move out.

What about some kind of appliance-strap style device? They are self adhesive typically, so you don't have to drill. You could probably use the 3M removable adhesive. As pp have said, not burglar proof, but certainly toddler proof. We also have our alarm set to chime and announce which door is opening. That way if our back up locks aren't on, we at least hear what's going on. I think they make adhesive magnet sensor alarms that you could add.

Flip Lock!!!

$2 from Amazon -- http://www.amazon.com/Door-Flip-Child-Safety-Colors/dp/B000H5OSOW

These are amazing, and on our front door and pantry. Cheap, two screws, no need for renters to freak out (just patch two tiny holes when you go).

Install up high and you're safe. Hope that helps!

--Jessica @ http://blog.jgbinteriors.com/

We have a door flip lock installed near the top of our door. It cost around 3 bucks, was easy to install and is unobtrusive. Ours is white and it matches the door, but I can't remember where we bought it. Here is an example of a door flip lock:
http://www.kidsafeinc.com/product/8705/8705---Door-Flip-Lock-for-Child-Safety.html

I was also going to suggest the hook & eye thing. That would be easy, cheap and I doubt your landlord would have a problem with it.

My now six-year-old was very interested in escape when she was three, and I went to the hardware store and discussed my options with someone. I wanted a latch of some sort for way up high, but the man I talked to made me run from the store in guilt when he pointed out that I'd be locking my child in, even if the house was on fire. I still think that she was more likely to escape and get hurt while I took a bathroom break than she was to meet her fiery death, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy the latch, and she soon outgrew the phase anyway.

How about putting in a deadbolt that requires a key to open it from the inside?

I agree with toindc about a keyed deadbolt lock. You don't even need to put a 2nd lock, just replace the one you have with a keyed lock. You won't need to put holes in anything that way either.

Keyed deadbolts are a fire danger, since you greatly slow down your ability to get out the door in an emergency.

Our friends bought child-proofing devices made for stove knobs and put them over the deadbolt. It kept their little Houdini safe.

The keyed deadbolt locks are a bigger fire safety hazard than a hook-and-eye - you have to rummage for the key if you need to escape in a fire vs just jerking or kicking the door open and popping the hook and eye out.

For sure the hook & eye sounds like a great idea for this situation.

We have a slightly different situation, where we are in the country but our front door opens to a particularly dangerous blind corner. We need to go in & out a lot, but wanted a way to keep the kids in. We got a deadbolt that has a pin pad on the outside so we can come & go without a key but the kids are secure (even when Dad sneaks out to chop firewood). It has been awesome, so I just wanted to share. :)

Agree with the flip lock. Those work fantastically.

We use a flip lock. They are like $2-3 at Home Depot and they are awesome. They help keep small toddler safely inside but also keep the kids from answering the door in excitement when it could be a stranger or someone selling something. We also put one of those little door knob things on the door because we have older kids going in and out constantly but want to make sure our toddler stays inside.

I didn't even have to read all the comments to know they've already suggested everything - yay!

My my two cents: I don't know about your landlord, but our apartment complex will do some babyproofing for us - slide bolt at the top of the door; extra posts in the railing on the patio; window stops. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

I can't believe that I'm the first to suggest this but...

If you can, hide a spare key OUTSIDE or with a neighbor who is home a lot. My little 2 1/2 year old girl just recently stood on top of her potty chair (the only action it ever sees) and locked me OUT of the house while I was outside feeding the dogs. Luckily, I had seen my future when I saw her fiddling with the knobs (and after hearing the horror stories of a pregnant mother in law shimmying through a window when it happened to her) and had stashed a key outside before that. My hubby works an hour away, so this really saved a lot of hassle and a broken window. For us, her escaping outside isn't much of an issue, there's not much she can get in to out here. But locking me out... Happens more than you think!

We installed hotel style security bars up high on all of our exterior doors when my oldest was a toddler. Quick and easy.

Like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018MJ8S4?ie=UTF8&tag=tortfighandde-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0018MJ8S4

Hook and Eye . . . way up high works perfectly for us.

I definitely second the flip lock! They are kid proofing perfection, and half of my friends who come over have to ask me how to open it as well! LOL