Baby Proofing the Balcony

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Though we didn't build anything here, this DIY deserved a post merely for the functionality it offered and the ease with which baby proofing can be achieved. We thought some might even benefit from it.

We have seen this in couple of places in the neighborhood and so when we had to baby proof my bro's balcony, we knew exactly what to get and where to find it. Here are some pointers:

• The mesh is made of fiber (So we were told) and is available in any local hardware store in large rolls
• It is priced per square feet and so the balcony railing measurements are needed for the purchase
• Though it comes with a reasonable price, you may want to check with couple of hardware stores to get the best pricing
• The mesh can be secured to the balcony railings using plastic tags. No fancy tools required.
• It can also be used to cover gaps between staircase railings inside your apartment or in the common area
• And it takes less than one man hour to fix it



Balcony Baby Proofing

The fiber mesh is a good alternative to rusty iron / steel meshes or the clumsy nylon ropes tied between railings. It has a plastic feel to it, is flexible and quite strong, can be trimmed using a pair of scissors, and comes with very reasonable pricing. So, if you have wide railings, here's an easy cost-effective way to cover the gaps.

Also check out the picket fence project

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- Somu

Child safe Picket Fence / Door Barrier

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Child safe door barriers or safety gates / picket fences are a must in homes with little babies and toddlers. They are very effective in keeping kids away from areas within the home they are not intended to be in. At the same time, these baby proof doors also help create a safe boundary, within which kids are free to roam about and play.

Potential areas where the babies need to be kept away from are the kitchens, balcony areas (learn how to baby proof your balcony) and stairways. This DIY door barrier / picket fence was built to keep my niece away from the kitchen especially when the grinder is on. We built this fence using wooden sticks that are about 2 inches wide and half an inch thick.Considering it was supposed to be baby safe, the first thing I did was to ensure all the edges are made blunt and the surface is smoothed using sand paper.

Child safe barrier - Supplies

The wooden sticks were nailed together (7 vertical sticks nailed / screwed onto 3 horizontal sticks). We made two similar gates which we joined together using regular door hinges in order for the doors to half open. What you see below is work in progress for one of the gates. The gate was painted (learn how to paint wood) and varnished for protection.

Baby proof barrier doors - WIP

The two gates were joined together using hinges and one side of the gate was fixed  (again using regular door hinges) to a wooden panel installed on the side of the wall. You can see a break in the middle of the gate indicating the hinges (marked in the picture below).

Child safe picket fence

As you can see, we had to coordinate the color to ensure that it matches the kitchen cabinet colors. Fortunately for us, the kitchen entrance and the Grinder section were at 90 degrees to each other. The installation was made in such a way that the kitchen entry is blocked when the gate is closed... and the grinder area is closed when it is open. And because it was along the corner, it also became non-intrusive providing easy access to the kitchen when the grinder is not in use.

Baby Proof / Child Proof fence / door

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Over to you : Tell me how have you baby proofed your home ? Did you have an off the shelf product installed ? Did you make one yourself ? Share your thoughts and ideas.

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P.S. Linking in : Colours Dekor, Lines Across My Face, Kreative Korner

- Somu