A child protecting mechanism in a door lock apparatus includes a base internally accommodating an opening/closing mechanism, an opening lever pivotally supported on the base for actuating the opening/closing mechanism, an inside lever and a child protecting lever pivotally supported on the base, and an opening lift lever having one end connected to the inside lever and another end connected to the child protecting lever and capable of being engaged with and disengaged from the opening lever. Turning the child protecting lever causes the opening lift lever to rock to disengage the opening lever and the opening lift lever, thereby preventing the turning motion of the inside lever from being transmitted to the opening lever.