To save time as a working parent, I’m an advocate of hiring a childproofer to help with babyproofing. So now that my daughter can walk and reach all of our kitchen drawers, I recently had a childproofer come to our place.
While much of what we need requires his products and installation expertise (no surprise), he did share a tip for how to easily childproof stovetops for free that I was able to do right on the spot and that is the subject of today’s hint. The trick: Rather than buying special stovetop covers that little ones may easily learn to take off, simply pop the knob covers off, put them in a bowl by the stove and put them back as needed.
The tip, which one of my friends also recently passed along, works like a charm and variations include putting the knobs in a drawer or other secured spot. Others also recommend this approach, including Baby Center and the Alpha Mom blog.
But what about securing the stove when you’re cooking? Besides only popping on one knob as needed, the childproofer also recommended making sure to cook on the back burners when my little one is around and to keep the handles on pots and pans facing away from me toward the wall.
What are your tips for childproofing stoves and other kitchen appliances?
Great hints! For appliances: My tip is to keep all the small appliances unplugged when not using them. Also, secure cords so little hands don’t yank on them and accidently pull an appliance (or TV) off a countertop, possibly on themselves. Twist ties can be used to wrap up extra cord.
We had the knob covers but those intrigued my son to touch what he had never before paid any attention to, lol. Thank goodness he’s past that stage now. 🙂
My daughter just passed this stage and my son will soon be here! Thank you for sharing! There are so many ways to and things to childproof. My Son shows me new things I need to childproof each day! Lol
We have those childproof knobs on our stove, which work great. And I always use the back burners first anyway just to be safe. I am also teaching my daughter that the stove is HOT!
Genius!