We are buying a house and it has baseboard heaters. We haven't had them before with our toddler and she is VERY much into everything! I am afraid she is going to burn herself or even start a fire by stuffing something into it. I have been trying to find protective covers on the internet. All I have found is overpriced metal mesh contraptions that seem that they would still get hot and burn her. Does anyone know of other alternatives? If I have to, I won't turn it on and use a child friendly heater up out of reach, but was just curious as to other options. Thanks!
UPDATE: Because our daughter is so inquisitive, we don't let her in the kitchen, but that is going to have to change at the new house too. I have TAUGHT her the difference between hot and cold. She just like other two year olds don't obey all the time. I let her get in and out of situations on her own and she is very independant. I want to be able to NOT worry about her burning herself or setting a fire while I am working on housework or laundry. Guess most people have central air and heat and or have children that aren't as curious as my little one. Thanks for the comments so far.
FYI the insides of these can sometimes have sharp edges. My toddler stuck her hand in one at my parent's and got a cut on her finger.
Does your child play with the stove when it is on? They usually learn pretty darn quick to stay away from that which burns. I know it is easier to buy something but sometimes you actually have to teach your child that it is a bad idea to do ........!
Are they modern water filled baseboard heaters that go straight across the bottom of the wall/along the floor? I had a house like that when my kids were little and they don't get hot enough to burn. There was never a problem. The copper pipes filled with water are inside a cover that runs all along the baseboard. You'll be fine. Don't worry. And congratulations on the new house!
This might be a pricey idea but they sell those fireplace guards thats like a wall about babys height to keep them away from the fireplace and/or baseboard heaters in this case =) Im not sure how much this would cost but it might be worth looking into. Even if you just purchased one so that you could move it from room to room as you move around the house and then as she gets older teach her not to touch
Good Luck
we lived in a house with baseboard heat from the time my son was born until about 2 1/2. We have relatives with baseboard heat - and it was never a problem. It will probably be a non issue. He didn't mess with them, or show any interest. They just blended into the wall.........
We used to have baseboard heaters and we never had. Problem with either child. I'm not a fan of baby proofing every little thing. We only did outlets and door knob covers. Other then that we just stayed on top of them teaching them not to do certain things.
Im not even sure how hot to the touch they get my moms dog lays so that she's leaning right on the heater.
Edited: children require so much attention I always did my housework during naps or after they went down for the night.
Also I've googled and googled the safety of them and all sites say the same thing the surface temperature does not get high enough for fires to be a concern just check them daily to make sure she didn't stick anything in there. When she does give her a time out and she'll learn quickly enough not to do that.
