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When you’re blessed with little ones, you need to be able to sleep easy, knowing that you’ve done everything in your power to keep them safe. The tricky part is, that as they start crawling and toddling, things that you never had to think about before they arrived soon start causing issues. The fireplace is just such a place, so we’re going to pay close attention to it today.
Our guide to all things fireplace childproofing will talk you through the pros and cons of all the various changes we’re going to suggest. They’re designed to keep the little ones safe and at a distance from danger, all so you can live with the peace of mind that allows you to enjoy real quality time. Just what you want to hear when it’s time to make a house a home without a worry in the world.
Start By Fitting a Fireguard
Children will be curious about anything that’s new and interesting, especially things they’re told over and over again not to touch. There’s no changing their innate curiosity about the world, and we wouldn’t want to if we could — it’s how they learn, grow, and flourish in their own adorable way. The problem is that you can’t realistically watch them and divert them 24/7, no matter how hard you try. What you need is a safe, secure, and robust solution that allows you to still enjoy time in your living room and take in the ambience a roaring fire and burning stove creates.
Fitting a fireguard is the way to go here, and it’s so important that we’ve made it our first fireplace childproofing tip, which you simply have to put into action. Fireguards will typically be made from a painted or coated metal grid or mesh and be far enough away from the fire so as not to run hot. This is especially important with little ones who are just learning to walk, as they’re sure to start pulling themselves up on the fireguard so they can practise standing.
Adjustable guards that run the full length of the hearth are the best approach to take when fireplace childproofing, because you can alter the length to suit your home. You will then need to anchor it to the wall to make sure that it cannot be pulled over. Every good quality fireguard will come with the screws and anchors that allow you to do this. All you will need is a basic handheld drill and a masonry drill bit. It’s a quick bit of DIY that will take less than 5 minutes, and yet it will provide many years of peace of mind.
If you’re unsure which fireguard is right for your home, check out this fireguard buying guide from The Fireside Store, which compares different types and their features.
Add Some Hearth Edging
Not all fireplaces have a layout and a geometry that lends itself to being totally enclosed by a single large fireguard. If you notice that yours falls into this category during your fireplace childproofing efforts, the key thing is not to worry — there are always other options out there for you to consider.
We have a full article explaining in detail what a hearth is, but in short, the hearth is a key part of the fireplace and forms the stone flooring that supports the stove and then extends out into the rest of the living room. Little ones will always find a way to trip on the edge, give themselves a nasty knock, or get up to all sorts of unwanted mischief if the edge isn’t attended to.
Once you have followed fireplace childproofing tip #1 (fireguard), or when you find that there isn’t one large enough to fully enclose your hearth, consider hearth edging. This is just like the durable corner bumpers and bumper rails that you likely already have fitted to everything from your coffee table to the bedside table in the nursery. Most will have a self-adhesive backing that stays in place no matter how hard your mischievous toddler tries to pick at it and pull it off. Ideal when you want to make sure that knocks and scrapes are averted before they even get a chance to cause those heart-breaking tears.
Introduce a Safety Line
Another fireplace childproofing tip we highly recommend is to introduce a safety line that the little ones should not cross. While you have the guard and the edging, the safest solution of all is the one which stops them approaching the fireplace in the first place.
Many parents like to use a length of tape to mark out a safety line that the kids shouldn’t cross. Having it a couple of feet back from the fireguard will make sure toys, books, and crayons that could potentially catch a spark never go for an adventure on the guard. If a tape safety line isn’t the best fit for your home, there are other effective alternatives to keep little ones at a safe distance from the fireplace.
Child safety gates can be positioned a few feet away from the hearth, creating a physical barrier that’s difficult for little ones to bypass. Another option to is to use a rug with a distinct pattern to visually mark a no-go zone. This can serve as a more subtle boundary while still signalling to children that they need to stay back.
This tip is very much up to the individual because only you know how receptive your kids will be to the idea of a safety line. If they’re forever going to be trying your patience by dangling one foot over the line, or if it simply eats up too much of their play space, then you may want to assess this one a little further.
Reward Good Behaviour
The key to fireplace childproofing is to get the little people on side from day one. Make sure to reward and encourage good behaviour, and you’ll soon see them taking great strides in the way they act in the living room when the fire is going.
While you might be thinking that fireplace childproofing is all about shopping for products, it’s actually really about accounting for and modifying young behaviour. If you can do this in a way that’s positive and makes them feel good, you’ll find that you can soon fit and forget your fireplace childproofing measures. Ideal when you want to be able to enjoy some quality time in the lounge without having to constantly tell the kids to stop trying to bend the rules.
Beyond tangible rewards, modern behavioural strategies can play an important role in keeping children safe around the fireplace. One effective approach is to incorporate consistent verbal cues. For example, using memorable phrases like “hot means no” can help embed these safety concepts in your child’s mind.
Practice Fire Safety Throughout the Year
The key is to think of fireplace childproofing as a way to improve fire safety and best practices for the whole family. This means that even when it’s summer, and the fire hasn’t been lit for weeks and weeks, make sure the fireguard remains in place. Highlight how it’s there to keep everyone safe and not a climbing frame or a place for dinosaurs, dollies, and action figures to go on an adventure.
Try to get into the habit of treating the fireguard as if the fire were roaring away behind it, and you and the little people will never get into bad habits. While this may seem a little strict if there’s a heatwave beating down outside, it makes things so much simpler when you light the fire for the first time as the nights begin to close in.
All of the bad habits that have been built up over the summer take time to undo and reset, which provides a window in which dangerous accidents can happen. Lead by example and provide those consistent, gentle nudges that make sure kids don’t pick up bad habits and you’ll find that fireplace safety soon becomes second nature. Exactly what every parent needs to hear when they want a space in which they feel able to rest and relax while their kids still have the freedom to play and have fun.
General fireplace maintenance is also crucial for fireplace childproofing. This includes inspecting the chimney for cracks or obstructions that could cause dangerous fumes to enter your home. Creosote, a by-product of burning wood, can accumulate inside the chimney and increase the risk of a chimney fire. It’s recommended to have your chimney inspected and cleaned at least once a year, preferably before the cold season begins.
Beat the Silent Killer
The Carbon Monoxide threat is real and definitely one of the most important aspects of fireplace childproofing. It’s a silent killer because it makes no sound and leaves no scent or smell — you can’t even taste it in your mouth or feel it stinging your eyes.
While many will associate it with faulty gas boilers, a poorly maintained chimney can also cause the same level of threat and danger. Getting the chimney swept at least once a year by a trained sweep is the only way to make sure this threat is kept in order.
You will also want to invest in a set of detectors, preferably one for each floor or hallway/landing, and ensure they are always in good working order. You can get dual-purpose detectors that warn you about smoke from house fires as well as CO, and many come with a low battery alert. Keeping a supply of spare batteries will ensure that you can change them once you hear the low battery alert and it never becomes one of those jobs that gets forgotten about.
Final Thoughts
Taking a proactive approach to fireplace childproofing is the best way to make sure that your little angels are always looked after the right way. While it might not be the most fun thing to do when it comes to making the living room look nice, it’s sure to settle your nerves and put your mind at ease. Just what you need when you want to be able to put your feet up and rest and relax while spending real quality time together. A little planning and DIY today is all it takes to make this happen.
