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How To Babyproof Interior Doors

Name: Door Buddy® Baby Plus Pinch Guard
Brand: The Door Buddy
SKU: DB-BBY-GPGC
Price: 18.98 USD
Availability: InStock

By: Door Buddy Editors | Published: July 30, 2025

a baby trying to enter a room stopped by a door buddy door strap

As parents, we all want to keep our little ones safe, especially at home. And if you're also a proud “pawrent,” that means creating a space where your pets (especially your cats!) can relax, while keeping curious toddlers away from things like litter boxes and pet food.

But when you’re trying to create a babyproof home that’s also pet-friendly, you’re bound to hit a few roadblocks.

One of the trickiest and most overlooked is babyproofing interior doors, especially when you’re sharing your home with a curious cat or dog.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the best babyproofing solutions for every type of interior door, without sacrificing your pet’s freedom or your sanity.

Between pet gates, cat doors, baby gates with pet access, and all the combinations in between, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So how do you choose the right one?

It all comes down to what works best for your “furmily”.

Sure, baby gates can work, but do you really want to unlatch one every time you walk through a room? (Probably not.)

So, without further ado, let’s break down how to babyproof interior doors, the smart, pet-friendly way.

What To Consider When Creating A Babyproof House

As we've already covered, babyproofing is essential, so it’s important to get it right! To help, we've created a handy babyproofing checklist you can use at home.

Before jumping into the many options available, here are a few key points to keep in mind when babyproofing your interior doors:

You want to prevent your child from opening or using the door independently.
You want to prevent your child from injuries caused by moving parts, such as hinges or slamming doors.
You want to keep your little one out of certain areas, like the room with the cat's litter box, without restricting your pet's access.

Whether you choose a cat gate, pet door, baby gate with pet access, or a combination of gates designed for both pets and babies, make sure you consider these goals first.

And most importantly: What safety solution meets your needs without getting in your way?

How To Choose Between A Pet Gate, Baby Gate,

Dog Gate, Or Other Options

With so many options out there, it can be challenging to choose the right babyproofing product, especially when it comes to interior doors? And pocket doors? They're practically a category of their own.

Whenever we're stuck, we like to start with the basics. A great place to start is to compare pros and cons of each option. Here’s the good news: we’ve done the hard work for you!

Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of pet gates, cat doors, dog gates, and more. We're also sharing our own "ameowzing" favorites to help make your decision easier.

Pet Gates

A pet gate might seem like an obvious solution for babyproofing interior doors while keeping your little one out of your pet’s space. It provides a barrier between your baby or toddler and your pet. When used effectively, a pet gate can be a great babyproofing solution for areas like the litter box.

However, pet gates can be tricky to install (being wall-mounted), expensive, and are not easy to move or remove once you no longer need them. A pet gate is also not always the easiest to open and close, so you'll have to do a little climbing over when your hands are full. This can lead to accidents, and nobody wants that!

Pros:

Creates an effective barrier
Babyproofs stairs easily
Blocks dogs and toddlers

Cons:

Bulky and unattractive
Difficult for older kids and adults to use
Expensive
Hard to install

Cat Doors or a Pet Door

These days, cat doors or a pet door for interior doors come in all shapes and sizes, making them more aesthetically pleasing in your home. They are generally small enough that your little one can't get through, but your cat or dog can (as long as it's not too chonky).

While this is “purrfect” for giving your cat some much-needed space, cat and pet doors, much like pet gates, often require some form of damage to your home. You aren't going to need to babyproof your home “fur-ever”, so you want an option that can adjust as your needs change.

Pros:

Takes up a little space
Blends into decor easily
Gives cats easy access to rooms
Blocks bigger dogs and bigger kids

Cons:

Smaller kids can still squeeze through
Requires permanent damage
Expensive

A Baby Gate with Pet Door

As the name suggests, a baby gate with pet door is a gate designed to keep babies and toddlers out of rooms that are off-limits, while still allowing small pets to come and go through a built-in opening.

While there is definitely a place for baby gates, especially on staircases, they’re not always the most practical choice for interior doors.

Pros:

Effective barrier for toddlers and bigger dogs

Cons:

Bulky design
Doesn't work on all door types
Expensive

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a toddler trying to open the door but he cant as there is a door buddy door strap

Door Buddy's Adjustable Door Strap

Forget about those bulky baby or pet gates, and look to the future. Door Buddy's pet door strap with an adjustable width is the “purrfect” solution for babyproofing interior doors. Not only is it quick and easy to install, but it will work with most door types, including double, bi-fold, and sliding doors.

The Door Buddy Combo also includes a foam door stopper to prevent pinched fingers and slamming, no more ouch moments!

This pet door strap is sleek and low-profile, unlike bulky pet gates or cat doors. It fits seamlessly into your home, without creating barriers between you and your furry friend. The strap unhooks from the latch easily, making it simple to enter and exit rooms, even with your hands full.

