ᐅ Is there a child-safe way to securely lock Ikea BESTA doors?

Hello everyone, I have several Ikea Besta cabinets with doors in our living room. Since we have small children at home, I am looking for a child-safe way to securely lock the BESTA doors to prevent the children from rummaging through the contents or possibly pulling something down. It is important to me that the solution does not involve small dangerous parts or chemicals, that no clearly visible locks are attached on the outside, and that it can ideally be easily opened by adults without damaging the doors or requiring complicated modifications. Does anyone have experience or recommendations on how to reliably and child-safely lock BESTA doors? Thanks in advance for your tips!

I would recommend magnetic child safety locks that are installed on the inside. They are discreet, secure, and easy for adults to open with a magnet, but difficult for children to open. There are no visible parts on the outside.

Hello Onjan68, your concern is very understandable. There are indeed several options for Ikea BESTA doors that are both safe and child-friendly. First, you should check whether the doors have a push-to-open mechanism or classic doors with handles. For doors with handles, you can use cabinet locks mounted inside or special latches that require little force to open but are difficult for children to operate. Magnetic locks, as Ellis already mentioned, are a great solution because they are invisible from the inside and do not encourage children to use force. It is important to ensure stable mounting during installation and to secure as many doors as possible. If you like, I can recommend some models that I personally use with my family.

Ellis schrieb:
I would recommend magnetic child safety locks that are installed on the inside. They are discreet, secure, and easy for adults to open with a magnet, but difficult for children. No visible parts on the outside.

Thanks for the tip. Did you have a specific product in mind? I’m concerned that some magnetic locks might be too expensive or complicated to install. Are there simpler models that can just be screwed in on the inside?

Jeanbar schrieb:
Magnetic locks, as Ellis already mentioned, are a great solution because they are invisible from the inside and don’t encourage forceful attempts by children.

What do you mean by forceful attempts? Do you mean that traditional latches are more likely to break from pushing or pulling? A detailed description of your experience here would be really helpful.

Onjan68 schrieb:
What do you mean by force attempts? Do you mean that conventional latches are more likely to break due to pushing or pulling?

Exactly, I mean that some mechanical latches or locks are forcibly opened or damaged by children because they are too obvious and encourage kids to push or pull on them. Magnetic locks, on the other hand, require a special tool (magnet) and are discreetly mounted inside, so children don’t even try to open them. Additionally, they are durable and don’t damage the furniture.

Regarding your other question: there are some more affordable magnetic models that can be simply attached with screws. Installation is not complicated; you just need to measure carefully and, if necessary, pre-drill. For most BESTA doors, I recommend a narrow lock body so that the doors close properly. If you like, I can suggest a few model types.

I would like to add a brief step-by-step guide here that might be helpful:

- First, check what type of door you have (hinged or sliding doors).
- For hinged doors: purchase recessed magnetic safety locks that save space.
- Prepare your tools: screwdriver, drill with a small diameter for pilot holes, and possibly a spirit level.
- Attach the lock on the inside of the door, with the locking mechanism on the door’s inner side and the magnet on the frame accordingly.
- Before fully screwing everything in, check the fit (the door should close flush and the lock should engage properly).
- Hold the magnet to the key and test if it opens easily.
- Repeat the same process for multiple doors; otherwise, the child could simply open other doors.

Common mistakes from my experience include: too large a gap between lock and magnet, incorrect mounting height, or using cheap models with weak magnetic force. That’s why it’s better to invest a bit more and install it properly the first time.

I hope this guide is somewhat helpful!