In my other house I had a half door in my laundry room just for my dogs. Didn't want them "shut up" but when needed I could keep them locked up. I believe our builder used a hollow core door that was cut just above where the door knob was and stained it to match our woodwork and he put a "top" on it about an inch thick that was a 1" x 3" or maybe even just a 1" x 2" just not sure.
It worked and looked great..very professional looking.

We have a half door over our basement stairs -- it was wonderful when our children were small, (older kids could play downstairs while toddlers couldn't bug them) but now that they are taller and their heads can reach the upper door, it has turned out to be quite dangerous. They almost bonk into the corner of the upper door daily - even when it is "secured" open. We had one child over who ran into the door corner, which caused a huge bloody nose (and we couldn't find his parents to come sooth him). We are remodeling, so it will soon be disassembled. I think you have until they are about 5 years old before the door would need replacing.

When our cats would not stay out of the nursey we put a screen door on the room... easy and cute! :)

maddie

We installed a Dutch door between the kitchen and family room many, many years ago when my children were small. It was great ... I could be in the kitchen, cooking, and keep an eye on the kids without them being underfoot. The door was never a problem. My grandsons now do occasionally think the door is something to play with, but they just have to reminded that it's not a toy. I did install a sliding bolt (brass, very attractive) to hold the two halves together when I don't want the top door open.
My door is solid wood (with panels) on the bottom and glass panes on the top, so even when it's closed, I can watch the kids through it... without listening to them. I still love it.

Rachelima, I don't know why you say you have to disassemble a dutch door when kids are about five years old. Just get a slider bolt, (If it does not already have one, as it should!), and keep the top an bottom doors attached. That way it operates just as a regular door does. You still have the option to use it as Dutch door if/when needed. It doesn't have to be an either/or situation.

You may want to keep the dutch door rather than replace it. In a few years you may have grandchildren running around and will have to do all the things to your house to make it child friendly, that you did when your own children were young. You will miss that dutch door.

Maddiemom, I love the idea of a scren door to keep cats at bay. If I have to put my cats in another room because of guests who won't tolerate them, they scratch at the door and cry. With a screen door they could still see out and not panic. Thanks for the great idea! I learn so much at this forum! :)

It sounds like your baby is almost a year old now, so you've probably settled on a solution. For what it's worth (or for others with the same issue), we found a good pressure-mounted baby gate that fit in the door frame to our baby's room but still allowed the door to be fully closed behind the gate without interference. Our daughter is now a toddler and this has worked really well - the room's not closed off but she is safely in, and the dog and cats are safely out (but still feel like part of the action). We got a gate with a foot pedal opener so it was hands-free, too - a plus when carrying a baby and baby gear in and out of the room.

This has given me great ideas, though what would one then use for a secure top to the half-door, similar to a ledge? My problem is keeping the new puppies out of the cats' room (a bedroom that is set up with the cats' food, water & litter boxes). I need something like the half-door so I can secure it to keep the puppies out (they have already proven to be climbers and strong enough to move a small bookcase!), but that offers the cats a ledge to leap up onto. Help?