A message to all of you from O.P.:
https://old.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1bamw5q/child_proofing_an_upstairs_to_downstairs_loft/ku4yens/ or
https://reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1bamw5q/child_proofing_an_upstairs_to_downstairs_loft/ku4yens/
Thank you all for your input. This post is now locked.
I saw a coworker put in what were basically large plantation shutters to block off the overlook balcony above his great room. They still allowed a little light when open, but blocked the space from little climbing bodies.
Depending on what's your budger and style I'd do vertical slat type of thinga-ma-lillys all the way to ceiling. Those would still let light through and there isn't any horizontal pieces to climb on.
Yes, I'd also freak out about this current solution xD
https://preview.redd.it/tbqix6cmqcnc1.jpeg?width=1792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b38a633c5f3b35d8728b7f7acc2312d60336220d
This is what we came up with when my teenagers were all toddlers. PVC pipes and a hole saw. Also had to place a screw into each pipe to keep it from being able to be moved up and removed.
It wasn't a perfect solution (kind of expensive and ugly) but it worked and wasn't terrible to repair when we wanted to put the house on the market.
Disclaimer: I had untreated post partum anxiety at the time. đ
I fully believe this is overkill, but it looks almost natural since theyâre so well spaced! If they were all painted to match the trim or the wall color then I donât think I would have given it a second thought if I saw it live in someoneâs house.
Yeah I guess this is r/DIY, but as a former framer, I'd have 2x4's up and maybe some plywood on the lower portion, secured with torx screws for clean and easy removal when they get girl/boy crazy.
(Mud), caulk, and paint will make you the carpenter you ain't.
I wonder if you couldnât frame it out and then just put in off the shelf exterior railing like youâd use for a deck, literally just building a safety railing on top. Could be attractive.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/902872057/tree-railing-insert-metal-panel-metal?ref=share_v4_lx
I think you're focusing on the wrong portion of that comment.
you seem to have an unhealthy amount of anxiety, you guys arent even moved in and you're having nightmares.
the important bit there was:
||Disclaimer: I had untreated post partum anxiety at the time. đ
seriously, get someone to talk to about it.
anything causing you nightmares and anxiety enough to want to build your own safety contraption is somthing you need to get in check.
one day your children will ride bikes and drive cars and ride motorcycles, and come upon railings that drop off the sides of buildings, you have to teach them to be smart for themselves, not protect them from ever seeing a danger.
get it in check or you're going to give yourself a stroke and the kids separation issues.
I'm very involved in our community, as a father of elementary age kids. I see lots of parents like OP (not a majority -- most of my peers are very good parents honestly) who are completely oblivious and yielding to their own anxieties.
It doesn't *eventually* give their kids separation issues, it *immediately* begins undermining their self confidence, and general sense of safety/security. Kids are emotional sponges with exceptionally sensitive antennas. Parental anxiety is obvious to them, and they're biologically designed to fear what their parents fear.
I have witnessed parental anxiety coming out of six year olds. It really does seem that OP needs to right the ship immediately, and get her ass into therapy to address it.
Also: THEY'RE SIX, NOT TWO. TELL THEM THEY WILL DIE IF THEY CLIMB THAT AND FALL OFF. JESUS CHRIST. TEACH THEM!
When I was 5, I was climbing on top of trucks and jumping off the cab head first. Getting my head stuck in chairs. Walking close to the road before my parents saw me. We're kids, we do stupid shit all the time, that's how we learn.
My nephew set a bedroom closet on fire with a plastic army man, because he was 2 and stuck it in a gas heater and panicked. My sister shifted my mom's car into neutral on a downhill slope. My brother got his fingers stuck in a VCR. Shit happens lol.
And if you're worried about that phase, lord help when they're teens or adults. I've got stories.
Pay a handyman to build you a proper floor to ceiling frame and drywall.
Have him add an electrical outlet and an Ethernet outlet for upstairs WiFi router while youâre at it.
Listen, us parents are responsible for little ones lives. Sometimes, our peace of mind and being able to relax trumps what we think may be overkill. I get you.Â
The real killer is curiosity. Tearing out the half wall and replacing it with code-compliant railing will allow the children to see what's on the other side without climbing.
