Your fireplace can be one of the most tranquil places to nestle up next to, but how can you relax next to your fire with a young baby moving about? Fire safety is absolutely vital when you have small children around. Securing your fire from curious kids is one of the main priorities for parents, along with the rest of your home’s dangers. Luckily, baby fireguards are a worthwhile and sturdy investment for your home that gives you peace of mind while you relax in front of your fire.

 

You may be thinking, I’ve seen fireguards in various DIY stores. Or, I have a crazy fireplace area that will be challenging to fit. Worry no more! Babasafe’s fireguards give you the ultimate protection - they’re unmovable, unclimbable and do not overheat! We also have high customizable fireguards that can fit any type of room, fireplace or stove. Although we believe our product is one-of-a-kind and absolutely great, we have compiled a list of things you should consider before you make a purchase.

SIZE OF HEARTH

It is essential that your fireguard clears your hearth in order to keep your child safe and to look nice in your room. Your hearth can be a safety hazard of its own, with sharp edges and hard corners, so it’s important to measure the length of the depth of this hearth to make sure your fireguard surrounds it!

SPACE OF YOUR ROOM

The types and styles of living rooms are endless! Some people have extra-large living rooms with a large hearth that requires an extra-large sized fireguard. While other rooms are small and require a small-sized fireguard. Whatever the size of your fireplace or hearth, don’t hesitate to reach out so our team can help you find the perfect fit for your home!

FITTINGS

It’s important to always choose a fireguard that is screw fitted so that your little one cannot pull your guard right out of the wall! Make sure you always choose a fireguard that won’t disrupt your skirting boards as well. Our Babasafe Multifit Fireguard does just that!

A SAFE DISTANCE

It’s essential to keep in mind where you position your fireguard, and how close to the fireplace or stove the gate sits. Remember that some wood burning stoves extend out on the hearth or are only half set in the chimney breast. Every fireplace, stove, and fire is different. Some can burn for incredibly long times and can get to extremely dangerous temperatures. All fireguards, no matter the type, have the risk of overheating. 

No official regulations exist on what the distance should be from a stove or open fire in the United Kingdom and many of the stove manufacturers give individual instructions depending on the brand or model. We recommend thinking about the distance to the fire carefully. The baby fireguard should firstly not be close enough to the stove or fire that your child can reach through the vertical bars and touch the fire or stove from any side. Usually above 40cm is too far for a baby up to 2 years of ages to reach through.

Furthermore, as fireguards are metal in construction, you should consider the possibility of the fireguard becoming too hot on every panel both front and sides. Each fire/stove is different and the temperature from home to home can vary depending on the power of the stove and the strength of the fire as well as the length of time the fire guard is exposed to heat. As a precautionary measure in our instruction manual, we mention the distance from a stove should be 75cm, and the distance from an open fire should be 90cm. However, in many cases, this distance is not needed and is not even possible due to space limitations and in some situations, more 75cm is required! It is the responsibility of the user to check the fire guard both initially and regularly to make sure the gate is not overheating. We included the over-heat thermometer on the gate panel to help you with this - anything above 40° is considered too hot to touch. If you discover that your fireguard is becoming too hot stop using it immediately and look at extensions from Babasafe to increase the distance.

 

HEIGHT

Most fireguards are suitable for kids up to 2 years old and should be at least 75cm to avoid any climbing dangers. But of course, with a new item in your home, children become curious, and might find a way to climb over! Keep close watch of your children with the new fireguard to see how they respond. Also, keep an eye on furniture sitting close to the fireguard that could potentially be a climbing/falling hazard. If your room is snug, try rearranging so that your fireguard can prevent any and all injuries.

EXTRA TIPS

• The fireguard should be baby proof, contains nontoxic paint, and has no sharp corners.
• The fireguard should contain a door gate that is large enough for easy access.
• It’s important to invest in a fireguard that can be folded up and stored away easily when not in use.
• A handy reuse with the baby fireguard is to surround your barbecue grill during the summer months.
• To eliminate collisions, use our edge guards and corner edge guards when you’re not using your fireguard.

Check out Babasafe’s Multifit Fireguard today! It’s purposely designed to cover all bases and comes in 10 different sizes so you can get a custom fit!

 

Vaping, e-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes have become massively popular in the UK with Ash.org.uk citing that over 2.6 million British people are vaping as an alternative to smoking traditional tobacco. The chances are either you or someone else vapes in your home, or at some stage, you and your child will come into contact with someone who vapes and the devices and liquid used to vape. While the debate is rolling on about their safety as an alternative to traditional smoking for adults, there is little doubt in my mind that vaping, vapor and the paraphernalia associated with vaping are a real hazard around young children. I’m setting out in today’s blog to highlight the dangers that may be present for children exposed to vaping and electronic cigarettes.

E-Liquid.

The first known case of child fatality as a result of nicotine poisoning from nicotine liquid occurred in 2014 in New York, USA after a 1-year-old tragically drank the contents of a nicotine refill bottle. The number of people including toddlers, who have been poisoned by swallowing nicotine liquid has risen drastically in the UK since 2013. The National Poisons Unit UK claimed that over a third of all the calls regarding nicotine poisoning from e-liquid involved young children.

