There's a commonly held convention that perfectly stylish parents are apt to jump the shark when they decide to start a family. We choose to blame that on hideous kid-proof products. Let's face it: After you start plastering your home with bulky white plastic cabinet latches, it's tough to go back to your sleek modern ways. But there's no reason baby-proofing your prized tech has to be so... ugly. Here's 6 cool options for protecting everything from outlets to oven doors.
This is your official green light to say no to bulky hand-me-downs. Expectant parents, go out and baby-proof your home with these unobtrusive kid-proof solutions:
- KidCo Universal Outlet Covers ($3.99 each, or 3/$9.99) are an upgrade from those cloudy plastic tabs we remember growing up. Install these instead of your usual outlet covers and you can slide your way to safety.
- Ikea Patrull Cooktop Guard ($19.99) blocks little hands from grabbing hot pots and burning their fingers. It's stainless steel, easy to clean and adjustable to fit most any stove top.
- ProGrade Front Loader Washer/Dryer Lock ($13.49) adheres to your front-loading washer or dryer to keep doors open or closed—without being visually intrusive.
- Safety 1st Front Oven Lock ($5.99) is compact and heat-resistant to keep little hands away from a warm oven.
- Safety 1st Flat Screen TV Lock ($32.52) tethers to the wall and keeps your heavy TV from falling and hurting the little ones. Or, you know, the big ones (If you haven't seen this picture, be thankful).
MORE FOR PARENTS, KIDS AND BABY:
- Apartment Therapy's Ohdeedoh
- A Kid-Friendly Media Room
- A Modern & Baby-Proof Home Office Computer Desk
- How To... Build a Baby Cam with a Mac Mini and iSight
- What's The Right Age To Introduce Kids To Technology?
- 5 Great Educational iPad Apps for Kids
- 5 Baby Tech Items that Have Me Wanting a Kid
- Product Review: MamaRoo Full Featured Baby Bouncer
- Make Your Baby a Mac with Keyboard High-Chair Placemat



Comments (5)
I have that oven lock. If only I could figure out how to get it on...
We have the outlet covers and they do look way nicer (and work better) than the traditional plug-style covers.
Gracie, open the oven door, peel off the adhesive, and stick it right above where the door closes. I've had mine for about a year, and it's effective and unobtrusive...once I figured out installation.
We love those outlet covers--we bought various outlet guards to try when baby-proofing for our daughter, and those definitely work the best for us.
LOVE the one for the stove. I will have to find it.