To ask OH's parents to turn off their unguarded open-flame gas fire when LO is there?

[TuesdaySusie]

Genuinely want to know what other people would do. It makes me very nervous when LO is running around in front of it whereas they seem to think its not a problem because they say they are always in the room with her.
It only takes a second though doesn't it?

Don't have them looking after her until they start using it! Even in my day and I am 34, parents used to have a fireguard in the 70's/80's, its nothing new.

well just buy a guard and insist they use it, sorted.

Piglet it could very easily be argued that by over babyproofing parents take it for advantage that everything is safe and become more relaxed. Accidents can happen anytime anyway and no amount of baby proofing will stop that happening.

YABU.

Your child is old enough now to know not to run around near to a fire.

You cannot protect a child everywhere they go, which is why you teach them safety.

You can still tell her not to touch it, she is only 2 and might do just that out of curiosity, not worth the risk.

You cannot trust a child 100%

Yes you can be 100% if you see your child go near them you either call them or pull them away. You teach them through words and/or facial expressions that they will get hurt if they go near it.

Best way for a child to learn imo is either direct experience or being told of the experience.

Failing that buy your own fireguard or stop using them.

espcially a todddler

And if being watched then she wouldn't be able to get that close anyway.

Like I said if op feels it is an issue then why leave the child there in the first place?

I would never have my children run around in the GP's house. That is for outdoors.

Don't discuss it, buy one, turn up with it. Tell them you got it for using at someone else's house and you might as well bring it round rather than make them go through their loft.

No you can't Nearly, an open fire is a safety risk, it needs to be guarded when young children are about, ask any Firesafety officer and they will tell you, and know first hand of what can happen.

YABU to asked them to turn the fire off . You have three options.

1. Take a fire guard round and ask if they will use it. (not just offer, but take - but they can refuse)
2. Teach your child not to run near fires.
3. Get someone else to babysit if you're not happy.

I am all for not molleycoddeling children, but when there is fire/gas involved than yes I do I am afraid.

When my eldest was 3yrs old, he was putting his underpants on and fell against the unguarded electric fire I had...he got a nasty burn on his bum but it wasn't that bad (didn't need medical attention)

However, I now have an open fire and I know for a fact he would have landed straight in it, if it had been there at the time and unguarded.

As amerryscot said. Children should not be running around inside their Grandparent's house anyway. You keep them sat down playing quiet games and keep running around or silly behaviour for outside or in another room. It's not difficult!

Open fires normally have a guard to protect the rug/carpet from spitting logs though..

Mines a fake open fire so no spitting logs

That's called a hearth, squeaky

a living flame gas fire is an accident waiting to happen - we've got a guard in front of ours even though DD is 4.6yrs. not the 'hook to the wall' one, but a spark guard that looks more 'grown up' but still is a barrier between the flames and fabrics that might flap near it and catch.

it's not about running and tripping for us - DD also has a strange fascination about flames....

i'd rather be precious about a child than have burns to deal with

At what age would you let your child strike a match, Santa?

that's like saying how long is your piece of string, merry!

there is no set age for feeling confident that your child can do their best to keep safe.

Jesus, I am really slack about stuff but they need a fireguard. Any open flame needs a fireguard.

The incidents of children being burnt by fires have reduced dramatically since the 1960s when coal fires and nylon nighties and pjs were common; but a trip or a fall could be horrible and just isn't worth the risk. I'd put one up for my cat FFS.

Blimey our house really isn't childproofed at all but I am a bit surprised so many people don't think you need a guard around an open fire.

nearly the child is only 2 so try sitting them down for a period of time, even older children find that hard. Yes tell them not to run of course its dangerous in the house, but you cannot expect them to sit still for long.