How Do I Child Proof My Wine Bottle Storage?

1. Seal off unused electrical outlets using temporary electrical outlet caps. For plugged-in cords that you want to leave in, use sliding electrical outlet covers and power strip covers. Tie up/tape down the cords.
2. Vacuum the carpet regularly and sweep the floors. Check for thumbtacks, bobbypins, coins, etc., that might have rolled into nooks and crannies.
3. Move all plants onto high ledges and dressers.
4. Rearrange the sofas and other furniture so windows aren’t accessible from them.
5. Fasten any tall furniture to the wall.
6. Add corner bumpers to any objects with sharp corners.
7. Place a guard door in front of the fireplace.

1. Don’t put any unnecessary objects or blankets in the crib.
2. Use a new crib that meets federal safety standards.
3. Keep the crib well away from the window, and avoid using curtains/miniblinds with cords.
4. Hang mobiles out of the standing reach of your child.

1. Keep these areas off-limits at all times with baby doorknob locks.
2. Install baby gates at the base and top of any staircases.

The kitchen is one of the toughest areas to make a-okay for baby. Not only do you have a gazillion cabinets available for the little one to try to get to, the kitchen area often has wide entrances that can be hard to block off without a fortress of baby gates. There are also all of those now-scary-looking appliances, from the oven to the stove to the fridge to the wine cooler. Here are the hot spots to hit:

1. Push everything — pots, pans, forks, cutting boards, etc. — back from the edge of the counter so it can’t be pulled down to the ground.
2. Install child-proof locks on all cabinets and drawers. And just to be safe:
   • •Keep detergents and cleaners in a high cabinet.
   • •Put mouse traps and bug baits way out of reach or remove them.
   • •Store sharp utensils, glassware, and the like out of reach.
3. Lock the trash can compartment or purchase a lockable trash can.
4. Store plastic wrap and storage bags in a locked closet.
5. Remove the stove knobs and only cook on the back burners.
6. Elevate the microwave to a place where the controls can’t be reached/it can’t be pulled down.
7. Use a button strap or padlock to lock the fridge.
8. Remove all magnets from the fridge.

Wine bottle coolers are especially important to babyproof because most are about 2 to 3 feet tall — this is just the right height for a little kid to go mooching in. And, whereas opening the heavy door of the main refrigerator may be harder for a toddler, a beverage cooler door is more lightweight and will be easier to pull open. Your safety strategy will ultimately depend on what type of wine cooler you have, but here are the main problem areas to address.

First, check if your wine cooler already has a lock installed. For example, products like the NewAir AWR-460DB Wine Cooler come with a lock built-in specifically for the purpose of keeping out children (and any thieves who might want your vintages). You won’t need to purchase a separate child lock for these types of wine coolers. However, for any wine bottle storage that doesn’t have this, you’ll need a fridge door latch, or a button strap fridge lock, or a multi-function lock. These baby proofing accessories are designed for temporary — though secure — use, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your wine cabinet exterior.

Also note, you should never take out and leave out the removable shelves in your wine cabinet, or leave the door open. Otherwise you run the risk of your child getting trapped inside if they gain access to the unit.

For most wine coolers to chill properly, there needs to be a small gap between the cabinet and any surrounding walls. Unfortunately, too-large of gaps can turn into enticing crawlspaces for kids. That’s why models like the AWR-460DB are great for homes with small children: they’re installed directly into the existing cabinetry, which means there’s no nook for crawling behind the unit.

But if you already have freestanding wine bottle storage, the solution may simply be rearrangement. First check your wine cooler owner’s manual for the minimum air clearance needed around the appliance. Generally the side space will be less than one inch, and the back will require only about four inches. If you currently have your wine cabinet in the middle of the floor with the rear exposed, move it into a recessed wall space, or between two pieces of furniture with solid sides. With less than an inch required on either side, these crannies will be too small for a child to access, while still giving the wine cooler proper air clearance.

Many compressor wine coolers, and especially those that are designed to be installed in cabinetry, will have front vents. While this is convenient for maintaining the proper wine temperature inside, it’s not so convenient when you have a curious child who likes poking their fingers and objects into stuff. This is easy to fix: just take a strip of thin highly breathable fabric or a nylon screen, cut it to size, and tape it over the vent openings.

If you’re currently relying on regular old standing wine racks to display your wine, it’s really difficult to baby-proof these products. If you don’t move the whole rack into a locked closet (and what’s the point of having a wine rack then?) chances are your child is going to try to pull out the glass wine bottles. This is why it’s much better to use a wine bottle cabinet: not only can the collection safely nest inside, it also has the added benefit of keeping your wine at the right temperature for the best flavor. Of the wine cooler types, a built-in unit is the most child-safe for the reasons mentioned above.

If you really don’t want to child proof your wine bottle storage, then it’s time to start drinking all that wine! At least this will solve the problem of teenager-proofing your wine, because that’s a whole ‘nother story!