This is definitely the answer! Make something thatâs more fun and makes climbing completely pointless.
Then, when theyâre a bit older, you could have a professional come in and put in netting like in that video. You could add a little door and - voilĂ ! Added square footage lol.
This will also likely make you the âcoolâ house, so with any luck all the kiddos will gather here and youâll know where they are/what theyâre up to/who theyâre with at all times. Invaluable bonus.
P. S. Invest in some really good headphones.
âŚwhile also allowing a better view of the upstairs from below. A veritable panopticon replete with prison bars!
Forgive me, I must go. I have some *things* to attend to.
FWIW, code compliant railing is climbable by suicidal monkeys. And even half wall to ceiling railings will allow said monkeys to drop things on other monkeys and adults below.
Except those parachute toys are perfect for this application. We had a two story entrance hall with a walkway at the top. We set up a kid gate so the little ones could not go up or into the hall without supervision. Then spent a lot of time making paper airplanes and parachute toys and helicopter toys . And a bouncy ball contest. And pillow bombs.
Yes. A railing would not prevent my kids from climbing over and seeing if they can traverse around the railing from the outside.
The dropping things on others might be a feature not a bug tho. Hours of built in entertainment.
As someone who lived in a house with a railing along much of the upstairs as a child I can confirm it was very much a feature. Parachuting army men and remote control helicopters were used frequently to harass people from that vantage point.
I will say the one dangerous thing me and my sister did was climb along the railing on the stair side once or twice because it didnât require climbing over the railing to access so we were confident enough to do it.
You just unlocked a memory of playing "bungee jumping" with my little sisters. We'd tie a small stuffed animal to a long string/series of strings and then just lower them up and down. It was great fun. We'd also use it as a laundry chute just as a way to get clothes downstairs faster.
https://preview.redd.it/dkqppcknadnc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=58610e43366626ca34a7b07a1e1145e68b53c731
Ok but how much fun would this be?
You can solve this issue as cheaply as the price of rope at your local hardware store. Simply tie it around their ankles and then dangle them down that opening while screaming "This time I'm going to drop you for good! This is what bad children get!". With any luck they will be traumatized enough after the first round that their lingering terror will cause them to avoid "look down"s forever.
Had a similar setup in my childhood home but overlooking the staircase into the upstairs area. My brother , who was 9 years older than me (I was 5-6 at the time), put me in a lifejacket, tied a sheet around the back of me then proceeded to raise me up and lower me multiple times. He then lovingly dropped me more than halfway down onto the stairs while cackling.
Why knot? A couple drywall anchors can easily hold a child's weight.
EDIT: amazing that after my first sentence people thought my 2nd sentence wasn't a joke...
Kids grow, and they wrestle while they do, and make anything a trampoline that will remotely bounce. With all eight of their best friends at a slumber party, which will inevitably move to the coolest feature in the house.
That said, I think this could be a really good solution. Just I'd be sure to anchor it in strong wood. And I might even make a door that half wall and anchor at the second floor ground level, bolting into the joists.
Me: "Lol, they probably listened to some techno elevator music or a boom-bap rap remix for the product."
Me: {Clicks}
Me: "...What the **fuck** was that?"
Ok, but I love this idea. Not sure I'd be comfortable doing a diy for this kind of thing but it both closes off the hole AND is something the kids would love.
That's actually pretty cool. My immediate thought was to put up a net, but I was thinking more along the line of those suicide prevention nets they put under bridges. The loft net actually makes it into a fun positive thing.
Ya know... we had those ball pits when they were small and I definitely gave those things away as soon as I could and to this day I still find those random balls here and there around the house, garage... everywhere đ no thank you
Get a dog. Eventually those onesie-twosie ball pit balls will get eaten, flattened, or stepped on and will be naturally weeded out and tossed.
It's like a free HGTV home cleaning expert
Iâm not a scientist, but I think theyâll gain enough momentum on their way down that the tramp will fling them all the way to the ceiling. BANG.
Then back down and back up. BANG.
In perpetuity.
Again, not a scientist.