It’s vitally important to keep e-liquids locked away safe when there are young children around. While almost all e-liquid bottles have child proof caps, it can be relatively easy to replace a cap without locking the top back in. Nicotine liquids come in a variety of flavors, some sweet such as blueberry, ice-cream or candy. Their smell can be quite strong and young children could easily be attracted to the bottle if left lying around.

Signs of nicotine poisoning in a child could include:

• Your child feels sick or is vomiting.
• Your child becomes pale.
• Sweating or drooling.
• The child has a raised pulse rate.
• If a large amount is ingested it could result in a seizure or passing out.

If you suspect your child has ingested nicotine call the National Poisons Information Service UK by dialing 111, visit http://www.npis.org/ for further details.

 

Second-Hand Smoke

A study conducted in 2015 suggest that vapor from e-cigarettes produce harmful chemicals, similar to those found in traditional tobacco, and have the potential to harm the lungs and immune system. The study was conducted on mice and the study indicated that they suffered mild lung damage and became more susceptible to infections. The study also detected free radicals (damaging toxins) albeit at 1 % of the levels found in traditional tobacco.

I could wade into the whole debate on vape second-hand smoke vs. tobacco smoke here. It’s obvious from the many studies that what we know so far about vapor, it is far safer than tobacco smoke. While I would be willing to take that chance as a smoker, it’s not something I’m willing to bet on with my kids!

It’s important with this in mind to treat vaping in terms of second-hand smoke in the same way as you would traditional tobacco around young children and children in general. A no smoking house is the best approach in my opinion. People who vape may find this difficult to swallow, as many will defend the honor of vaping vehemently!

Choking Hazards

Apart from the toxicity of e-liquid itself as a danger to your young child, parents should be mindful of the components of the devices used to vape. There are many different types of electronic cigarettes and apart from the disposable kind found in most shops, almost all of them have replacement parts and removable components small enough to choke on. Refill cartridges, replacement coils, tips and even batteries - anyone who is a habitual "Vaper" could have these lying around. Anything that is over 1 ¾ inches in diameter is said to present a choking hazard to young children. A toilet roll test (the inner tube is normally 1 ¾ cm) is a handy way of gauging this, but if there is someone who vapes in your home its best to keep the paraphernalia under lock and key.

Our tips on Keeping Baby Cold & Flu Free this Winter...

It’s that time of year again, the evenings are getting shorter and as summer comes to a close our minds turn to preparing for autumn and winter! The BBQ is back in the shed, the central heating is firing again and the sound of coughing, sneezing and sniffling can be heard around homes across the UK!

If your little one arrives during the colder months or during the summer it's worthwhile thinking about your baby’s first flu or cold and how you might avoid it for as long as possible during your child’s first winter months.

After all, newborns don’t have the immune system to fend off viruses, bacteria and infections as adults do and will likely catch a flu virus much quicker and for much longer than grown  ups. Here is a list of do and don’ts to help you keep baby healthy during his or her early months!

 

Vaccinations

Vaccination gives you as the parent the power to protect your baby from even the most dangerous illnesses such as measles and hepatitis and is a powerful defence to give a child early on in life.  Vaccination from an early age could save your child’s life and is a must for all parents. There is a recommended time schedule to vaccination– and this is generally recommended to start at 2 months. It may seem quite early but infections can be picked up at any time and we can’t keep our little ones at home for ever! In the UK a child’s first round of vaccinations at 2 months includes a 5 in 1 vaccine via a single jab which protects against 5 different diseases including tetanus, whooping cough and haemophilia type b. Timing is very important  and we recommend viewing the NHS’s detailed list and information on the recommended vaccine schedule here .

 

The first 2 months

In the 2 months prior to vaccination it is recommended to avoid crowds as much as possible and public transport during this period should be avoided if at all possible too. Scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine tested over 400 people in 2008. Out of the hundreds of people tested it found that in some cities across the UK up to and over 50% percent of people had faecal bacteria present on their hands! In colder months places such as airports, the tube and buses are a hotbed of flu viruses and bacterial infections. While this may seem a little bit like scare mongering, keep in mind that an infection or virus that may be barely noticeable for an adult, could be much more easily picked up and felt for much longer for an infant. Keeping your little ones exposure to situations like this at minimum is the best approach until they have had their vaccines.

 

Breast Feeding

Human breast milk provides all the nutrients your baby needs to be strong and healthy but also contains an incredible amount of immune boosting substances for your baby including antibodies and white blood cells. The presence of these substances in breast milk are natures defence against a broad range of infections and disease during breast feeding and long after.

While breast feeding with a cold will most likely result in passing it on to your child, the antibodies you produce to combat the infection will also be transferred to your child giving them the defence they need to fend of the cold or possible prevent the cold from developing at all.

Here at Babasafe UK we are great advocates of breast feeding and it's benefits and encourage all parents to breast feed for as long as possible as baby formula simply won’t give the kind of protection that can be given through your milk.

 

You’re the bouncer!

