Fireplace Safety

I bought a big play yard circle with toddler activities and put it around the hearth. I don't remember what it was called (12 years ago), but each section came apart and you could make it in a circle or straight. I used it as a circle inside and outside - it was a really big playpen without a bottom. And I also went end to end around the fireplace and it kept my son out of the hearth and fireplace. Each section was like a fence with activities.

I've had a padded guard on our brick hearth for 5 years. I was about to take it off but am now expecting another baby so we'll leave it on a little longer. From what I've heard from others, a Goo-Gone like product works well to get any sticky residue off and I've also heard others first put masking tape on, then the double sided tape on top. When it's time to take it off, the masking tape doesn't leave the hard sticky residue.

Our fireplace hearth is rather tall and we have stained concrete flooring. I didn't put pillows around the floor or anything. We spent $25 on a fireplace guard from target. It worked well for a little while and then my son pulled it up. So I invested in some double sided tape meant for concrete that I found at Home Depot and that solved the problem. We took it off for a little while when I was pregnant with my daughter and had no issues with sticky spots. The one stubborn spot came up easily with a little goof off. We put the same bumper back on when my daughter got more mobile (new tape of course) and it still works great. We have a gas fireplace. The only other thing I had to do was put a baby gate on the door of the fireplace. My little ones cannot resist playing in lava rocks. Congrats on the new home!

We had hearth guards and they weren't a problem to remove. Also-if it is a gas fireplace be careful b/c the glass enclosure gets HOT. I have heard of kids getting burned from this.

I went to Joann fabric and bought some foam that I could cut, did not know but they can cut it to size for you. And then also bought some material to sew a cover for the foam and we have used that. The fabric cover make it easy to clean and it is not perminit. The kids are old enough now that we can use the covers for when we have guests over and they need some where to sit it now provides extra seats.

We had a similar issue and bought the special hearth padding (We looked at Toy's R Us and Target, I don't remember where we ended up getting it). We didn't think the adhesive strips looked like they would work at all so we ended up cutting the sections to fit around our angled hearth and used hot glue to attach them. It works pretty well. Our 14 month old did recently manage to pry one of the sections off, but I was able to peal the hot glue right off the brick and reapply with more.
I'm guessing the pillows would get moved way too easily.

How exciting to move into a new home! Congrats! I know it's not the prettiest thing, but we used an old quilt & folded it in 1/2. Although I like the idea the woman had about sewing something to put on it (I'd have to ask someone to sew it for me as I'm not too great at sewing). Good luck!

I would just buy a gate. I believe they are a tri-fold or something similar & you just stand them up in front of it. It won't take up a lot of room at all, they are nice to look at & go with almost anything. If your daughter happens to fall into it, it will probably give & fall over but it will at least protect her from the harsh angles of the hearth. Good luck!

Could you put up one of those pretty gates, or even a baby gate? I don't think that I would stick anything to the hearth for the fear of ruining it, and it probably wouldn't keep your child from tripping. Lots of pillows will just end up annoying you, and they'll get kicked around and dusty too. Try the gate, and teach your daughter that the fireplace is not for playing in or around.

i believe they make gates to go around them.