Sure. Teach your child not to touch the stove--ever. It may sound strict, but its the only way to really protect him/her from the stove. What if he/she goes to play at a neighbor's house or grandma's and there are no childproof knobs? If your child knows the stove is off limits, he/she will be safe. I have 3 kids and we set aside a drawer in the kitchen with tupperware and sippy cups. I said, "This is your drawer of special kitchen toys. Mommy (Daddy, whatever) has toys that I can't share right now. When you are ---- (insert your age of comfort) I will show you how to use the microwave (or toaster, stove, etc.), but for now, no touching."

Most knobs can be removed for cleaning. I have twin 3 year old boys, and although they have been taught not to touch the stove, I can't watch them (and their older brother) every second. So I remove the knobs and keep them in a bowl out of their reach. I only have the knobs in when I am actually cooking. If I am simmering something on the back burner I even remove the knob again once the burner has been set so they don't try to adjust the heat.

Although children can be taught safety rules like not touching the stove or going into the street I don't ever think that you can trust them to always follow the rules. I am very strict about safety and my kids don't touch the stove, although they often ask about what mommy is cooking. I just am afraid that I be distracted with one boy and the other will "forget" the rule momentarily while I am occupied. I guess I am just a bit paranoid...

your child should not be around the stove you risk spattering and causing injury

There is no such thing as child proofing. Teach your child good safety practices and watch them as carefully as you can. The rest is up to luck, or God, or whatever you believe. Be a responsible parent and do your best and you will be ok. This is what we do and it works for us. It also worked for my parents and theirs before. My grandparents had a coal fired, pot-belly stove to heat their entire (small) house. I was fascinated by the red glow behind the door but I knew never to touch the heater. Successful parenting is not easy and it does not come without accident but we all do our best, don't we? By the way, I never touched the heater, but I did play in the coal pile and got extremely dirty. At least I broke a less hazardous rule.

Have you heard about Wolf's new electrified knobs, Jenna? Just kidding.

One thing you might try, though I think it would be inconvenient, is having a gas shut-off valve in an adjacent child-proofed (if there really is such a thing) cabinet.

Other than putting up barriers (and even those don't always work) I'm not sure it's really possible to keep kids and appliances separate. Good luck.

I was thinking yanking the knobs would be pretty effective too.

My practical advice would be to use the same practical method my mother used when I was a kid. If I touched something I wasn't supposed to touch -- I got my hands smacked. As a kid, it wasn't my favourite method, but it was highly practical....and it worked.

I just can't resist making a comment to everyone who says to teach your child not to touch the stove. This morning we had an incident which is the perfect example of why you can't be too careful. My boys (twins, barely 3 and could be poster boys for ritilin!) were heading out the door of our apartment with me to take their older brother to school. One fell down on the way to the elevator. The other ran ahead a bit. In a moment the Fire Alarm went off in the entire building. My son knows not to touch the alarm. He has passed by it every day for 9 months and never pulled it. But today (probably inspired by my older son's commment "don't touch that!") decided to pull it anyway. Fortunately, the worst thing that happened was that the residents of our building were all awakened at 7:30 am, the Fire Department was called and I was embarrassed.

Of course my children know not to touch the stove and know to stay away from me when I am cooking. But, I cannot watch them every moment, and just as I put plugs in my electrical outlets I remove the knobs from my range. I wouldn't trust my children to play out of arms' reach near a busy street even though they know not to. Young children can be impulsive and it only takes a moment for something to happen.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Jenna has no intentions of letting her kids play on the child-proofed (or child-resistant) stove! You set up barriers AND you teach them. You don't have to pick just one!

And sure, someone is bound to bring up "well, we all lived without childproofing" without thinking about how biased a sample we are, being amongst the living.

Wiggly three-year old twin boys? I bet they keep you awfully busy, J.M.P.! I suspect you know a lot about making things child-resistant.

So sorry!! I wasn't trying to offer parenting advice or insult anyone. Just trying to point out the obvious(?). You can't eliminate all risk from everything. If it helps, yank the knobs off. If you have the money, hire a stove sitter to watch the knobs so no one turns then on accidentally. For what it is worth, I had quite a bit of childproofing on my way to adulthood. It was called a parent, and that parent taught me well. Like jamesk stated, I, too, had my hand smacked several times, but it only took once to touch a hot stove. I never did it again.

I think the most practical way to eliminate as much risk as possible is to take off the knobs when not in use. Does your range have a dedicated circuit breaker? Flip it off when you're not cooking. Turn the gas off at the cut off valve. Let's brainstorm here. We could probably come up with 10 or 12 ideas to meet your need.

