It’s time for another Aloha Friday, the day that you take it easy and look forward to the weekend, in Hawaii and blog land anyway. As you should know by now, over at An Island Life, Kailani decided that on Fridays she would take it easy on posting and ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life’s blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
I’ve been having this little dilemma for a few weeks now, basically ever since we moved into the apartment. We had our old place MM-proofed top to bottom, almost mockingly so – it was locked down, he was safe and all was well. The new apartment has meant new safety concerns that we’d yet to encounter, simply because of a different set of doors, drawers, etc. New stuff = new methods of keeping him out. We’ve done pretty well but there’s this one area that we have yet to figure out a good answer for. And there’s a time limit for how long we have to make a decision. The problem? Baseboard heaters – see exhibit A:
Basically, MM is convinced that the baseboard heater is his personal step stool for looking out the window. Never even mind the whole fact of it probably not being sturdy enough for the task in the long run, it’s a baseboard heater. Come winter this could pose a serious problem in the form of burns! So we yell at him when he does it, but he honestly doesn’t get what the problem is. And we have a new little one coming who could definitely be crawling by this winter.
They don’t appear to make anything to “baby-proof” these heaters because covering them is a fire hazard, etc. yadda yadda. Most people recommend placing furniture in front of them. But I have a small problem with this idea – it’s right next to his closet – a small piece of furniture would mean not being able to open half the closet. My husband’s idea is to put up a baby “yard” like we have put around our Christmas tree in years past, but that will also block the closet and I can’t help but think MM would just consider that a challenge, like, “I dare you to climb over me…” I don’t know. I don’t like either idea but I also don’t like the idea of my children getting third degree burns from the baseboard heater.
So I’m asking:
- Have you dealt with baseboard heaters & child proofing before? What did you do?
- If not, how would you child proof this space if the situation came up?
- Anybody have a child who has actually been burned by a baseboard heater? How bad was the burn? Maybe I’m asking myself for extra paranoia here, but I would like to know what I’m dealing with, realistically speaking, you know?
- Last question: What is / was the hardest space in your home to baby proof (or would be if you had children)?
- Bonus [read: completely unrelated] Question: Which celeb death this week caught you most by surprise / saddens you the most? Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett or Michael Jackson?
Mommablogsalot 
12 responses to “Aloha Friday: Childproofing Challenge”
My child has 3rd degree burns from putting his hand in a baseboard heater. They are not at all safe for little children. Our plastic surgeon told us that it takes 0.5 of a second for a child to get 3rd degree burns touching the elements.
LikeLike
We don’t really have heating issues in Hawaii. 🙂
Michael Jackson was definitely the most shocking!
LikeLike
I think a good solution would be a stool, and some kind of safety device on the window. I know they have them for sliding glass doors, so I’d think there would be ones for your type of window. Just something to make it so the window can’t be opened far enough for him to fall out if the screen were to give way.
LikeLike
Never had baseboard heating…surprised they even do heating in Texas, though yes it does get cold. I think that fan cord is the craziest thing ever! Why is all I have to say about that.
I’m going to admit right now that I never really had to baby proof with my kids. I lucked out on that. They just never really climbed up on stuff or got into things. We but locks on some bottom cabinets and that’s about it. It drives me crazy cause every plug that’s in the house were currently in was baby proofed and those suckers are b* to get off.
Farrah Fawcett was probably the biggest surprise loss for me. Not that I was a fan, I just found it randomly odd. I have no idea why MJ didn’t surprise, but it just didn’t.
LikeLike
No burns from the baseboards they don’t get that hot.
I think if you oput a stick or something to stop the window from opening past the point that he can get it open. Or if there is a safer place for u to let him look it. honestly I can’t believe the windows that low bad contractor!
They are all a huge loss but I think ED Mc Mann
LikeLike
@ Nancy : I’m really relieved to hear this – I’m thinking getting him a stool might be a good idea. I do want to look into how easy it is to open the screen window though since we’re on the third floor. Hmmm… Thanks for your help!
LikeLike
Jen, you might be worrying for nothing. We have the exact same issue – dining room picture window, baseboard heater, toddler who likes to stand on said heater. The pipes don’t really get that hot, especially in an apartment I’d think. Down by the boiler, you might have an issue, but my kids have never been burned or even complained it was hot. A radiator, yes, those get very hot. But not the baseboard heaters.
But standing on the heater isn’t good for the heater either so you do need to discourage him from doing it. A stool of some kind might be a good idea. Sure he might fall off but kids fall. Since our window is in the dining room we have taught the kids to pull a chair over when they want to look out, and not to stand on the heater.
LikeLike
@ Jen – Daily Big Top : I just thought of the window thing after looking into the baseboard heater thing a bit more online. Now I need to go see how hard it is to open the screen window. Ugh.
LikeLike
@ Jenni Jiggety : I don’t really know – I’ve never had baseboard heating. Maybe I’m worrying for nothing?
LikeLike
No experience with baseboard heaters. What about putting a little stool by the window then MM can still look out the window…however that is another hazard, if he’s too high then there’s the potential to fall out the window. Hmm. You could also post a HOT NO TOUCH face (ala Mr. Yuck) by the heater so MM knows that it’s not to be touched under any circumstances.
LikeLike
We have baseboard heating and I never had any trouble with them. Honestly, it never even occurred to me to worry about them…do they really get hot enough to burn you? I am pretty sure mine get good and warm but not scorching hot. Or maybe I am just a negligent mother. LOL!
LikeLike
I taught my children not to touch any heaters including baseboard heaters. Good luck with child-proofing the new apt.
LikeLike