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Children's health

Loft safety

9 replies

dizzyange · 04/05/2016 04:06

Hi we are in the process of buying a house and the new house has an open staircase up to an attic room. The worry of this with my 22 month old is keeping me awake at night. My husband says just put on a gate or shut the door but I also have a 10 year old son and what if he forgets and my toddler decides to follow him up to the loft? Any ideas, it's making me sick with worry!

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MattDillonsPants · 04/05/2016 06:30

Who will be using the attic room? What does DH mean by "Shut the door?? What door? I assume the stair is in your upstairs hallway?

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MattDillonsPants · 04/05/2016 06:31

Oh and you can get baby gates for open stairs.

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dizzyange · 04/05/2016 12:03

Hiya thanx for replying no the open staircase is in what will be my sons bedroom and he wants the attic room as a playroom. How does a baby gate work on what is effectively a wooden ladder?

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MattDillonsPants · 04/05/2016 12:30

Oh so DH says to just keep your older son's door shut or put a gate on: I can see why you'd worry.

You need to get a self closing baby gate on DS' door to keep the small one out perhaps but that would take away Ds' privacy maybe? His door would need to be open all day and perhaps at night too if the little one is a wanderer.

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dizzyange · 04/05/2016 21:26

I think the baby gate at the door is going to be the safest option I guess. I would have to seal it off at night or I'd never sleep! Shame though as like you say that prob means ds won't be able to shut his door. I was thinking of putting something around the base of the ladder to make it no go (like a free standing baby gate) but probably a mad idea. I also wondered about getting the stairs made safe but I think that's going to be too much work. Wonder what age hel'll be safe on the ladder .....

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BennyTheBall · 04/05/2016 21:29

This room sounds like it doesn't comply with the building regulations, could invalidate house insurance and should not be sold as a habitable room.

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JoeyBrummie · 04/05/2016 21:34

We had a baby gate on a bedroom and could still have the door shut even with the gate shut. This might be an option.
link

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dizzyange · 05/05/2016 12:17

No it's not sold as a habitable room Benny but my son wants to keep it as a playroom and it gives a lot of extra space. Maybe in the future we could make it a proper room with staircase but for now I just want to make it safe for my toddler. I'm also wondering about your option Joey as looking at our bedroom doors you could put the gate on the outside frame and still shut the door. Impossible to know without going back and looking at the house! Do most doorways have an outside frame?

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dizzyange · 05/05/2016 12:26

I've just noticed on the link you sent Joey that safety gates are only recommended to 24 months and my son is already 22 months and tall! Someone else suggested a hook and eye on the door when my older son is at school so maybe this is the way to go .... Also would stop my toddler messing with my 10 year olds stuff I guess. Just have to be sure to keep that door shut! Also that doesn't solve my night time wandering worry ..... Jeez!!