# Baby proofing a sliding screen door **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 16, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306 "2022-06-16T15:45:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/1 "2022-06-16T15:45:27Z")
The nickel is right up against the frame and edge of the door, showing that there’s not enough room for one of those sticky tape lock mechanisms. I’m hoping someone here has had to secure a similar door. I would prefer not to drill any holes. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/w9aHYVv.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/wIQWTfw) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/2 "2022-06-16T15:53:57Z")
Use a stick on the opposite side. I have an expandable rod that uses pressure to keep little hands from removing it. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/3 "2022-06-16T15:57:09Z")
Yeah, just cut a dowel, or even just a 2x4, to the width of the other door and drop it in the track. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/4 "2022-06-16T16:00:20Z")
Unfortunately, the dowel idea isn’t going to work for us, I don’t think. To explain it better, the door is a glass/screen combo. A fixed panel of glass, a sliding glass door and a sliding screen. The only place to stick a dowel to hold the screen in place would be from the outside of the house, which would trap the adults in, along with the toddler. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/5 "2022-06-16T17:34:00Z")
Okay, just so I have it straight, you want to be able to lock the screen door while leaving the glass door open, and the screen door is on the outside, the fixed panel is in the middle, and the glass door is on the inside, correct? I assume there’s no existing latch or lock on the screen door? Would a no-drill cabinet lock work? > **[Amazon.com: YEYA Refrigerator Lock, Baby Proof Cabinet Locks with Keys, Child...](https://www.amazon.com/Refrigerator-Cabinet-Adhesive-Yeya-Standard/dp/B096QSGRG3)** > > Amazon.com: YEYA Refrigerator Lock, Baby Proof Cabinet Locks with Keys, Child Safety Locks for Cabinets 4 Pack : Baby ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/6 "2022-06-16T18:05:08Z")
I’m surprised a baby can slide the door from the bottom at all. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/7 "2022-06-16T18:14:39Z")
Yes, that’s all correct. I’m going to order that and see if it works, thanks. jngmassiv, she’s one and a half. She’s learned that if she leans her body against the screen and wiggles from side to side, it’ll slide open enough for her to get her hand through and slide it the rest of the way. Fortunately, she’s not strong enough to slide the glass portion, but when it’s hot, we like to have a breeze coming in. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2022, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/8 "2022-06-17T02:17:23Z")
There are idiotic sliding glass doors that have the glass slider on the OUTSIDE. If I had a house with one of those doors, I’d save my nickels and dimes to replace it. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/9 "2022-06-17T16:19:36Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > She’s learned that if she leans her body against the screen and wiggles from side to side, it’ll slide open enough for her to get her hand through and slide it the rest of the way. Clever primate. I guess I was visualizing more of an 6 or 10 month old. Is there any more room on the screen frame along the top. Can you put a couple self adhesive hooks and secure the door with a stout rubber band? [https://www.amazon.com/Command-General-Purpose-Variety-17231-ES/dp/B07712H557/](https://www.amazon.com/Command-General-Purpose-Variety-17231-ES/dp/B07712H557/) ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/10 "2022-06-18T14:23:28Z")
Thanks. There’s not a lot of space up top, but I’ll try and see if this works, too. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/11 "2022-06-18T14:37:51Z")
There’s also this sort of thing: > **[Door Hasp Latch 90 Degree, Stainless Steel Safety Angle Locking Latch for...](https://www.amazon.com/dingchi-Degree-Stainless-Locking-Sliding/dp/B07P3JTYR4)** > > Door Hasp Latch 90 Degree, Stainless Steel Safety Angle Locking Latch for Push/Sliding/Barn Door, Satin Nickel - - Amazon.com Obviously, you’d have to do a bit of due diligence to be sure it would work with your configuration and dimensions on the door frames. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/12 "2022-06-20T01:33:09Z")
Thanks. I’ll try this if the other things don’t work out. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-proofing-a-sliding-screen-door/966306/13 "2022-06-20T02:15:29Z")
A corner brace like this will work. Mount it six foot high on the screen. So people don’t bump into it. Cut off the dowel pins so only 1/2" sticks out of the jam. One side attaches to the screen. The jam side use a dowel screw. Align it so that when you close the screen door the brace slides over the dowels. Wing nuts secure it. It does require 4 small holes. They can easily be filled with caulking. You may be able to attach the bracket to the screen with metal epoxy. Which would scrap off if needed. I’d try epoxy before drilling. Epoxy [https://www.partsvu.com/permatex-steel-weld-epoxy-grey-1oz-84209.html?msclkid=283f7fdf86f81c6f86171d705fb0dcf9](https://www.partsvu.com/permatex-steel-weld-epoxy-grey-1oz-84209.html?msclkid=283f7fdf86f81c6f86171d705fb0dcf9) [![](https://www.hardwareworld.com/files/pi/bN/J/38GZ.jpg) ](https://www.hardwareworld.com/files/pi/bN/J/38GZ.jpg) [https://41.cdn.ekm.net/ekmps/shops/d35d35/images/new-pack-of-10-x-m8-wood-to-metal-dowels-screws-metal-wing-nuts-406-p.jpg?v=1](https://41.cdn.ekm.net/ekmps/shops/d35d35/images/new-pack-of-10-x-m8-wood-to-metal-dowels-screws-metal-wing-nuts-406-p.jpg?v=1)