Driving with kids in your car means that you have to take extra precautions, meaning that you should ensure they are buckled up in a properly installed child seat.
Another important thing to remember is that you must engage the child locks so they don’t accidentally open the car door while inside.
But how do you turn off child locks in a car? Continue reading as we break down the steps on how to take the child lock off the car door.
Table of Contents
What is Child Lock on a Car Door? How Does it Work?
Child locks, also referred to as “Child Safety Locks”, are a safety mechanism that locks the car’s rear doors so children won’t be able to open them while inside. This lock can be turned on at any time, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary, thus minimizing the risks of injuries.
How to enable and disable child lock in cars may differ depending on how the manufacturer designed it, so it is best to check your manual first for specific instructions.
The child locks on some newer car models can be activated via the dashboard. That said, most locks are still only accessible for activation when the rear doors are open. If this is the case for you, look for the switch/lever that has a child symbol on it by the edge of the door and flip it.
Step-by-Step to Take Off Child Lock On Car
What to Prepare
If you want to unlock child lock in car, you will need the following items/tools:
- Flathead Screwdriver
- Dry Lubricant (WD-40 Dry Lube)
Step 1: Park Your Car
First and foremost is to find a safe place to park.
Simply put your car to a complete stop, engage the handbrake while hitting the brakes, and shift into Park. Then safely come out of the vehicle to remove child safety locks.
Step 2: Removing the Plastic Cover
On the child lock switch, there is a plastic cover that you need to remove before you can have access to the child lock.
Use a flathead screwdriver to pop off the plastic cover that houses the child lock switch. Put it somewhere safe so that you don’t lose this cover.
Once the switch is exposed, use a dry lubricant, such as a WD-40 Dry Lube, and spray all over the child lock switch to make it easier to slide and unlock the switch.
Step 3: Remove Child Lock in Car
Simply flip the switch in order to remove the child safety lock and check to see if the rear doors can now be opened from the inside. Return the plastic cover that was removed earlier.
For Electronic Locks, you can unlock a car door with a child safety lock on by pressing a switch that is located on the dashboard of your vehicle or on the front door control panel.
Is it Necessary to Use Child Locks?
Since 1985, vehicles in the US nowadays have had child locks installed in the rear doors. This is essential, especially for parents with children, to ensure their safety.
These locks keep the child in position in the rear car seat and protect them from their unpredictable behavior, barring the child from exiting the vehicle, which could result in serious injuries.
Tips to Keep Child Safety in Car
When traveling with kids, it is important to think of their safety as they have needs that a parent should attend to. Here are some tips to help keep a child safe while inside a car.
1. Have a Child Seat
An adult seatbelt is not really meant for kids, as children tend to be too small for the sashes. Therefore, it’s essential to properly install child seats in the back of the car to ensure the kids don’t fly forward in the event of a crash.
2. Seatbelts
Seatbelts are one of the primary safety features that could save a child’s life in the event of a car crash.
If your child’s height can already accommodate the use of a seatbelt in the rear passenger seat, please do so. In the US, the minimum height requirement to use the seatbelts is 4’9”.
3. Never Leave Your Child in the Car
For the child’s safety, never leave your child alone inside the car whenever you go out for an errand. You may never know the many risks it may pose for the child. For instance, the car may overheat, leaving your kid at risk of heatstroke and suffocation.
4. Have Good Driving Habits
It is important to set an example for your children by having good driving habits. This is a good investment for your safety and for others.
Focus on your driving. Be conscious of the speed limits, don’t text and drive, and avoid eating and drinking while driving.
5. Educate and Discipline Your Child
At the right age, it is best that you educate your child on how car safety, proper behavior, and the dos and don’ts while inside the car.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Turn Off Child Lock on Car Windows?
The child lock on car windows is usually found on the armrest of the driver’s door with the window icon button.
In some car models, like the BMW X3, the icon for the button looks like a window with an “X” mark on it.
Pressing it will activate the child lock on the windows. Pressing it again will deactivate this lock.
Where to Find Child Lock Lever in Car Mercedes-Benz?
To find the child lock in your Mercedes-Benz, simply open the rear car door and locate the lever on the side of the door with the lock and unlock switch.
Conclusion
You have learned the importance of the Child Lock and how to unlock it when necessary. To summarize, you can remove child safety locks either by flipping the lever on the side of the rear door or by pressing a switch in the dashboard of your vehicle.
We hope we were able to guide you through each step on how to take the child lock off the car door and provide helpful tips about a child’s safety while inside the car.
Working with Vernon and Ryley has been a great experience for me. Together with the rest of the team, I hope to create reliable and useful information for our readers, no matter where they are and their experience with car maintenance.