Pros

Works on most door types
Affordable
Blends into decor well
Lets cats and adults into rooms easily
Blocks dogs and toddlers
Keeps fingers safe with a foam door stopper
Installs in seconds
Damage-free installation
Non-permanent

Cons

Dogs smaller than your cat can still fit through

Babyproofing Interior Doors: Comparison Table

With so many options to choose from: baby gates, pet doors, adjustable straps, and more, it helps to see everything side by side.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide which babyproofing solution works best for your home, your pets, and your little one:

Product	Best For	Pros	Cons
Traditional Pet Gate	Blocking off rooms or stairs entirely	✅ Strong barrier ✅ Blocks pets and kids ✅ Some have walk-through doors	❌ Bulky ❌ Can be hard to open ❌ May require drilling
Cat Door / Pet Door	Giving pets access to rooms while keeping doors closed	✅ Low profile ✅ Easy for cats ✅ Blends with decor	❌ Permanent modification ❌ Small kids may squeeze through
Baby Gate with Pet Door	Blocking toddlers while allowing small pets through	✅ Dual-purpose ✅ Stronger than pet doors alone	❌ Still bulky ❌ Doesn't work on all door types
Door Buddy Adjustable Strap	Pet-friendly access while keeping toddlers out	✅ Quick install (no tools) ✅ Works on sliding, bifold, & double doors ✅ No drilling ✅ Removable & adjustable	❌ Doesn't block small pets (e.g., tiny dogs)
DIY Door Latch Hacks	Temporary, no-cost fixes	✅ Free or low-cost	❌ Unreliable ❌ Can damage doors ❌ Not aesthetically pleasing

How Can Door Buddy's Adjustable Pet Door Strap Help With Baby Proofing Your Interior Doors

Take it from us, after having two girls who couldn't stay away from the cat's food and litter box, we know how exhausting it is to constantly say “no.” Thanks to Door Buddy's babyproof door lock, keeping your little one safe at home has never been easier. Parenting is hard enough; why should babyproofing be just as hard?

When we were in the babyproofing stage, we were quickly overwhelmed with all the options and the never-ending to-do list. Plus, what were we supposed to do about our glass sliding doors and pocket doors?

That’s precisely why we created a simpler, smarter alternative to traditional pet doors and gates. While some parents go straight for a safety lock for door handle, Door Buddy offers an easier, drill-free solution.

Babyproofing Sliding Doors

Use our adjustable sliding door strap to keep them open just enough for your cats and fresh air to come through, while preventing your little one from entering off-limits rooms.

If you're wondering how to childproof sliding glass doors, this method is quick, non-invasive, and renter-friendly.

To install, all you need to do is attach the latch to your door frame. If a door frame isn’t available, you can also secure the latch to the wall, as long as it’s not drywall. Next, secure the strap to the end of your door, making sure it lines up with the latch, and you're good to go!

Don’t forget to position your Door Buddy a little higher up on your door so that your little one can’t reach this babyproof door strap and unhook it. Then, add the included foam door stopper to protect tiny fingers from getting pinched. Just like that, babyproofing your sliding door is simple, safe, and stress-free!

Babyproofing Double Doors

Your baby blocker gates and cat-friendly baby gates won’t work when you want to baby-proof double doors, but Door Buddy will! Attach your latch on one door (preferably the one that you will keep closed).

On the other door (the one you'll be opening most often), attach your strap in line with your latch.

You can now open and close your double doors without allowing your toddler through.

Once again, Door Buddy’s babyproof door strap saves the day!

babyproofing double doors with a door buddy door strap

Babyproofing Bi-fold Doors

If you have bi-fold doors in your home, you’re probably wondering how to babyproof them, right?

Door Buddy makes it easy - no drilling, cutting, or complicated tools required.

Simply attach the latch to your door frame (or a nearby wall, if needed), and secure your strap to the edge of the door closest to the frame, in line with your latch.

Use our foam door stopper to prevent pinched fingers from accidental door slams.

Your cat can come and go freely, while your baby or toddler stays safely out of restricted areas.

Conclusion: Babyproofing Normal Interior Doors

There are a number of ways to babyproof interior doors, but our adjustable door strap really does take the cake!

You won’t have to do any cutting or drilling to install it, which is especially helpful if you’re renting.

Door Buddy also fits seamlessly into your home and is designed to blend in with your décor, unlike bulky baby blocker gates.

There are a few different ways you can attach your Door Buddy. If you have a strong-willed dog or toddler, we recommend using Installation Method 3 in our setup guide.

However, the great thing about Door Buddy is that it's non-permanent and can be moved around as your needs change.

As we said, the world of babyproofing interior doors can be overwhelming. Who would have thought that there’d be so many options to sort through, cat doors, pet gates, dog gates, baby gates, and door straps?

FIND THE BEST DOOR BUDDY FOR YOUR HOME

Tired of playing door referee? Door Buddy gives you an easy way to control access in your home, from curious cats to energetic dogs to busy little humans. Find the right fit below and take back control of your space.