If you have an adventurous toddler that loves to explore around the house, you’ve probably already child-proofed most of your cabinets, drawers, and electric outlets. Now it’s time to childproof your fireplace as well.
The best way to secure your Fireplace is to restrict your little ones’ access to it at all times. You have two options: Fencing off the Fireplace or Placing your child in a closed-off play yard.
Both options have their pros and cons. For example, if you place your child in the Play Yard it will be super safe, but what if you forget to do it? On the other hand, if you fence off the Fireplace you still need to be present in the room because your child might get in trouble elsewhere.
To save you time and effort on research, we explored which are the best options on the market. After reading this article you’ll be able to make the right choice that will keep your child safe.
Child Proof Your Fireplace
Before getting a fence for your Fireplace you need to know that not all health concerns involving your child are connected with burn accidents. You also need to make sure that the vents or exhausts are not blocked. Burning wood and coal and gas give off carbon monoxide which can accumulate quickly and be very dangerous for your child. So keep that in mind.
We looked at many different options on the market, and we choose the products most loved by people that have actually tried them.
Best Choice Products Baby Safety Fire Gate
The Best Choice gate is made out of heavy-duty steel and can be placed both indoors and outdoors. Use it around fireplaces and outdoor grills. If you feel it would be safer if it was mounted on a wall, you can do that too. The gate comes with adjustable wall mount hardware. The width of the gate is 122″ which should be plenty for any kind of Fireplace.
The gate seems to be coated with some kind of heat-resistant plastic so it seems like it will never be hot enough to cause a burn. When the fireplace is 300 degrees it is slightly warm to the touch and when it gets up to 500 degrees it is very warm to the touch. So don’t keep your fireplace over 500 degrees.
You’ll have to assemble every piece of this gate. The door, the connections, the hinges, etc. So be ready to spend some time. The instructions are very confusing because they were translated from German, but you can easily figure out how to put the gate together using the illustrations. This gate looks great and is incredibly sturdy, even when it’s not fastened to the wall! We recommend installing the gate so that the door opens outward, towards you. Otherwise, it will bump into the hearth. You can also just step over the gate to access the fireplace.
This is a great, solid product, particularly if you plan on using it for a few years and don’t mind the holes in your wall. We highly recommend this gate to protect your little one from the Fireplace while keeping your home from looking like a Child proofed home!
Check out the Best Choice Products Baby Safety Fire Gate here.
Fireplace Door Lock – For Glass Bifold Doors
If you have a Fireplace with glass bi-fold doors, and you can’t figure out a way to Child-proof it, give the Fireplace Door Lock a try!
The Fireplace Door Lock helps prevent hands and fingers from getting pinched in fireplace doors. The lock is basically two bars that are screwed together with two screws using a Philips head screwdriver. One goes on top of the handle and the other goes on the bottom. Then screws are placed in the top bar through the open handles and tightened into the bottom bar. The Lock fits fireplace doors with horizontal handles between 6″ and 9″ apart and offers a durable metal construction. Measures approximately 24″L x 2″H x 3/4″D.
Our only complaint is that there are no quick-release features. You need to take out the screws if you want to open the Fireplace, but it only takes less than 2 minutes to uninstall and install. Of course, that makes it ideal as a Childproofing security device.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to child-proof your fireplace doors, give this a try! It’s easy, quick, and effective! A must-have for parents with this set-up.
Childproof your Fireplace by placing your little one in a freestanding Playard Fence
Check out the Fireplace Door Lock here.
Summer Infant Secure Surround 6-Panel PlaySafe Playard
The Summer Infant Playard is a freestanding, portable 18.5 square foot fence that can be used inside or outside. It comes with a convenient walk-through door panel that swings open in both directions. There are 6 panels that go with it, including 4 identical panels, 1 panel with the handle on it, and 1 panel with the Handel latch.
If you wish to make it smaller, just remove 2 panels and join the remaining 4 together. The Playard is 30 inches in height so you won’t be able to just step over inside. This is actually a huge advantage. When it comes to security – higher is better.
