ᐅ Are there child-safe locking mechanisms available for PAX doors?

Created on: 5 Apr 2024 08:12
R
reelron
Good morning everyone,

I have a question that has been on my mind lately while setting up my apartment: Are there actually childproof locking mechanisms for the doors of the IKEA PAX wardrobe?

I have two young children aged 2 and 4 years and want to prevent them from opening the wardrobe doors unsupervised and possibly accessing dangerous or delicate items. I am aware that PAX doors do not come with built-in child safety locks by default, as they focus more on simple design and functionality.

Therefore, I am interested to know if there are special, reliable aftermarket solutions available that are safe and easy to install without significantly compromising the look or usability of the wardrobe. I would also appreciate experiences from people who have already tested practical systems – how secure are they? Are there any recommendations for particular products or techniques to make PAX doors childproof?

I look forward to your opinions and suggestions!
N
noge58
5 Apr 2024 15:12
Hey, last year I got magnetic child safety locks for my Pax wardrobe myself and I’m really happy with them! Installation was easy and they hold very well. My daughter has tried several times, but she can’t open the doors!

If you want, I can tell you exactly which product I used – super practical, especially because you don’t have to fiddle with a key all the time.
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neoren
5 Apr 2024 15:45
Simple conclusion: Magnetic locks work well when installed correctly. Check whether your cabinet has sliding doors or regular hinged doors, as this affects the choice.

Alternatively, self-closing door hinges can also help by making it harder to open the door.
G
GALEO4
5 Apr 2024 17:06
To be honest, I hardly consider anything completely childproof if the technology isn’t robust enough.
Joshbe schrieb:
For normal household use and especially with small children, they are sufficiently safe.

That is only partly true. Many people think it’s enough if children fail to open the door a few times. But as soon as frustration sets in, they try tricks – prying, shaking, using tools as leverage. Without a real locking mechanism, this, in my opinion, poses a safety risk.

I advocate for mechanical locks, even if they are less elegant.
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lyndon
6 Apr 2024 08:32
For PAX doors, magnetic child safety locks currently offer the best combination of functionality and security, provided they are of high quality.

With sliding doors, it is somewhat more challenging; special systems are required, or sometimes a combination with lockable handles.

The adhesive bonds usually hold for years when installed correctly, as long as the surface has been cleaned and degreased properly.
J
Josefane
6 Apr 2024 11:17
GALEO4 schrieb:
In my opinion, without a proper lock this is a security risk.

I generally agree with that. The question is whether the effort and the visual compromises of installing a proper lock are justified for PAX doors, which are intended to be fairly easily accessible.

If you want to make the cabinet insert even more childproof, you might consider restricting access to the contents, for example with additional internal compartments or lockable boxes.

This could be combined with the door locking mechanism to further reduce the risk.
R
reelron
6 Apr 2024 12:29
lyndon schrieb:
Sliding doors are a bit more challenging; special systems are needed here, or even combining them with lockable handles.

Thanks for the tip, I actually have cabinet doors with sliding doors. So I need to be extra careful when choosing here.
Josefane schrieb:
If you want to make the cabinet insert even more childproof, you might want to limit access to the contents

That sounds reasonable; I hadn’t thought of that before. What internal solutions would you recommend? Are there lockable boxes that fit well within the PAX system?