need advice, hearth gate or fireplace screen

[Ricky8443]

I have a blaze king princess insert (my avatar). I've been debating between purchasing a free standing hearth gate (more expensive and more sturdy) and a 3 panel fireplace screen (less expensive, less sturdy, more design options, and more appealing to the eye).

My question is: Does anyone utilize a large fireplace screen as a 'gate' type deterrent as opposed to the actual bulky gates. I'm also up for any and all advice or experience that anyone has, thanks,

 

[maverick06]

Its easy, and everyone here will back the call.

If it is to keep kids out, you HAVE to go for the serious gate. If it is for adults/pets, the screen is fine.

Someone will join in and tell you that you just have to teach the kids to respect the heat of the stove (good call Einstein, 3 year olds dont listen). Every year there is a thread about that, and invariably some kid gets burnt bad.

I have the big gate, looks decent, isnt too annoying. But it keeps them safe and keeps the toys from getting too close (fire hazard).

There are lots of gates for sale, lots for sale used on ebay/craigslist. They arent cheap. I had 2 gates in my house for different areas. My kids are done with one of them, but the gate around the fireplace will stay there a long time.

 

[jharkin]

For keeping the kids out, I second the hearth gate. I got mine secondhand on Craigslist quite cheap.

I got the same reactions (teach the kids, dont rely on the gate). And yes it is important to teach them, and I do. What worries me is not that they will touch it intentionally - they wont, as they can feel the heat when the get near. My worry is that being kids they will be running around, somebody trips and falls in the stove direction.

Mine are 3, we debated but have decided to use the gate one more season, and then try going without when they are 5.

 

[Ricky8443]

Thanks guys, great advice. I'm certainly leaning toward the gate now for peace of mind.

 

[Ricky8443]

thoughts on this?

 

[Ricky8443]

for an insert

 

[pen]

The only advice I can give, as a parent with young kids, is regardless of what you go for, to make certain you let the kids help you be a part of using the stove.

I have seen others with kid gates that end up with kids poking at the stove through the gate, throwing toys in this area, etc, etc, all because it was the "forbidden fruit" and they had to get in there somehow. It is an awesome thing, and they are curious.

To avoid this, once even just barely able, let them help you by asking them to be your helper and hand you kindling, newspaper for starting a fire, bringing them with you when it's time to check on the stove to decide if you need to turn the air down yet, ask them to hand you the shovel to clean out ashes, the broom, etc, even make a point of getting in front of the fire to read their night time book. All of this will let them be involved with the operation and helps to keep them from learning things the hard way. At the same time, make sure it's CLEAR what they can't do.

Long story short, the impression I gave on my first born made his first word be "hot". Temperature was our first conversations for a period of time that seemed endless! But, we avoided injuries and he played in the area of the stove frequently.

With 1 kid, this was easy, he knew the boundaries and played near but never went close unless it was time where we'd involve him. Once kid 2 arrived, I knew when he got to age we'd have to worry about them forgetting the rules as they were in play together, in a way that either kid on their own would not, and as such, I put up 2 of the 3-fold fireplace gates. In 6 years, only once did the gates get knocked over, and I had 2 boys come find me when it happened, both with heads down and trying to explain what went wrong.

Point is, knowledge is power, yet kids will be kids. Protect them by teaching them, and throw something up as a buffer just in case the being a kid part takes over for that 1/2 second and gives them a bit of a buffer. But in the end, the best gate won't keep an inquiring mind protected if you don't fulfill that inquiry by engaging them in the process.

Good luck,

pen

 

[midwestcoast]

My thought is that if you could secure it to a wall it'd do fine.
Of course you'd have to move it for every re-load.
If it only had a door in it, it'd be…..a hearth gate

Seriously, I've never once regretted buying the hearth gate.

Good friends used a fireplace screen for a while (just occasional fires in an open FP), but once the kid started getting rowdy they went to the hearth gate.

 

[isipwater]

Here is what I use and am very pleased with it. Strong, sturdy, kids can't open the gate. It does the job and gives peace of mind!

http://www.amazon.com/North-States-...F8&qid=1411184641&sr=8-3&keywords=hearth+gate

 

[dafattkidd]

I have two boys 6 and 2. We have the hearth gate. My living room is small with three different door ways. So we felt we had to create a buffer between the kids and the insert.

I would like it better without the hearth gate but I'm very happy to keep kids from serious burns.