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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU safety in the home

18 replies

KitchenNightmare99 · 31/01/2016 23:08

Will try to keep this short... DH has a massive 400l fish tank that sits on top of a metal cabinet...the tank is not secure to the cabinet it just is placed on top. He is adamant it wouldn't fall over...we have a DC 2 who is climbing pulling everything and tonight he pulled the TV on top of him while I was in the room. He is fine but it happened so quickly I am in shock. I've asked DH to get rid of the tank as I think it's an unnecessary hazard that I don't think is worth the risk. All I am getting is sarcastic replies of how I'll have to get rid of my hair straightener incase he burns himself etc. AIBU for wanting the tank gone it's so heavy 6ftx6ft

OP posts:
canyou · 31/01/2016 23:11

Why can he not get it secured to a table/wall. That is what DBIL had done. It sits into a table top type cupboard which is secured to the wall.

WorraLiberty · 31/01/2016 23:13

But a TV is as light as a feather and much easier to pull over than a massive fish tank.

Original poster
KitchenNightmare99 · 31/01/2016 23:14

It's too heavy the wall wouldn't hold its weight so would make no difference iyswim

OP posts:
coffeeisnectar · 31/01/2016 23:16

Yabu. Teach your dc not to go near the fish tank? I had four tanks when dd 2 was little and she was kept clear of them with use of the word "no".

JarethTheGoblinKing · 31/01/2016 23:19

Hmm, I think it should be secured, but could a toddler really move a 400kg fish tank (is it really that big??)

Secure your TV first though!

JarethTheGoblinKing · 31/01/2016 23:20

Ah...the 'teach them no' approach. Much better to make sure the house is safe when a 2yo is around

StrawberryDelight · 31/01/2016 23:21

Isn't 1litre of water = 1kg in weight?

If so, your tank weighs probably weighs about 450kg (including the weight of the glass). About half the weight of a standard car.

If it's resting on a solid surface, the liklihood of him being able to pull that over is pretty remote.

Original poster
KitchenNightmare99 · 31/01/2016 23:21

It is really that big it takes up most of the kitchen so there isn't much room where he would be safe to stay away from it. I've been asking for months for the TV to go on the wall that's been ignored so ringing a handy man tomorrow myself to come do it

OP posts:
Original poster
KitchenNightmare99 · 31/01/2016 23:23

I know it's a small chance of it falling over but not a chance I want to take

OP posts:
JarethTheGoblinKing · 31/01/2016 23:24

Secure the TV yourself. It's just a tiny bracket and a strong cable tie. Easily available

JarethTheGoblinKing · 31/01/2016 23:26

If he's climbing isn't there a drowning risk as well?

Kelsoooo · 31/01/2016 23:26

Not a small chance. No chance. At all. You and your DP, together, wouldn't be able to move it when its filled.

StrawberryDelight · 31/01/2016 23:28

But realistically op (and I don't want to make you worry) anything falling on a toddler 'could' do real damage. Climbing on a dining chair and it crashing down on top of them is much more likely.

Why don't you give it a go? (seriously). Go and give it a good pull, shove, see if it moves...I doubt it will. And if an adult can't move it then a toddler won't.

Original poster
KitchenNightmare99 · 31/01/2016 23:32

I just can't get the image of a 60inch TV on top of him tonight out of my head Sad has really shook me up

OP posts:
JarethTheGoblinKing · 31/01/2016 23:35

OK, well that's good. It's much more likely that he'd be injured by the TV falling on him than a fish tank that weighs the same as a bath tub full of water. So that's fine, just secure the TV (and drawers /bookcases while you're at it)

Original poster
KitchenNightmare99 · 31/01/2016 23:39

The TV will be secured tomorrow but it will definatley be going up on the wall as soon as I get the right equipment

OP posts:
StrawberryDelight · 31/01/2016 23:41

There's nothing wrong with risk assessment op and something like that is bound to shake you up.

When ds1 was newborn, and we were in hospital, I had a drip attached to me with one of the tall, metal drip holder things next to the bed. I twisted the wrong way, pulled the cord, and the bloody thing toppled over with a massive crash...missed newborn ds by inches.

I'd never felt so sick in my life - it would have done real damage if that had landed on him. I had a thing about 'poles' for years (like tall spindly lamps)...they still make me nervous now to an extent and ds1 is 8 Blush .

Give yourself time to get over the shock, but don't try and make your dh get rid of the tank now. Risk assess it, properly. Go and pull on it, it won't move. It definitely won't move with a toddler's weight, even if he was swinging off it.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 01/02/2016 01:16

Unless your child is the hulk there is no way he's is shifting a fish tank that size that's full of water. It's probally heavier than a mini with concrete wheels.
There is a reason why large tanks are not secured to the stands (because they don't need to be)

I think you have had a nasty shock it's understandably troubled you but in your haste to make things safer you have gone a bit daft. I'm not criticising this most of us do things like this when something goes wrong but try and remember to focus on the stuff that does need making safer and do not occupy your time on the stuff that does not

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