Image : http://www.flickr.com
Baby Proofing Your fireplace
The fireplace is often the center point of a lounge in a home and so lots of time could be spent here. This may be a dangerous area for young children to be around and so here are a few ideas on how to implement baby proofing around your fireplace.
First, before you can baby proof your fireplace; take note of how your baby sees the fireplace. This may require you to get onto your knees and look at it from their point of view. Take note of what could be dangerous in the view of the baby.
Make the hard edges of the fire place softer so that they are not hazards to your baby. Hearth pads can be purchased to do this. This is so your baby will not hurt themselves if they fall on the hard edges of the fireplace.
Hearth guards are used to cover the entire hearth surface from young children who may be able to reach this area. These can be custom made to fit the size of your health, or can be bought a few standard sizes which perform the same task. These, used together with hearth pads are the best option when it comes to baby proofing your fireplace.
Lock the fireplace doors so that your baby cannot access them. This is where you should store all your fireplace needs such as fire starters and matches. It is important to keep these dangerous objects away from your baby. Door guards can also be purchased for this step if you cannot lock the doors.
Installing a fireplace gate will also help you baby proof your fireplace in an easier way. These are available from baby shops, along with the door guards previously mentioned.
As a general guideline, keep young children away from open fires is a good plan. Sparks fly and these can create harmful burns on young skin. It is probably a better idea to introduce children to camp fires and cooking with fire when they are older than 5 years of age.
Controlled fires within the home account for 36% of household fires each year which is a scary number. Rather opt for other heating solutions such as heaters and air conditioning if you have small children or babies.
Using a metal mesh screen to cover the fireplace is essential in any home. This stops sparks from flying in different directions and possibly causing a problem in the home.
These are just a few baby proofing fireplace tips when it comes down to baby proofing your fireplace but please be aware that it is essential for any parent to be extra careful while their young child or baby is in the presence of any openly controlled fire.
Friends Link : - Cheap Fireplace Store Fireplace Insert Electrics Products Outdoor Fireplace Designs
