Child proofing question...lots of sharp edges!

Daisy582

We have a sunken den (totally 70's) with brick steps in two places. We also have a large fire place with a brick hearth. The brick is (of course) all exposed and freaks me out whenever Cam gets near it. If I were to buy the baby foam edge protectors, it would run me at least $100 since we have about 40 ft worth of exposed brick. Does anyone know where to puchase edge guards in bulk or have any other suggestions for covering sharp edges that would be a bit more cost economical. The edge guards would have to be flexible since the steps and fireplace all have curves.

Don't even get me started on the coffee table, entertainment center etc. I think that it would just be cheaper to keep Cam in a bubble.

 TIA.

Incognito2009

Check Home Depot. My dad had bought some stuff from there that works just as well as the edge protectors and most likely cheaper cause it comes in bulk.

chelsearenee

We have a stone fireplace with a precarious screen on it. It also happens to be right where DD's toys live. We've pretty much just barricaded it with pillows and the larger toys she no longer really uses like her exersaucer. Maybe not the most elegant setup but works fine for a play area.

Polofsky

I posted a similar question a few weeks ago but didn't really get any responses....hopefully you will and I can check back. We really need some creative ideas to baby proof our fireplace and hearth but other than those things to go over the edges (which are ok I guess...but they aren't the best), no one seems to know what to do.

lspinman

Mine may not be a popular answer but its what we do and we also have a bad fireplace and coffee table.

We have done very very little in the way of actual childproofing.  We do have things in sockets and on a few drawers that have glass but I sort of feel like its her house too and she needs to get used to manuevering.  Her favorite game is to open and shut cabinets and pull things out of the ones we have not secured (which is why the ones with glass are child proofed).

So when she first started crawling and pulling up we literally sat on the edges when she played so that we were there with her.  Now that she is nearly walking I will again follow her around a bit and keep my hand on edges that she is near.  It was a pain for a few days but then she got the hang of moving and really spent most of her time following me around.

S was really good with her body awareness and so she showed us pretty early on that she could handle these spaces.  If she was more clumsy we would have moved on to some sort of plan B.

I do have friends who literally have a big foam body pillow that acts as a blockade since their fireplace is on the floor and their son tries to walk in.  A solution like that might not be pretty but its easy, removable and once your LO is good in the space you can take it down. 

 

lynne114

I have heard of using pool noodles along sharp edges.  You would just have to cut into the noodle to get it to fit the edge correctly.  I would probably suggest using the demand strips to attach the noodle to the brick, or some double sided tape

mtnrider

lspinman:

Mine may not be a popular answer but its what we do and we also have a bad fireplace and coffee table.

We have done very very little in the way of actual childproofing.  We do have things in sockets and on a few drawers that have glass but I sort of feel like its her house too and she needs to get used to manuevering.  Her favorite game is to open and shut cabinets and pull things out of the ones we have not secured (which is why the ones with glass are child proofed).

So when she first started crawling and pulling up we literally sat on the edges when she played so that we were there with her.  Now that she is nearly walking I will again follow her around a bit and keep my hand on edges that she is near.  It was a pain for a few days but then she got the hang of moving and really spent most of her time following me around.

S was really good with her body awareness and so she showed us pretty early on that she could handle these spaces.  If she was more clumsy we would have moved on to some sort of plan B.

This exactly.