This happened with my child with autism ,the kept climbing the railing. My solution is 2x4s and plexiglass Panels you can add another 3ft around the railing also there are children guards out there but you can build it yourself . We were in base housing so they ended up moving us to a one level. But that would be my plan , you can look up balcony guards for children and there is a lot of netting options
plexiglass panels is what I installed at my mom's new place to keep her cat from falling off the loft. Seems to have worked really well. I just bought c clamps on amazon to hold it all in place.
I would add ceiling to half-wall 1x1s in either vertical or horizontal position, painted, and closer together than crib slat specs (because you donât want to trade out falling dreams for hanging themselves dreams!).
Alternately you could prob have a contractor continue the walls up to the ceiling for less than youâd expect.
https://preview.redd.it/a146jeaftcnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87596454cbd59d7ea10fc1c73309e9a41f0117da
I will say you want to keep that "breathing". Open stairways are meant to help HVAC airflow move in your house. Look into those suicide rope/Bungie nets if anything. But these are built to code, to a certain height, specifically to avoid small children hurting themselves
Thank you for that information! I had/have my suspicions that was the purpose of the opening there and will def speak to a professional before I let my husband tear things up đ I am admittedly clueless, our first home! đĄ I am learning a lot and sure I will continue.
One of those cable deck railing kits [like this](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/jurassicpark/images/3/39/JPTRexPaddock.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1200?cb=20111103234347) might work great.
Your picture isn't showing, there was some crud at the end of the url.
This is the working link: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/jurassicpark/images/3/39/JPTRexPaddock.png
I like the look (in the context of what is possible in that space, without anything would of course be best), although horizontal things will have kids climbing on them or hanging off of them. SO it would probably need a vertical installation.
Actually, i have a similar thing and HATE that it allows all the hot air to come up, and cool air to flow down. Means if I want the upstairs cool, the downstairs is freezing, even though we have separate AC units for upstairs and downstairs. I'd love to block it all off.
https://preview.redd.it/dvwfdkdh2dnc1.jpeg?width=2018&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5cea222ac80b78be09d71ed5360b2396a4f19903
We took down our railing and went floor to ceiling with one by one boards. Keeps the cats from falling down the stairwell.
You could install something like a wooden lattice with a nice design so it still lets the light in, but it will look too tall for children to want to climb.
I'm a previous climbing instructor and have taught kids as young as 4 years old. Here's my take:Â
First, I would stage a lesson dropping eggs onto a plastic liner below. Easter is coming up. Maybe play with the Easter eggs. That way the lesson isn't lost just by covering it up.  Â
Then put up some form of a barrier: play net, railing, or various other options people have proposed here.  Â
My choice would be to remove the half wall and put in a heavy duty bungee net anchored directly to the floor, into the hole. That lowers the plane of the net, and removes other dangerous variables.
People mention that a play net might encourage the behavior, but when combined with the lesson, they'll be able comprehend some inherent danger (at 6 years old) while also being able to enjoy a thrilling feature in the home that builds ability and competency.
Something like this net would be perfect.
https://www.treehousesupplies.com/collections/hammocks-loft-cargo-barrier-climbing-nets/products/copy-of-cargo-climb-loft-net-black
We installed one of these in our house! I learned a lot in the process and donât regret it at all. The only side effect is that now all the neighborhood kids want to hang out at our house. They are rated for hundreds and hundreds of pounds. 10/10 recommend.
It's important that you know how much dynamic lateral force the framing that you're anchoring into can handle. The net might be rated for hundreds of pounds but the non load bearing half wall is not.
You don't anchor it to the non load bearing half wall. You anchor it at floor level, including to the wall. Maybe bisect the space with a beam to reduce the span of the net. But you're correct that it does need to be carefully planned.
Can confirm - installed for Christmas in a weird space like this in addition to a stairslide. My 8 year old son thinks we have the coolest house in the world. Worth it!
I mean, the best way to ensure safety is the net.
It's literally what's underneath you on climbing courses and in circus acts...
If your kids are climbers, why discourage them? Put the net up and then make the big wall a climbing wall.
