Child-proofing your loft conversion

No matter where your children are in the house, it’s important to keep each and every room adequately child-proofed to ensure maximum safety at all times. If you’ve recently had a loft conversion or you’re currently thinking about having one, don’t forget to perform the all important child-proofing regime. This month, our experts have put together top tips when child-proofing your loft conversion all so you can enjoy each room in your home without a worry.

Things to consider:

• Stairways – children tend to be top heavy and sometimes their arms and legs don’t quite coordinate in the way they intend – just yet. Since stairways can be the cause of many accidents, it’s important to take all important precautions. These include stair gates at both the top and bottom of the flight of stairs, that way they won’t be involved in a nasty trip or fall when unattended.

• Windows – whether it’s the lock on your windows or the coverage solution you choose, make it safe and child friendly. Loft conversion windows are generally much larger than most windows within the home because they offer the best of natural lighting. Not to mention – skylights are stunning features because they offer a picturesque view during the day and a breathtaking starry sky at night. These large windows can be fascinating to children too, especially if it’s not something that they have seen before and may encourage children gravitate towards them.
  So first things first, it’s good to think about the positioning of these windows. Having them placed high enough on the sloped ceiling so your children can’t reach them is a very simple and effective solution. As for blinds, opt for cordless – choose pressure blinds, hand operated or motorised to keep any dangling loops out of the equation.

• Juliet balconies – another desirable feature that’s of high demand are juliet balconies and even though you may have a railing barrier, small children can still find a way of squeezing through the gaps. So if you have a juliet balcony already or you are looking to install one, make sure that the doors are securely locked at all times when an adult isn’t present. If you’re unsure, stick to Velux windows, they offer just as much natural light as you need.

• En suites – it’s the same for all bathrooms but remember to keep cleaning products and medications out of reach and the sight of children. Of course, we all need to store these items, so when you do, have a locked cabinet that your children will not be able to access. This is a simple way to ensure that these products stay out of harm’s way.

• Plug sockets – we’re sure that you’re already clued up on the plug socket covers because as we know, children are curious beings that like to play with anything so like your plug sockets, conceal all other electrical equipment.

• Furniture – it can be hard to find the appropriate furniture for a loft conversion, however if you wish to make it child-safe and want to tailor your room, your best bet would be to invest in inbuilt wardrobes and cupboards. Not only will this keep your children safe from falling, unfitted furniture but it will also maximise the space within the room.

AKB Loft Conversion Specialists Ltd is a family run business, offering a number of quality services including: loft conversions, extensions, orangeries, planning and design. We have a fully qualified team that our customers can count on, so you needn’t worry about dealing with any subcontractors and we also offer a free quotation because we believe that transparency is the best policy. If you would like advice or wish to schedule us in, get in contact today and let’s get started.