The Playard is such a versatile product, you can use it to secure spiral staircases, your Fireplace, or any other area in your home. It is great to keep kids inside, but be careful if your little one is a climber. The holes will fit little hands and feet and act as a ladder. The frame of each panel has spots perfect for the climber’s feet to balance. We recommend putting your child’s shoes on, as this will prevent climbing on the fence.
The Summer Infant Playard was made from weather-resistant plastic and is very easy to set up. In addition, this Playard features a convenient carry handle and shoulder strap so you can tote it anywhere. It is meant to be used for children from 6 to 24 months old.
Check out the Summer Infant Secure Surround 6-Panel PlaySafe Playard here.
North States Superyard 3-in-1 Metal Gate
The North States Superyard seems to be the most loved product among parents, whether it’s for Childproofing their Fireplace or any other security reason. Over 1000 people that used this product give it 4.7 out of 5 stars.
It comes with six removable and adjustable panels, encloses up to 10 square feet, and is 30 inches high. If climbing on the fence is an issue you’re concerned about, this is the right product for you. Your child won’t be able to climb this fence due to the vertical slats. This was the biggest issue people had with the Summer Infant gate.
We really liked this Childproof option. You can use it free-standing and it’s very secure, or it can be hardware mounted as an extra-wide barrier or Fireplace screen. Its hardware-mounted brackets will secure the panels from wall to wall, and can even be adjusted to fit over crown molding. The self-closing door has a hold-open feature for easy access.
The steel panels have a warm taupe (sand) finish which will look attractive in your home. It doesn’t look as fancy as the Safety Baby Fire gate, but it is bigger and will get the job done. There is even a wooden version available if the metal one does not match your decor. Purchase the North States Superyard 3 in 1 Wood Gate here.
You can set the gate up on carpet, tile, hardwood floors, etc. Each panel has a pre-attached rubber foot which will prevent the yard from scratching and slipping. You can also remove a panel if you need to fit it closely to your fireplace. It is super easy.
Extra extensions are sold separately in sets of two panels each. If you added one set of extensions you would have 8 panels and could form an octagon.
The only downside to this gate would be the high price range, but for the security and versatility you get, it’s absolutely worth it.
Check out the North States Superyard 3-in-1 Metal Gate here.
Regalo 4 in 1 Super Wide Easy Step Baby Gate and Play Yard
Regalo 4 in 1 Metal Play Yard encloses a large 19 square feet area. This option will give you numerous possibilities. It can be configured into a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your needs. Not only can it be used as a Play Yard, but also converts to a Fire Place Guard, gate enclosure for extra-wide openings, or a stairway barrier.
Standing at 30” tall, the Easy Step Baby Gate is a perfect height to keep your little one safe. Perfect for Childproofing your Fireplace, and is easily expandable to fit larger openings. It comes with attachments to attach to a wall on each side. If you don’t want to attach it to the wall then it will not stand alone unless all ends are connected together.
When you mount it, you attach it to the walls with screws so you can always take it down and reuse it. You can also take the gate down but leave the wall mount in the wall if you want to temporarily take the gate down but put it back up later (if you want to light a fire). All the hardware you might need comes included in the package.
The expandable baby gate is versatile fitting doorways between 29”-34”. Add on the included 6” extension, and the easy step baby gate expands from 29” to 39”. Two more extensions kits can be added to accommodate wider spaces but you’ll have to buy them separately. You can also remove panels if needed, which takes under 1 minute!
The downside to this Baby Gate? It takes two hands to unlock. If you’re holding a baby in your hands this might prove challenging. Other than that small detail, we highly recommend the Regalo 4 in 1 Baby Gate for Childproofing your Fireplace or any other security issue you might have.
Check out the Regalo 4 in 1 Super Wide Easy Step Baby Gate and Play Yard here.
One thing to have in mind when choosing the Best security option for your Fireplace: avoid free-standing fireplace screens. A baby can easily pull this down on top of himself or lean on it and fall towards the fireplace. Hopefully, with this article, we made it easier for you to find the best solution to Child proof your Fireplace.