Heck, a lot of us grew up without carseats, and heh, we are just fine. Why don't we get rid of them too? Why waste time and money with these new convoluted safety devices trying to save a few lives when most kids will be ok anyway.

Lol. An amusing thread. Well, I have a Wolf and I'm not sure you are going to get any answer other than yank the knobs off. I can't see any other physical solution. You could set up a barrier with baby gates maybe, but then I think you are just making it more attractive.

I have 3 boys and the stove was never an issue. They were way more interested in the sink and the tupperware cabinet. A friend of mine had a problem with his cat though! This was years and years ago. A number of times he would go out for the evening and find a burner going (gas stove). Seems the cat would jump off the cooktop and manage to push a burner knob on (these just required a turn, not a push and turn)! He was very lucky his cat didn't set his apartment on fire!

A couple of things we did not have during my kid raising years...a computer and "free" cell phone minutes (or hours). No doubt these are handy and helpful tools, but their use also diverts parents' attention from the kid watching job we all signed on for when we got them.

There's NO reason for a two-, three-, four-, or five-year old to be in the kitchen by him/herself. These early years with your child are by far the easiest years for a parent. There are no equivalent plug covers or cabinet door/drawer locks for a teenager. Teach "No!" early. You are a parent, not your child's friend.

There's your solution, Jenna--stop using your darn cellphone! How dare you consider a backup plan to save your family from being accidentally gassed when you own a computer!?

Jenna is NOT going to have her toddler in the kitchen by himself. She is not stupid! But if she's loading the dishwasher, she doesn't want someone turning on the gas. Because sometimes very small children don't understand the first time.

Since when did a little extra caution make someone a bad parent?

My mistake...moms USED to have eyes in the back of their head.

Thanks for the humor, Fori! I had a vision of Jenna sitting around chatting on her cell phone, catching up on email and filing her nails- totally distracted as her two year old was standing on a chair and busily trying to turn on her stove!

I am laughing so hard. Thank you to those of you out there who "get it." While it sounds like removing the knobs should do the trick, I am intrigued by this stove sitter idea. Should I get references since this person will be around my child a lot? How much will I have to pay them? Now pardon me, I have to get my child out of the tub after my nails dry, or did I leave him in the car?

jacob - bet your rugrats don't pull the fire alarm anymore?

So far so good... but I'll bet that they still might if given the opportunity! It seems that getting into trouble is twice the fun if you have a twin to do it with!!! Once you hear those conspiratorial giggles you know that they are up to something...

George Carlin said that all the child-proofing was primary the cause of the dumbing down of society. Survival of the fittest, or the smartest, naturally weeds out the more ignorant among us.

One of the worst inventions leading to this current delemna?......Flame retardant pajamas for toddlers. LOL

fori, you made me laugh, although you are 100% correct. The discussions of how adequate safety was when current adults were children rarely occur between those that were killed or severly maimed years ago.

It's like the the guy that plays Russian Roulette with his buddy claiming that the danger is all just hype because he's played it numerous times without a scratch........and not understanding why his mere presence isn't enough evidence to convince his buddy's widow that he knows what he's talking about.

"One of the worst inventions leading to this current dilemma? Flame retardant pajamas for toddlers."

I have just suffered a flashback. Ouch. Does anyone else remember Tris? Does anyone have two (non-cyanide formula) Tylenol? How about a beer? I promise I won't consume them together.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tris

While my kids were too young to know better and for those moments when I needed to leave them alone, I actually barricaded them in our completely "childproof" living room, which for a couple years was carpeted wall-to-wall (YUCK!) and doubled as a playroom. The barricades were the tension spring net child gates; they make really wide ones to fit LR doorways.

When they were both old enough for us to move the playroom down to the basement, and they could deal with stairs and light switches, etc. I took down the barricades, refinished the floors on the 1st floor and told them what they needed to leave alone and they did.

They are now 7 & 8. My kids have a healthy respect for flames. I've been letting them help me cook (closely supervised) for a year or two. Luckily no burns, but also no major temptation either since they do get the opportunity to work with the stove. They also don't play with knives, matches, dish detergent or any cleaning products although they know well where these things are kept and could get to them quite easily. They know these things can kill them and have for years.

In my experience, kids rise to the level of your expectations.

Good luck!

Great parenting, smarge. You really 'get it.' That's the most effective 'child-proofing' there is. Keep up the good work.

I bought an interior door, cut it in half, and mounted it on spring close hinges on the opening to the kitchen. When it was latched, the kids could stand at the "door" and see and talk to their mom, but they never had access to anything in the kitchen when no one was around.

