Good morning everyone, I am planning to childproof the doors of our Ikea Pax wardrobe. The doors are quite easy to open, and I’m concerned that our young daughter might pinch her fingers or open the doors when she shouldn’t. My question is: what is the best way to modify Ikea Pax doors to make them child-safe without significantly affecting their appearance or permanently limiting their functionality? Are there specific hinges, locks, or other solutions that have proven effective? I would appreciate detailed tips or personal experiences, including advice on installation and possible costs. Thank you in advance!
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matthias-p26 Apr 2024 15:19Thank you for your responses!
@Surela
Our Pax wardrobe has the classic hinged doors with two hinges per door (Blum). Soft-closing hinges are not installed. So far, I haven’t fitted any safety devices, as it wasn’t a priority until now. I am looking for a solution that is easy to retrofit, since we don’t want to permanently modify the wardrobe. Magnetic locks sound interesting—do you have recommendations for specific models? Are there any that can be opened again in an emergency using a standard Allen wrench or something similar?
@gregto
Your idea sounds good—are the child safety locks also robust against prying or forced opening? I am concerned that they might still open with some applied force.
@Surela
Surela schrieb:
What exactly does your current setup look like? Have you already tried any specific safety mechanisms?
Our Pax wardrobe has the classic hinged doors with two hinges per door (Blum). Soft-closing hinges are not installed. So far, I haven’t fitted any safety devices, as it wasn’t a priority until now. I am looking for a solution that is easy to retrofit, since we don’t want to permanently modify the wardrobe. Magnetic locks sound interesting—do you have recommendations for specific models? Are there any that can be opened again in an emergency using a standard Allen wrench or something similar?
@gregto
Your idea sounds good—are the child safety locks also robust against prying or forced opening? I am concerned that they might still open with some applied force.
[@matthias-p]
Thank you for the additional information. Regarding magnetic locks: these systems usually consist of a lock module installed inside the cabinet and a key in the form of a small magnet, which is used to unlock the mechanism from the outside. Such models often require screw mounting and need either a drill or a hex key (Allen wrench) for installation.
One advantage is that the lock can only be opened with the magnetic key, which minimizes the risk for children. A drawback is that you always need the key for quick access, which can be inconvenient for everyday use.
About lever protection: magnetic locks provide basic security against unauthorized opening, but if children really apply strong leverage, any lock can eventually give way. In this case, combining them with mechanical locks or protective covers would be advisable.
I recommend brands like "KidCo" or "Safety 1st", which offer products specifically designed for Ikea furniture. If you prefer not to drill, there are also clamp-on models available that require no modification to the furniture.
How long do you plan to use the locks approximately, and how often will adults need to open the cabinet? This can significantly influence the choice of the right system.
Thank you for the additional information. Regarding magnetic locks: these systems usually consist of a lock module installed inside the cabinet and a key in the form of a small magnet, which is used to unlock the mechanism from the outside. Such models often require screw mounting and need either a drill or a hex key (Allen wrench) for installation.
One advantage is that the lock can only be opened with the magnetic key, which minimizes the risk for children. A drawback is that you always need the key for quick access, which can be inconvenient for everyday use.
About lever protection: magnetic locks provide basic security against unauthorized opening, but if children really apply strong leverage, any lock can eventually give way. In this case, combining them with mechanical locks or protective covers would be advisable.
I recommend brands like "KidCo" or "Safety 1st", which offer products specifically designed for Ikea furniture. If you prefer not to drill, there are also clamp-on models available that require no modification to the furniture.
How long do you plan to use the locks approximately, and how often will adults need to open the cabinet? This can significantly influence the choice of the right system.
I can also highly recommend magnetic child safety locks. We installed them on our Pax doors, and they have been working reliably for months. It is important to pay attention to the correct dimensions to ensure a good fit and prevent any wobbling. Once installed, the doors can be used normally, but children will no longer be able to open them.
Magnetic locks are good, but honestly, I find them too easy to bypass, especially as children get older. I tend to prefer mechanical solutions, such as hinge locks that are installed directly on the hinges. These are a bit more complex to install but offer much greater security.
Mufato schrieb:
Magnetic locks are effective, but honestly, I find them too easy to bypass, especially as children get older.I agree with that—traditional child safety locks often serve more as a sign of trust than actual protection. I find the idea more interesting to prevent cabinets and doors from becoming hazards in the first place. For example, by upgrading to soft-close hinges and making the handles removable. This way, little ones no longer have the chance to use leverage to open doors or get their fingers caught.
Wouldn’t it make sense to consider the furniture in a child’s room as a safe environment overall, rather than just securing individual elements? Just a thought-provoking idea!
M
matthias-p27 Apr 2024 16:15Thank you for the additional suggestions!
@GALEO4
That is definitely an important point. Our wardrobe is not in the child's room but in the master bedroom, which is why this topic is so important to me. We want to prevent her from getting access to the items too early or hurting herself.
I will now take a closer look at magnetic locks and perhaps combine them with hinge locks to be on the safe side. Thanks to all of you for the helpful tips and the great feedback!
@GALEO4
GALEO4 schrieb:
Wouldn't it make more sense to think about the furniture in the child's room as a whole safe environment, rather than just securing individual items?
That is definitely an important point. Our wardrobe is not in the child's room but in the master bedroom, which is why this topic is so important to me. We want to prevent her from getting access to the items too early or hurting herself.
I will now take a closer look at magnetic locks and perhaps combine them with hinge locks to be on the safe side. Thanks to all of you for the helpful tips and the great feedback!
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