I use baby gates on our 2nd story windows. I worry that window bars couldn't be removed fast enough or easily enough if there was ever a fire. Our windows open just far enough for em to get my arm in there far enough so that the gate can be put in with the lever side facing out.
Window Safety / Bar & Guards?
We are moving into a new house soon and I'm working on babyproofing. In our old house I never worried about window bars because all the windows on the second level were really high up (like my chest height) and DD was younger then. Now I have a daughter who happily pulls chairs or stools over and gets into upper cabinets, etc. The new house has some windows which are lower - she can easily look out with no assistence.
I am trying to determine the best way to childproof the windows. I know you can get things that prevent them from opening wide enough for the child to get through, but it gets really hot here in the summer and we don't have central air, I imagine I'd want to open them sometimes. Anyone have them or have an opinion on them?
I am trying to determine the best way to childproof the windows. I know you can get things that prevent them from opening wide enough for the child to get through, but it gets really hot here in the summer and we don't have central air, I imagine I'd want to open them sometimes. Anyone have them or have an opinion on them?
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The window guards I'm considering do remove in case of fire (http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.jsp...464&change=118)
Originally Posted by mythreesuns I use baby gates on our 2nd story windows. I worry that window bars couldn't be removed fast enough or easily enough if there was ever a fire. Our windows open just far enough for em to get my arm in there far enough so that the gate can be put in with the lever side facing out. |
I have those window guards in our kids' bedrooms because they are upstairs and VERY low to the floor. I wanted to be able to leave the windows open w/out fear of them pushing on the screen and falling out. I really like them. It felt a bit "prisonish" to me, KWIM? But the convienience of having them and not having to worry/be paranoid/not open the window, totally outweighed the "how will it be percieved" notion. I'm totally glad we did it and they are really easy to install!
If you have wood framed windows, you can pound a nail into the frame so that the window only lifts up to a certain height (before it is stopped by the nail). But if you wanted to be able to open the whole window, a guard is probably a better idea.
The nail solution is also obviously not a good situation in a fire, so it would depend what other exits you have available to you.
The nail solution is also obviously not a good situation in a fire, so it would depend what other exits you have available to you.
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Woah, they are pricey! I have 6 windows (three bedrooms) upstairs that need covering. Those do look nice, but I'll have to stick with my baby gates at 9 bucks each. LOL
I wonder what the incidence of 2nd story accidents is? Anybody know?
Originally Posted by mightymoo The window guards I'm considering do remove in case of fire (http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.jsp...464&change=118) |
I wonder what the incidence of 2nd story accidents is? Anybody know?
I don't know, but I remember hearing about it on the news at least twice in the last few years and I don't watch the news (only see it at someone elses house, etc) in both cases the baby survived, but I think that's why it was on the news.
My father owns a three story apartment building in a nearby city and years ago one of his tenants baby fell out the third-story window and was amazingly okay. In that case though the mom was a druggie and completely out of it - My dad went over and nailed the screens on and had to let himself in she was passed out on the couch and the baby was trying to crawl back out the window saying 'boo boo' - :cry
Our house is a full walkout in the back so the fall from the bedrooms is 3 stories and DD's room will have one window at her chest height and the other over the driveway - so I'm thinking I'd rather feel completely she's completely safe, plus we are at the beginning of this phase, so a $350 investment now in safety devices we are going to use for the next 8 years seems reasonable.
My father owns a three story apartment building in a nearby city and years ago one of his tenants baby fell out the third-story window and was amazingly okay. In that case though the mom was a druggie and completely out of it - My dad went over and nailed the screens on and had to let himself in she was passed out on the couch and the baby was trying to crawl back out the window saying 'boo boo' - :cry
Our house is a full walkout in the back so the fall from the bedrooms is 3 stories and DD's room will have one window at her chest height and the other over the driveway - so I'm thinking I'd rather feel completely she's completely safe, plus we are at the beginning of this phase, so a $350 investment now in safety devices we are going to use for the next 8 years seems reasonable.
Geez, stories like that make me ill. That poor babe. And it happens more often than I think, I am sure. I do think it is unfortunate that those window gates are 50 bucks each. I don't have $300 right now to save my life, so the baby gates I use will have to do. It si too bad they don't make them a bit more reasonably priced, so that more parents would be willing to purchase them, KWIM?
i know i've seen them at the hardware store but i didn't notice how much they cost.it is not an issue for us right now.but i wonder if they might be less expensive at a home depot or something.definately worth whatever they cost though.
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