I agree with all the people who feel that child "teaching" is better then child "proofing". I do "get" it too, and agree that probably 98% of children will make reasonable choices, follow the rules and survive to adulthood. But, if a little childproofing will save a few of the other 2% I think it is worth considering.

Each of us knows our children- their strengths, weakness and abilities. As parents, we use this knowledge to determine how best to keep them safe. Clearly defined limits and rules may work with some children, and may not be as effective with other (more impulsive) ones. Sometimes I feel that some posters can be very harsh and judgmental towards those of us who have very active, highly impulsive children.

Has anyone seen the commercial where the mother is speaking to her child's school on the phone and is oblivious to her child in the background, who is vacuuming the water out of a fish tank?

Time to teach those two how to use a dust-buster!

Good luck, and enjoy! It'll be over before you know it (and having an album full of pictures like that one will be an excellent documentary!)

Jenna, would something like this work?

Here is a link that might be useful: knob covers

"These early years with your child are by far the easiest years for a parent. There are no equivalent plug covers or cabinet door/drawer locks for a teenager."

So true! Parenting is hysterically amusing and heartwrenching and everything in-between. We all have rules & trust & safety widgets & eyes on the backs of our heads & still our kids are skipping just out of reach. I once tackled a 3 year old on a chair leaning over our ancient electric Hotpoint pushing the back buttons. "I make eggs!" she said. Yes, her belly pressed against the burner she was turning on..... Nowadays that independent 3 year old is an independent 16 year old pushing all kinds of buttons I can't even see......but I do trust her with 22K burners on our Blue Star. How the years fly!

I don't know what a good stove sitter runs in your neck of the woods but I'd make sure s/he understands there are no cell phone chit-chats, no manicures, and no bathroom breaks while on duty. Same deal as your disposal sitter!

Good luck, Jenna, we're all in this together!

http://www.kidsafeinc.com/product/48409/Stove-Knob-Covers-for-Child-Safety.html

This knob covers are for up to 2 1/2 inch knob.

I have a 14 month old and I�m with you even though you try to do your best as a parent is better to reduce de possibilities for an accident. It�s just a matter of probabilities.

hope you find a solution.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kid safe

This looks like a great option!

http://www.rangesafe.com/safety-knob.html

And ignore all above 'knobs' giving parenting advice.

My grand kids are barricaded with a whole series of gates like peggross1 did. The four year old helps in the kitchen and can now bake brownies or a cake completely on her own under mom's watchful eye. She even places and removes things from the oven. By teaching her how to use things properly she is also well aware of the dangers. Her first time baking "all by herself" was when she was 3. She has learned rules of safe tool use in the garage helping daddy work on the car. She isn't allwed in the kitchen only becuase of the mess factor, all the crafts are done in the kitchen and all the supplies are stocked there.

The 2 year old will eventually follow in her footsteps, we hope. He worships her so that should make things easier.

Eurostoves sells range safety knobs that they state will fit a Wolf. http://www.rangesafe.com/ 

I cannot believe the stupidity on this thread. She's obviously asking for knob cover recommendations or some other knob locking mechanism. Not parenting advice.

Firstly, this is a decade old thread you've dredged up so presumably the little tikes are a bit older now. Whether or not they've learned to be responsible around fire is another story.

Secondly, implicit in her question is "I don't want to teach my kids to be responsible..." The parenting advice is well warranted. The U.S. is falling far behind other countries in many areas and one of the causes is poor or lax parenting and children growing up without any semblance of responsibility, self discipline or regard for others.

Child proof knobs aren't needed but proper parenting is.

I have the same issue with a Wolf Range at my new house. I have 4 year old twins. One of them is on the autism spectrum and I can tell you that no matter how many times I told him not to touch bees and wasps, he has had stings and swollen appendages twice this month.

If he sees me cooking, he immediately takes interest in the range and all those colorful knobs despite my telling him and showing him pics indication only grownups should touch the knobs.

Our open plan home and his ability to climb anything makes baby gates hopeless. Therefore if anyone has managed to childproof a Wolf Range, please share your experience.

Thanks to all!

I am excited about the suggestion to remove knobs. I think that’s a good idea

there are also anti tip brackets for ranges. A separate issue but they can be pulled over. It’s good to make sure those are installed when the range goes in ! They are standard equipment but not always used

im hoping a toddler tower helps with containment so I can give him something to do bit he stays away from more dangerous things

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07T237RVF/ref=sspa_mw_detail_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Another constructive idea. I have an American Range where the knobs are recessed into the bezels, but you can remove the bezels and install most knob covers.