There
are plenty of things you need to consider when baby proofing your loft
conversion. A lot of it is common sense, but it can be daunting knowing where
to start. With our handy guide, however, it’s easy to make loft conversions baby safe.
Blind Cords
Loft
conversions are notorious for incorporating blinds into their overall design,
often dictated by the type of window installed. If you have blinds in your
conversion, make sure that there is no risk to any younger people in your home.
Cords
should be secured with a blind cord clip, which keeps them tight to the wall.
Any straight cords require a figure of eight ‘knot’ or cleat fit which is at
least 120cm off the ground, and therefore well away from the reach of little
hands.
Window Restrictors
Just
as with blind cords, any windows that can be reached by children must have
window restrictors fitted. These shouldn't allow a window to open more than
10cm.
Correct Furniture
Little
hands just love opening cupboards and drawers, don’t they? With this in mind,
we would suggest fitting bespoke fitted furniture within a child’s loft
conversion bedroom. Any freestanding furniture could, potentially, be pulled
over onto a child otherwise, and the same goes for flat screen televisions,
which are often a magnet for small children.
If
you do opt for free-standing chests of drawers or child-sized wardrobes, make
sure they are securely fastened to the wall. The other advantage of opting for
bespoke fitted furniture is, of course, that no nook or cranny is wasted space;
every inch of your new room will be used to its best advantage.
Stair Gates
Make
sure that any stair gate you use is correctly fitted and is suitable for the
type of staircase you have. Indeed, if you are in the process of designing your
loft conversion, you might want to consider the newel post style before
deciding on your final staircase design, as certain posts – such as round posts
– make stair gates harder to fit.
You
might be tempted to go for a pressure-fit stair gate, as these are easy to fit
and remove, but we should always recommend a screw fit option where possible,
as they are sturdier and less likely to move. Always make sure you buy one for
the correct width of the threshold you are protecting, too.
Whether
you’re in the process of designing a new loft room or are about to move a child
into an existing loft conversion, it’s important to take baby proofing into
account. Most aspects of any room can be rectified to make them safe for a
child, and if you have any doubts, please speak to Bespoke Lofts during the
design process.