How about this "top of the door" latch?

Here is a link that might be useful: top of the door latch?

We had great luck with the doorknob covers they sell at toys r us. My kids were 5 or 6 before they figured out how to open them and they are totally removable, so don't damage the door or door frame. I think they make them for levers too.

I would give these a shot before doing anything permanent.

Thanks, I tired both! Unfortunately our doors are too thick for the top of the door latch and we have egg shaped knobs so the knob covers don't work! If only we'd realized before...

You could always switch out the door knobs for a few years for a round handle.

I'm having a problem in my new house because the kids have locks on their doors. The kids keep hiding the keys so I can't find them when needed. I'm seriously thinking about switching out the knobs with the closet knobs that don't have locks.

You could try a flush mount throwbolt across the doors.

We installed the magnetic locks in all of our cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms when our kiddos were that young. They were a little bit of a pain to install but once in, they worked like a charm! If you go this route i'd highly recommend buying a spare "key" in case you misplace the one that comes with it ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Magnetic-Lock-4-Lock/dp/B000K6L7Z6

Those doorknob covers don't work on every kid anyway. My son had them figured out before his 4th birthday. We put a knob with a privacy lock on the pantry and keep the "key" on the door frame above the door. Even if he climbs a stool to steal the key, the little turd isn't talented enough to pick the lock yet. mwahahaha ;-)

V

Those magnetic locks are fabulous! We put them on all of our dangerous cabinets while our kids were young, and they *never* figured them out. And disabling the lock permanently is as simple as flipping a switch.

I'm planning to use them on a mirror-front jewelry cabinet in our master closet since there are no tell-tale signs on the front that there's even a door.

Don't think just because your kids get older you won't need to lock the pantry. I have 6 kids that constantly sneak the foods they should ask for permission to have. In our new build I'm going to splurge on the locks that you punch in a code for our pantry. It will work to keep even my teens out.