Kids will always be kids, and they will climb, run, jump and be naughty regardless of what is around them. Wrought iron or steel railings, gates and fences can become a hazard to children, especially the tiny ones. We see countless kids with their heads stuck between railings, and kids hurting themselves on the tough surfaces and edges of gates and fences. Although they provide strict safety and security to everyone within the property, with kids, you just never know what is in store for you. Here are some tips on how to keep children safe around iron railings and fences.
Keep the spikes high enough
If you need to outfit your fence and gate with very sharp spikes to keep intruders out, take into consideration the height of the children living within the property. They should not be able to reach the spikes on their toes. Should they climb the fence, it will be your responsibility to look after them and make sure that they do not hurt themselves on the spikes.
Use pool noodles
This solution may not be a very attractive one, and pool noodles can ruin the look of your gate and fence. But the good thing about them is that they are easily removable. You can put them on the fences and railings only when the kids are playing near or around them and remove them afterwards.
Put a screen
The gaps between railings are what cause the most accidents with children. You can outfit the railings with nets, so their heads and arms and legs do not go through them. They will not also be able to climb if they do not have anywhere to step on. Screens also keep animals out of your property.
Use a clear plastic shield
Children are prone to bumping their heads on anything hard, including railings. There are clear plastic shields you can use just for this purpose. They do not shatter, so if kids bump their heads, they will not get hurt by shards of plastic. Using these shields will still give you a clear view of the other side of the railings, as they are transparent.
Place foam on the edges
Foam may not look pretty on iron, but it does the job of protecting your kids from any sharp edges. You can buy these foam protectors at hardware stores, and you can put them on spots where there are sharp edges that can hurt your kids. They are easily removable too, so you can put them on and remove them anytime.
Children’s safety is paramount when outfitting your home with iron or steel implements from suppliers such as smartsteels.co.uk. You may also have wrought iron items inside your house, such as a bed frame, fireplace poker, candelabra, chairs and tables. These will also pose hazards to your children, so stick to child-friendly materials such as wood and plastic. If these metal ornaments were already in place even before you had kids, you can take measures to child-proof them.
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