You could always house proof your child. I find this extra important when visiting others.  Maybe I'm about to show my age, but when I went to grandma's house, or to my parents friends house, I did NOT touch ANYTHING. It wasn't ok to wander their  house and see what I wanted to play with. I was given something to play with, or I took something with me, and that was it. Now I know you are thinking that only works with older children, but I assure you that I took my child visiting right from the start and I have never had a problem with her making a mess at someones house. I have also had young children visit my home and I can tell you stories of well behaved children who stay in one spot and stories of children who are opening my doors and throughing around my newspapers. 

    The people who get invited back are usually the ones who know they either should keep their child from making a mess or should clean up after them. If your child is difficult to break of these habits then I appreciate you more for trying, and you can come back. Do you sit there and let your child make a huge mess in my house then leave? You are likely not going to be spending much time around me. I know children are a work in progress, but I promise when you arrive at my house I will not have baby proofed my home for your child.

      I have never felt the need to put covers on my doorknobs. I once thought it would be a great practical joke to put them on the classroom door of a teacher friend of mine, but that's another story! If the door is closed, then I expect my child to stay out. I don't latch all my drawers and cupboards. I hide the cleaning stuff (this is much easier since I went to natural cleaners and microfibre cloths that clean with just water) but I do expect that  my child know what is their toy and what is not for them. Latch my toilet? How about I just don't let my child wander alone and end up unsupervised in the bathroom? 

     No, it's not easy, but what in life is? And no, I am nowhere even close to a perfect parent, I just don't stop trying. I simply feel it is better to teach my child what is acceptable and what is not, to teach her respect and curtesy, then to lock her out of places. I know I'm not alone either, I've been to a few houses with small children which have the same principle idea. While house proofing your child may take longer and be harder, it is far more rewarding and once it is done you will feel safe, confident, and happy to go anywhere. 

On a side note, my child also will not go more then an arm length away from me in a public place. Sure, it means I have ot put