How to keep a crawling baby safely contained while doing chores
Babies start crawling and rolling around everywhere, making it difficult to safely step away and do things around the house. Standard barriers like stick-on locks also fail when determined toddlers figure out how to pull them right off.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Researching and buying large playpens with matching mats or modular metal play yardsDid this help you?
- 2Using stick-on fridge locksDid this help you?
- 3Getting a toy play fridge to redirect themDid this help you?
- 4Providing a dedicated sacrificial drawer with tupperware or play foodDid this help you?
- 5Constantly repeating verbal reminders and having them help close the fridgeDid this help you?
- 6Using a crib tent at homeDid this help you?
- 7Letting the child sleep in bed with the parentsDid this help you?
- 8Using a ring sling carrier to keep baby cozyDid this help you?
- 9Visiting airport kids play areas during layoversDid this help you?
- 10Buying a separate seat for the babyDid this help you?
- 11Laying a metal indoor animal pen flat across the opening.Did this help you?
- 12Using a metal dog tension gate with multiple extenders.Did this help you?
- 13Installing long, retractable mesh gates intended for wide archways.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“The only problem is that it’s 85” and I can’t find a good option for a baby gate that is sturdy and that big with good reviews..”source ↗
“Currently I’m so worried about her just trying to squirm out of my arms the whole time, because she’s super active, loves crawling and independent play, but she hates sitting on my lap for more than like 2 minutes.”source ↗
“Our baby is starting to crawl now and is also rolling around like a boulder. So we need space to let the baby be free and also be able to do things around the house.”source ↗
“My toddler recently decided opening the fridge is the most fascinating thing in the world. I got the stick on fridge locks but she’s a determined little thing and pulled so hard it flew right off 🤦🏻♀️ What else can I use?”source ↗
“Any tips for travel when you have a 2 year old who knows how to climb out of crib?”source ↗
“She needs to be confined to get good sleep with her age/personality. She is already a terrible sleeper when we travel, and yes we have tried letting her sleep in bed with us.”source ↗