Prevent An Accident On Your Stone Fireplace With An Easy And Attractive Hack

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Many people worry about fireplaces being fire hazards, but they might not think about how dangerous the stone of a fireplace can be. The exception to this is anyone who has a young child or baby in the home. The hard and sometimes sharp edges of a stone fireplace jut out into your living space, and while it may be easy for you to avoid them, toddlers can easily trip or bump into the stone and get scratches, bruises, or even serious head injuries. Even adults could bump into the edges and get nasty bruises or scrapes. Whether you have a young child or have young visitors to your house, it is important to babyproof the home and prevent accidents for little ones. 

Luckily, you do not need to sacrifice your aesthetic to do so — it's possible to babyproof your home so it is safe and stylish. For a large stone fireplace, adding a plush rug or blanket over the edge and accenting it with some throw pillows can help the space retain a cozy vibe while providing padding in case anyone gets too close to the stone. Before you just throw a rug onto the hearth and let the kids run wild, you should know how effective this method is for improving safety for children. There are ways you can make it even safer and customize the idea to make it your own. Once you have all of the information, you can decide if it is a good babyproofing method for your stone fireplace.

While this hack does provide some extra cushioning that could take away the sharp edge of the fireplace, it might not be enough to prevent all injuries. There are some things you should do to make it even safer if you decide to try it. First, you should determine if your rug or blanket cushions the edges of the fireplace enough. If you have babyproofing materials in your home, test the cushioning effect of each and see if they are comparable to the blanket. If the rug or blanket feels significantly thinner and less protective, you might want to add more padding underneath, especially at the corners, which are often sharp. 

There are bumpers designed for babyproofing that can be used underneath the blanket or rug so that your home is safer but still looks great. The Roving Cove HeftyFit edge corner protector is one such option. There are also ways to child-proof your home using pool noodles that you could test out. Cutting open a pool noodle and putting it on the edge of the fireplace before covering it with your blanket or rug will give your child more protection.

Another way to make this hack safer is to secure the rug or blanket in place. Babies often grab onto things to pull themselves to stand once they are old enough, and you do not want your baby to pull off the fireplace protection, especially if you do not have cushioning underneath. Not only does this expose the sharp edges, but the blanket giving way could cause your little one to fall. A non-slip rug pad, Velcro, an adhesive patch, and silicone caulking can all help keep a rug in place.

Another concern you may have with this babyproofing hack is whether it is safe to place a fabric item on a fireplace hearth. When decorating a hearth, you should not put anything flammable within 3 feet of the flames. Sparks and embers can jump out of the firebox and land on items if they are too close, so having flammable items nearby is a fire risk. If you have a fire going, you should remove the rug or blanket and closely supervise your child to keep them away from the fireplace and flames. If your fireplace is unlit and cool, you should be okay to place a rug or blanket on the hearth, along with any other decor you want.

Adding throw pillows to the hearth really enhances the coziness and style of the area, making it look and feel almost like a bench seat if your blanket or rug creates enough padding. A plush, fuzzy rug in any color will enhance this feeling. A thickly knit or crocheted blanket could also provide some cushioning while looking great. You can try layering two or more blankets and rugs for extra padding and various textures. Matching the color and design of your choice to the rest of the room will also make the space feel cohesive and elegant while still helping to prevent accidents with young children. Once your fireplace is beautifully safe, you can move on to learning other tips on babyproofing your home to make sure each room is safe and secure for little ones.