The 6 Safest Fireplaces for Homes With Toddlers

The 6 Safest Fireplaces for Homes With Toddlers

A fireplace can truly turn your house into a home, but if you’re family planning or already have young kids, there’s a whole new element of safety that you need to consider before you get one installed. Given that more than one-third of accidental injuries to children reportedly happen at home, you simply can’t take any risks when you’re making any home decor decision. The good news is that you can safely enjoy a fireplace in your home without having to keep a constant eye on your little ones. You just need to understand which fireplaces are the most child-friendly. Here, we’ve listed six of the safest fireplaces for homes with toddlers to help you know what to invest in if you have (or plan to soon have) little ones at home.

Electric Fireplaces With Cool-Touch Glass

An electric fireplace is the obvious choice for a house with small children, as it has no open flames to worry about. We recommend looking at models with cool-touch glass (something offered with many modern fireplaces today), so the exterior stays safe to touch. This is a great option if you want a modern design, like the marble fireplaces sold by Designer Fireplaces: https://fireplace.co.uk/marble-fireplaces/. 

Wall-Mounted Units 

If you want more options, you’ll be less limited if you focus on install location rather than type. It’s worth looking for wall-mounted fireplaces that you can install high enough to keep them completely out of reach from curious hands. You’ll love these if you want to give your living space an uber-contemporary look.

Fireplaces With Built-in Child Lock Controls

Although not a specific fireplace type, we also want to mention buying a fireplace with built-in child lock controls. These are designed to prevent kids from being able to turn on or adjust settings on their own, so you can safely leave your toddlers in a room with a switched-off fireplace without worrying about them switching it on.

Freestanding Enclosed Models

Love the look of a freestanding fireplace? You can still buy one of these for your home—just go for a child-friendly unit that has secure glass panels and no exposed heat elements. If you can’t tell from images alone, consider visiting a showroom so you can see the fireplaces yourself and ask the sales staff for more information.

Infrared Electric Fireplaces

Another electric fireplace option to consider is the infrared fireplace. This model provides gentle, consistent warmth without making the surface dangerously hot, so it’s a safe option for young kids and still gives you the heat and cosiness of a fireplace. 

Models That Fit with a Safety Gate or Screen

Finally, even if the fireplace itself still presents heat risks, if they’re compatible with a safety gate or screen, you’ll be able to safely use it even when your kids are nearby. If they include a safety gate in the box or sell it as an accessory, that’s a bonus for you.

Takeaway

So, those are all your best options if you’re buying a new fireplace and want to be mindful of safety for your family. But what if you already own one?

Make sure to kid-proof your fireplace as soon as possible, so you can enjoy this feature of your home without the risk of injury.

Guest Article.