Need Door holder-ASAP

Updated on November 20, 2008
N.R. asks from Harker Heights, TX
33 answers

We are looking for a door holder that will keep the door open. I don't my kids trying to close the door to their playroom. I am worried that they will get each others fingers in the door (ages 1 1/2 and 2 1/2). I would like something that is permanent. Maybe where I just slide a pin and it prevents the door from closing. Or maybe like a hinge that fits between the door jam where you can turn it and engage the lock that would keep it open. I really don't want anything that has to be removed and replaced each time. Any web pages/links would be great. Thanks

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So What Happened?

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I was able to find a great door stop at IKEA. The door stop slips under the door and you push down to engage/release. They were only a few dollars for a 2 pack. Problem solved.

Featured Answers

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T.H.

answers from Austin on

Hi! Until you find something permanent, try using a bath towel draped over the top of the door near the hinge. It will prevent the door from closing. Good luck! -Theresa

K.N.

answers from Austin on

My husband found a magnetic door jam at either Lowe's or HomeDepot. Basically, one end attaches to the door (down at the bottom of the door, instead of the springy little wall protector); the other piece attaches to the wall,, directly opposite where the door part is. The magnet is pretty strong... Once each piece comes together, my 2 1/2 yo can't pull it apart. Even for me, it takes a little 'umf' to pull door off the wall.

Cost only a few dollars...

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

Just take the door off! Or bolt it with a strap to the wall.

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S.S.

answers from San Antonio on

Here are some examples of door stoppers that you can purchase but the towel over the top of the door is a great, cheap idea. Sure, it may not be in the shape of a panda but it will protect those little fingers! Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_ba?url=search-alias%3Db...

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A.R.

answers from Houston on

I would just take the door off until they get a little older.

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K.H.

answers from Killeen on

After my daughter slammed the door on my son's fingers, I just plain took the door off.
But you can also put a hook on the backside of the door and a loop on the wall. The other thing you can do is put a rope attached to the wall and wrap it around the door knob.
Good Luck.

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L.M.

answers from Houston on

My son's daycare has wedges installed on the door frame at the top of the door where it hinges. I don't know where they got them, but they looked like a wedge you would put on the floor and jam under it to hold it open.

I would not allow the door to shut far enough for fingers to get caught.

They also had this plastic strip on the hinge side that covered that side of the door up to a child's reach.

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L.W.

answers from Killeen on

I saw these really nifty little things you can get at Walmart and they hug around the edge of your door and they're padded so the kids can't shut the door all the way to prevent from having little smashed fingers. They aren't expensive, and I think they're a wonderful idea. Probably invented by a mom just like you that was afraid of the same thing. I'm sure you can buy them anywhere you can find baby safety items like Walmart, Target, Kmart, Babies'r'Us...... If you get them, let me know how they work out :)

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B.G.

answers from Houston on

My son just turned two and has had his playroom since the beginning of the year. I personally do not like doors to be shut nor do i want him to open and close it and get hurt. I jsut totally took the door off the hinges and i have stored it behind my couch that is against a wall so that one day we can put it back up. I really liek the door down because the room is small and it helps open the room up.

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M.F.

answers from Austin on

We got a foam thing at BabiesRUs that looks kind of like a giant "C." It fits snugly on to the edge of the door, can be placed way up high, and can easily be moved from door to door.
Here's a picture of it on Babyant.com, but you can find it local, I'm sure. http://www.babyant.com/bh043099.html

M.

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R.A.

answers from Houston on

Maybe you could remove the door and the hardware all together until they get older?

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K.W.

answers from Longview on

N.,
Why not take the door off the hinges and store it for when you might need it in the future.
K.

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T.D.

answers from Houston on

have you ever noticed the door holder on the playroom door at chick fil a? i like it bc it's high and the kids can't mess with it. wherever they found that, it looks cool!

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C.C.

answers from Beaumont on

Throw a bath towel over the top of the door on the hinged side. You can leave it up there as long as you like!

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M.C.

answers from Houston on

Just take the door off it's hinges? No door.

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C.M.

answers from Austin on

Been there, done that. I put a towel over the door.