Yes we are talking crowd control! In the first 6 months, it’s often the case that many visitors arrive to see the little bundle of joy for the first time. As draconian as it may seem it’s important to screen those arriving at the house in these early stages to ensure that none of them are suffering from a flu or cold that could be passed on to your infant.

Younger children have a tendency to want to touch and cuddle newborns and as cute as it is, it’s probably best to prevent them from doing so in the early stages. After all the average child gets 5 to 8 colds a year particularly while in preschool and crèche.  While keeping everyone in check, try blaming it on your GP’s recommendations so you don’t seem overly protective!

 

Keep germs at bay

One of the most effective ways of preventing flu or other viruses is to keep your hands and commonly used areas as clean as possible. Keeping your hands and surfaces that you and your child come into contact with clean will greatly reduce the spread of viruses & bacteria.

• Buy a number of bottles of sanitizer to pop in your bag and have in the house for when visitors arrive. Hand sanitizers are as effective as washing your hands at killing germs and are really handy.
• Identify the “germ hot spots” around the house and even when you’re out. Use anti-bacterial wipes to wipe down door handles. Mobile phones, iPads and toys!
• Watch out when you visit the GP’s or paediatrician’s It’s tempting to flick through the magazines or allow children to play with toys in the waiting room! Most waiting rooms have sanitizers provided buy given the number of people arriving through a typical GP’s surgery with a flu or cold it's worthwhile being cautious.

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The balcony is a major danger zone for a curious toddler, and whether you have a balcony in your home or not, the chances that your little one will encounter one is very high. More and more we are seeing people turning to apartment living in the UK with luxury apartments and flats now a real option for growing families with multiple children, as opposed to being solely for students and young professionals. Our message is to be prepared and think ahead! Balconies and decking areas pose a number of dangers to children, not least the danger of climbing over the rails or becoming stuck in the rails if not properly supervised. Even if you don’t have a balcony in your home you could have a decking with rails, or if not there may be a balcony in a relative’s house or on holidays or while visiting.

 

Take a look at these key considerations when planning ahead for your child’s balcony safety:

 

The balcony should be on lock down.

Regardless of the precautions you take on your balcony for your child, a balcony is not safe for unsupervised children. We recommend locking it down with at least 2 locks – the lock built into the balcony door counts as one and you can either have a second lock or latch fitted available from a DIY store, or if you have a sliding door you can take a look at our sliding window/door lock here which is very handy to install. If your balcony is regularly used by others living at your house it’s important to highlight the dangers to them as keeping it locked consistently may not always happen. Making it out of bounds for everyone is an option but if that’s not possible it might be worth considering an extra-large safety gate or room divider to section of the area completely as an added layer of security.

 

Is it climbable?

You would be amazed at the climbing skills of a toddler. If you’re in doubt about the ability of a young child to climb a balcony don’t be!  It's not wise to underestimate their skill or desire! While we don’t condone in any way allowing a child to do what the child in this video is doing, we thought it was an excellent example of how skillful a young child can be at climbing. You will gasp at the below video, afterwards take a look and read on at ways you can prevent your child from climbing the balcony:

 

Railings

There are lots of different shapes and sizes of balconies and each could present a different climbing hazard. What size is the gap between rails? If the gap is larger than 4 inches or you think your child could realistically fit through or try to fit through its probably a good idea to find a way to block the gap. Horizontal or crisscrossed bar balconies are as easy and as good as a climbing frame! Fit either Plexiglass or deck netting on the inside. Ensure none have a grip and be careful that deck netting is secured tight and well so that a tiny foot can’t mount the bars.

 

 

 Furniture & Toys

If you have table, chairs or any furniture on the deck or balcony we recommend removing it. Young children are little geniuses! It won’t be long before they put two and two together and realise that they can reach something high by dragging a table or chair over and climbing it.

There are two considerations about toys on the balcony a) can they be moved and used as a climbing step and b) can they be thrown off the balcony and land on a unsuspecting passerby outside? Keep this in mind when choosing the toys your child plays with on the deck or balcony.

 

 BBQ

While normally  not allowed in the UK in apartments, we still see people using BBQs on balconies and many people home their BBQs right on their decking. The burn hazard is obvious there and make sure your little one can get nowhere near it. The balcony or deck should be out of bounds if the BBQ is fired up and not secured. Our hearth & fire gate is extra sturdy, is large enough to house most BBQ’s or grill and can be folded up neatly in seconds when not in use check it out here

 

Travel

We have lost count of the number of times while abroad British tourists, both adults and children have been injured while falling off balconies. One of our staff members at the office here at Babasafe as a child managed to squeeze through a balcony rail on the 6^th floor of an apartment block while in Spain. They managed to walk across the front of the balcony, holding on to the rails and managed to access the neighbouring apartment! Luckily the story ended well - but extra caution is recommended while visiting abroad or on holidays. You will be relaxed and it’s not likely you will have the equipment or time to secure a balcony the same way as you would at home. You may consider contacting the hotel/apartment maintenance to see if they can offer help. Secure the furniture and toys so they cannot be climbed. Some of our baby safety accessories including window locks and multipurpose locks can be fitted, and easily removed without leaving a mark.

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