Baby Proofing Fireplace: Keep Your Toddlers Safe

If you have a small child, this is no reason to refuse an exquisite fireplace in your home. However, in this case, you must always be aware of the potential risks and think about baby proofing your fireplace. The fireplace, while a beautiful home decoration and great for keeping warm in colder times, can also be the source of many childhood traumas.

A home heater comes in many sizes and shapes, and protecting children from a fireplace can be tricky. Although the basic principles of fireplace protection for babies include the installation of some kind of fence so that the child cannot be burned, many still make many mistakes.

This article will look at fire safety measures and gas leak protection and discuss some common parenting mistakes that everyone should avoid. Stay with us, and read the article to the end, so your child always stays safe and happy.

How to Babyproof Your Home Fireplace

In this and the following blocks, we will tell you how you can protect your child from the fireplace while not violating the aesthetics of your home and leaving it cosy and practical for you and your child.

The basic rules provide for installing a special gate for children, so they cannot come close to the fireplace. Remember that a fireplace is a complex device, and must consider each part of it individually to secure this area for your child.

Now, let’s get down to a light inspection of the fireplace and determine the areas you need to make safe.

Test All Zones

Almost every parent knows that children always find a way to get where they shouldn’t be and know how to risk their lives in a way that no one else can. Therefore, your main task will be to pretend to be a child, walk on all fours near the fireplace and other accessories, and try to find any potentially dangerous areas.

Once you find these areas, you can proceed to the next step.

Make a List of Dangerous Places

Bet you do not have a gate to protect the fireplace from children, and you may not have other important things to protect your child from a fire. The logical outcome would be a trip to the store and purchasing everything you need for this.

Before doing this, be sure to write down everything you can analyze and make a short list of essential components to ensure your fireplace protection for your baby.

The most important things you should consider are:

• Сarbon monoxide detector.
• Sharp corners in the fireplace area.
• Fireplace area you limit for your child.
• Fireplace accessories.
• Fireplace cleanliness.

Don’t Let Your Child Get into Danger

You should use a special gate to protect your child from the danger of a fireplace. They are both small and large, which will close almost half of the room. Each case will be unique, so look for a solution specific to your home so you can still feel comfortable.

Final Touches

Now you just have to determine the remaining risks and buy all the necessary components to eliminate risks. Once we have considered the sequence of your actions, let’s move on to the steps you need to take to protect your child from the dangers of a fireplace.

Babyproof the Hearth of a Fireplace

Even if you are going to use gates and limit access to the fireplace, you still need to make sure that the hearth of your fireplace is as safe as possible, as the child will always be able to find a passage and get where they need to.

The fireplace’s hearth often consists of bricks, so its surface will be the most dangerous for your child. Install soft corners with foam rubber or soft foam strapping band, and cover the entire surface of the hearth with something soft so your child cannot hurt himself in case of a fall.

However, remember that if you use fabrics or foam pads, always remove them before you start the fireplace. Otherwise, it may cause a fire.

Limit Access to the Fireplace

Once you have secured the nearest point of your fireplace, you need to move further and prevent access to the fireplace. To do this, you can use different variations of the gates. This solution is the most reliable, as many gates have automatic door closing and are high enough, so your child cannot climb over them.

However, even they do not guarantee 100% fireplace protection for your baby since everything will depend on your child’s agility.

Fortunately, there are enough solutions on the market that will allow you to choose a gate for any interior and children, so that they cannot overcome this obstacle.

Keep Fireplace Tools Out of the Reach of Children

We understand that it is very convenient to store accessories for a fireplace directly on the hearth or next to the fireplace. However, this is not a good decision if you have a child that touches and tastes everything. A fireplace poker can be dangerous for children and harmful to health, as soot and ashes always remain on it. The best solution is to store your tools in a pantry or upper cabinet.

Keep Your Chimney Clean

This point may seem less relevant to you for child safety because, in the case of a chimney, a child is unlikely to interact with the outlet. However, it is worth remembering that you and your child can suffer from smoke.

So, if you rarely clean your chimney, soot and other deposits can accumulate, and the smoke has nowhere to go. In this case, the smoke will return to your house, and you and your child will breathe it.

The best childproof fireplace solution is to clean the chimney every time after 50 fireboxes. If you do not know how to do it yourself, it is best to contact a special service.

Use a Detector

You must get a carbon monoxide detector to stay safe and sound. While this is a must for any home with a fireplace, you should keep your detector up and running and monitor your home’s carbon monoxide levels. Such a sensor will report the danger and then produce a sound signal.

If this happens, all residents will need to leave the house for a while. Such sensors do not cost much, but they can save your life and your loved ones.

Talk About the Danger of Fire

It will also be helpful to explain to your child why you use the fireplace and what the consequences are if they touch a red-hot fireplace. Your task is to act as gently and tactfully as possible to avoid scaring your child. 

Bottom Line

Fireplaces are a common source of home injuries, particularly for young children. Babyproofing your fireplace is essential to keeping your toddler safe. There are many ways to baby-proof your fireplace, including installing gates and covers. Taking these precautions can help prevent serious injury to your child. 

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