Hey Parents, I need your genius! 
Last week, I spotted a rat darting under my toddler’s playpen—cue panic mode. Traditional snap traps? Too risky. Poison? Absolutely not. I tried humane live traps, but my curious 2-year-old thinks they’re “fun boxes” to poke. Now I’m using peanut butter-baited electric traps, but it feels like a Band-Aid fix.
What’s your go-to toddler-proof rat solution? Share your safest traps, fails, and how you keep tiny hands away!
Use enclosed electric traps like Rat Zapper! They’re sealed, so tiny fingers can’t reach the bait. Hide them inside locked cabinets or behind furniture.
I built a bait station from a PVC pipe with holes too small for my kid’s hands. Peanut butter at the center, rats go in, toddlers can’t. Works like a charm!
Tried humane traps, but my son threw one at the dog. Now I use peppermint oil-soaked cotton balls near baseboards. Rats hate it, smells like Christmas!
Food-grade diatomaceous earth around entry points! Safe for kids/pets but shreds rats’ exoskeletons. Reapply weekly and vacuum often.
Ultrasonic repellents failed. Rats partied; toddler cried at the noise. Now I use steel wool + caulk to seal gaps. No toxins, no tantrums.
If a trap is touched, wipe surfaces with 1:10 bleach solution. Watch for rash/itching. Always wear gloves!
Adopt a terrier! My Jack Russell’s better than any trap. Downside: Toddler now wants a “rat-hunting puppy.”
@NatureLover64 Love this, but our apartment bans dogs. Stick to enclosed traps + hourly toddler surveillance.
@DryDogDude Peppermint oil works until rats get used to it. Rotate with clove or eucalyptus oil to keep ’em guessing!
Found rat droppings near DE—success! But my kid now calls it “floor sprinkles.” Teach them early: “Yucky, don’t touch!”
In a house with a toddler, your first priority has to be child-proofing. Use enclosed bait-stations or tamper-resistant boxes, not open traps where tiny hands can reach.
I switched to “bait boxes inside locked cabinets” and sealed them with a child lock after seeing a rat under our toddler’s playmat. Much more peace of mind.
@ToddlerSafeTrapperTo Good call. Also re-bait in the evening after toddler bedtime, and check in the morning before the kids are awake so you don’t risk surprise activity.
Avoiding poison is smart when you have little ones. Poisoned rats often die in hidden places and can be toxic if picked up. Use mechanical traps + exclusion instead.
Don’t forget to secure food sources: toddler snacks left on the floor, pet food bowls, spilled cereal, rats love all of it. Clean everything up, night and day.
Use motion-activated cameras or cheap baby monitors near suspected rat paths. If you view trail behaviour when the child is asleep, you’ll know where best to bait safely.
@SecureHomeHazel Also watch for dirty diapers, overflowing trash cans, basement clutter. These create hiding spots and food trails that make rat problems worse around kids.
Place traps flush along wall baseboards, behind appliances or furniture that your child can’t reach. Use cabinet locks or move traps into higher cabinets as needed.
After you catch a rat, sanitize the area thoroughly — droppings, nest material and urine can pose risks to toddlers (and pets). Use gloves, mask and vent the space.