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G.S.

answers from Houston on

Hi N., why not just take the door off the hinges. You can put it in the attic or some place out of the way, and if you like you can always put it back on.

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J.S.

answers from Houston on

Can you just take the pins out of the hinges and remove the door? Maybe a stack of heavy books temporarily? A regular old fashioned door stop from Walgreens that you wedge under the door? Had this issue too when my boys were really little. We'd say 'uh-uh, doors are not toys" when they were going for them and they went to time out as a consequence for playing with them. It worked for us. Good luck.

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C.M.

answers from Houston on

I just fold up a washrag and stick it in above the middle hinge. They get the dubious thrill of trying to close the door, I don't have to worry about little fingers. We used those foam things for a while, but they kept tearing.

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D.G.

answers from Houston on

I haven't looked for doorstops, but have been happy when ordering child safety supplies from www.onestepahead.com. HTH!

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M.M.

answers from Houston on

N.,

There is a sponge like material that hugs the top of the door and I think its made by safety first and it keeps the door from closing on fingers. I personally have never tried them, but they look like they might work and I believe they are only a couple of dollars. You can find them just about anywhere that safety products are found for kids. Hope this helps

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J.H.

answers from Houston on

Have you tried Home Depot or Lowes? Baby store furniture stores may have suggestions.

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S.W.

answers from Houston on

I loved the towel idea. I had just purchased a door jam made to keep the kids fingers from getting smashed, it is sold in the child safety area (Lowes). Not sure that is the name of the product, but it is a form made to go on the edge of the door and will not let the door close. But the towel will do the same thing.
This month my 2 yrs old grandson while at day care got his finger smashed in the door and he had to have emergency surgery by a plastic surgeon and they also had to cut off the top of his finger.
The day care have taken the door down.
The car doors always scare me because kids just do not realize how dangerous it is. I have to really watch that when they closed the car door that their fingers are not at either end.

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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

My son was sleeping in the living room as a new born. My husband snores. We ended up putting a shirt around the door. We rolled it up looped it around a door knob then around the door to the other knob and gave it a good knot. We did this because the sound of the door clicking shut woke our son up!!! Best of luck. My first thought was to take the door off!

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P.L.

answers from Houston on

Why not just take the door off?

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E.R.

answers from McAllen on

What I did was completely take the door off it's hinges. Quick and easy.

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D.F.

answers from Houston on

Hello N., Do you know about the "noodles" that you can buy for the pool? If you cut a piece off of that and cut length wise where the hole is, you can slip it on the door at the top. This way there is a buffer, if you will, when one of the kids tries to shut the door. If it falls off, it will not hurt them, it is styrafoam. If you can't find the noodle,as it is usually a seasonal item, you can go to the fabric store and purchase foam. You just have to cut the hole yourself. Hope this helps. D.

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K.O.

answers from Austin on

Ikea has a great little rubber thing you put at the top of the door and just turn it when you don't want the door to close. Check in their safety section.

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J.R.

answers from San Antonio on

The only way to totally prevent them getting their fingers caught is to take the door off.

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L.J.

answers from Houston on

You may find a simple eye hook latch at your local Home depot/Lowe's. Put it at your head height so they can't get into it. Attach to the back of the door, and to the wall behind it. Attach it to the wall with a Picture mounting anchors (they are usually white, and look like a thick plastic screw) Something that holds a lot of weight. Not cause it is going to hold a heavier weight, but the continual use may require a stronger anchor. It should hold for a year or two, by then your kids will be big enough where you don't need it.
Best of luck, don't think the whole thing will cost you more than $5-8!

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B.P.

answers from Houston on

What about something that goes around the door handle and ties to the wall behind the door?

I don't have suggestions other than a do it your self setup.

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A.S.

answers from Austin on

We use a little C-shaped white foam thing that fits around the edge of the door and prevents it from being shut. The foam provides a silent cushion that allows a few inches of space between door and door jam. We put it high up along the door so that the kids can't remove it. We got ours at Walmart, but they are everywhere in the baby (safety) department.

For other types of doors, we just took them down.

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