Childproof Kitchen Appliances? Try Before You Buy

**Our honesty policy: This post may contain affiliate links and I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. Some are, some aren't--I do some comparison shopping. The important thing is you will know exactly what we are talking about. Drop a note/comment if you have any questions on the products as these are materials and tools we use on our own projects.

Looking for your next set of appliances?* Do you have:

• young children
• grandchildren
• think you might have kids sometime
• host friends with kids
• imagine you might sell your home to anyone with a child

This pretty much means everyone except Ebenezer Scrooge. And even he had a change of heart. So this applies to you.

Even if you think you already know what you want–a brand, style, particular features, etc.–take your child to an appliance store. Get a preview of exactly what will happen to your shiny new appliances before they are installed in your house.

Don’t have a child yet? Borrow one and go to the store! Your neighbor will appreciate the afternoon off. Any child under three will think you are the coolest neighbor on the block as you encourage them to respectfully test out these amazing huge appliances at the store.

Better yet (and even easier), scroll on down to get a reality check of how your choices may or may not be considered childproof kitchen appliances.

First up, the refrigerator:

Want an indoor pool? You could totally have one RIGHT NOW in your kitchen!!!

Also consider how easy it is to keep the doors closed. As much as I love my bottom mount freezer, I know I am lucky my daughter does not love opening it…yet. I have no clue how I would keep it shut otherwise. However, this side by side pictured above can easily be kept closed with a piece of rope.

Dishwasher:

Want to try out all the options on your dishwasher? Wish granted if this little person pushes all the buttons right after you start it and leave the room.

OK, a dishwasher probably doesn’t let you change the settings after you start the cycle, but if you don’t deselect them before the next cycle starts it might take all day to run the dishwasher.  😉

Hidden buttons on the top of the dishwasher door simply do not exist for a child…

A gas range:

This is an ER trip waiting to happen. This picture actually really did and still terrifies me.

Gas ranges have the knobs on the front as a safety feature to protect your arm from the flame when starting up an element. However, it is a real safety issue with a child. You HAVE to get some kind of locking mechanism or cover up to make it childproof.

Extra bonus: Washing Machines

Buttons! Glorious buttons!

Here is one reason to splurge on the stands for the side by side front loading washers and driers. Not only will you save your back going out from bending over as you move clothes in and out, but you also keep little hands from changing your settings.*** These same little hands can still help you load and unload the clothes…

Deposit crayon here!

Who knew a top loader would be easier to open than a front loader?!? My daughter is almost three and still can’t open the front loader because the seal is so tight.

Do you unknowingly have childproof kitchen appliances?

Our family outing turned out to be more educational than I would have ever imagined in my wildest dreams.****

It was one of those moments when I realized the appliances I had at home just happened to be perfect for a family with young ones. I had no idea I had childproof kitchen appliances! However, I look at them now through a very different viewpoint and am so very thankful.

I’ll pass on the water dispenser. I have a Brita filter. I know myself well enough to know maintaining a more complex water filtration system in a refrigerator is more than I would like to maintain or fix. Again, I am fully aware how lucky I am to have a toddler who does not care about helping herself to either ice packs, milk or cheese, despite knowing where they are located.

What buttons? This dishwasher has lights on the top front. They are entertaining enough, but usually this is run at night so they are a rarity.

One bonus of most electrical ranges: the buttons and knobs are on the back. Well out of range of curious hands.

A whole lot of what is on display at any appliance store is not very childproof on first look, but there are some safety features. For instance, many of the refrigerators have an locking feature on the water dispenser. Check out the owner’s manual before you buy!

There are other design features that lend themselves to childproofing. A dishwasher with hidden buttons are an easy win. My daughter does not even know they exist. A side by side refrigerator/freezer combo or a three or four door refrigerator is easy enough to tie up with rope. Compare this to my refrigerator above with only one door.

Easily reached buttons and levers are your nemesis. Reconsider what may or may not look attractive to you. Safety is yet another reason to splurge on that sleek and modern (with hidden buttons) look you really want.

*If you already have a good set already in your home DO NOT DESPAIR. A follow on post will help you navigate different safety measures to keep little hands out of unsafe and/or unwelcome places.

**No buttons were harmed while this photo shoot took place. All buttons were pressed respectfully. Only one of each appliance was touched except for the refrigerators. It was necessary to show there was no milk in any of the refrigerators…

***I actually did think my washing machine was broken one time when my daughter turned the knob to a direction without a real setting. I did not understand why the display only had the blanks. It certainly makes you breath a sigh of relief when you figure it out!

****Thank you, Best Buy, for providing air conditioning and a safe place to roam when it was 110+ outside.  The knobs and handles on all the appliances were not quite as attractive as a dad and mom hot on a just barely two year old’s heels. However, at some point a little finger landed on a button and inspiration for this post was just too much for this mom to resist! I went from a conscientious parent to a shitty-a$$ parent <—a reference to a YouTube recording of Samuel L. Jackson’s “inspirational” rendition of a “childrens'” bedtime reading book–note, it is not child or workplace appropriate language but hysterical.