Baby proofing - shoe rack

[DaynaS]

Hi All,

My LO is 13 months old, doesn't really crawl but gets everywhere with a combination of rolling, dragging, sitting and shuffling. I've been actively baby proofing things as I see it for months, and gradually doing more as I spot more issues!

Today's one is a shoe rack. It's an open shoe rack (link below) which holds all the partners shoes. The rack itself is secured to the wall so that's fine, it's just the content.
(https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08T71F8FM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I'm aware that shoes are a bit grim and obviously won't always be clean, they'll have dirt and all sorts on them. This one happens to be in the living room which is where she spends most of her time, and at times, she'll be unsupervised (i.e. getting a drink, going toilet, putting the washing out, etc.).

I was thinking of putting something like a standing fireguard in front of it, just so she doesn't have access to the shoes behind it. Something like this, but it would be free standing so there's a risk of pulling it down:
https://amzn.eu/d/9RUHvP7

What are the general thoughts, and what do you think to do in these circumstances? I'll try "no", but it means being there when she might choose to go for a wander!

Many thanks,
Dayna

I'd move shoes out the living room in the first place, that's weird.

Just let her play with the shoes, there’s nothing wrong with that.

I think prevention is better than cure, I’d move the shoe rack and shoes out of the living room (bit weird to keep them there anyway?!)

a standing fire guard is much more dangerous than shoes though, don’t do that!

Move it to the hall, close door, job done. They will likely drag anything you put in front of it on top of them.

move the rack out of the room as first choice, but you could could fix the fire guard to the rack or walk with hooks. Or could you drape a sheet over the rack so they’re not on show?
Saying ‘no’ all the time is not really a good choice, it means you’re being very negative towards your daughter.

a standing fire guard would be a no for me based on the way my DC treats our fire guard which is fixed to the wall. I would move the show rack if your that worried.

Our hallway is tiny, literally door, stairs and then the door to the living room else they would have been in there, but we don't have a hall. The kitchen is also tiny, so there's no space there either (struggle to have a floor bin!) - the living room however is massive, it's a long room so it's living area / dining together, so the shoes are by the patio door.

Thanks all, I did think a heavy fireguard was probably worse - maybe I'll keep the cleaner shoes at the bottom! ;)

Would there be space for an off the floor shoe press behind your front door, something like this -https://www.ikea.com/ie/en/p/trones-shoe-cabinet-storage-white-00397307/

Ooo, that could be interesting, I'll measure up - thank you!

I had one in a tiny apartment years ago it kept the hall baby proofed! It fitted behind the door so no extra space needed. I hope it helps