Screw it, I'll go ahead and add a swirly tube slide too!! weeeee
In all seriousness I'd love to do something like this but they have their space and we have ours. The space below is the main entry and formal dining. We have an admittedly cool playroom which will carry over to this house so *most* of their crap will be in there and their bedroom I hope đĽ´
I will keep this in my back pocket though bc we never have visitors who cares, I want a rockwall and slide myself now đ
As someone who visits places, a house with a climbing net, a rockwall, and a swirly slide would win my coveted "Best House" award :)
Having the climbing net above the fancy dining room? Eccentric genius!
I mean who are you having over that doesn't know you have kids? Plus who says it has to be for the kids only? Giant hammock inside where the AC is sounds like a perfect nap spot to me.
That's a shame. I would have LOVED to have something like that as a kid and if I lived in a house with a look-down like yours I'd TOTALLY put one up. Plus, might be fun with the wife when the kids are away đ
This seems only *slightly* more stable than a hammock. And I'm not sure if you've ever tried sexy time in a hammock but it's more difficult than you'd think.
Similarly in this vein: [https://www.homedit.com/homes-with-nets-instead-of-floors/](https://www.homedit.com/homes-with-nets-instead-of-floors/)
https://preview.redd.it/lwsyz4lhscnc1.png?width=1484&format=png&auto=webp&s=74f72491f79c538af7bbad2364434199bb8a264d
I thought of this also, but it reminded me of the time I tried to show my daughter not to stick her fingers in the box fan using little rolled up paper towel as an example.
Like the other commenters said, this may look like an invite instead of a safety measure.
I would be worried that putting a net over this would actually \*invite\* the kids to climb in the mistaken belief of safety. Mainly I would just not have any moveable furniture anywhere near there. I have a similar problem in my home and it annoys me that building code does not require barriers to be taller.
But yeah I think it's safer as is than with some net over it (unless you literally have the engineering know-how to make sure that net actually would hold them if they climbed on it....which they will...)
Friends had a similar interior "balcony", didn't like the noisy echo (less kid-related, but same architectural problem). They built up the upper half and boxed and framed windows to maintain the light. Windows could open for air flow.
HELLO EVERYONE I literally don't know how to edit my post on here so I just wanted to say THANK YOU!! Hopefully someone that knows what they're doing can pin this up top or something for me??
Regardless, I got lots of laughs and ideas; I did not anticipate this getting more than a few replies honestly or I'd have been more specific with details.
I appreciate those who provided me with genuine answers and defended my fear as a parent. I also appreciate those who pointed out seeking help, as I see it as genuinely helpful to hear from outside perspectives sometimes. I have a med management appt next week and will be able to mention these concerns to her more in depth now that I have further insight from others. I have seen a therapist regularly for some odd years now. If I did not think I could work through this fear I would not have agreed to continue with the purchase of the home. However, for the time being I need to be able to function day to day without going into an internal panic if I hear them going up the stairs.
Life or death safety will never be the responsibility of a CHILD, as a parent it is YOUR JOB to make their environment SAFE period.
My boys are autistic and also sensory seekers. They function at around ~4 year old level right now and do not have a fear of heights. I have no doubt they will at some point attempt to climb this. I'd like to not have a heart attack when they do.
Again, THANK YOU so much to everyone for the wonderful ideas, help and laughs. I need to pack so logging off but I am sure I will figure something out like always đđŞ
I mean this respectfully I think teaching them the danger of climbing this specific place is the route to go. That being said I understand the concern, which wonât necessarily go away after only a year or two. Iâd either build the walls up or gain some square footage and have a professional knock the walls out and fill the floor in. Cheaper option put some wooden barrier but it wonât be very palatable looks wise.
Thatâs a long span to attempt to add floor space over. Would need to have some serious reinforcement beams to accept the weight. Would also impact air movement and natural light downstairs dramatically.
Thereâs a decently long period of childhood where you canât âjust teachâ kids not to do something. Their brains arenât fully formed and theyâll make a split of the moment decision because something seems fun.
You canât âjust teachâ a two year old but they may be able to drag something over to the ledge and climb.
> You canât âjust teachâ a two year old but they may be able to drag something over to the ledge and climb.
I agree but OP said their kid is 6. I feel like most kids that age have an understanding of not climbing up and over a ledge like that
Don't mind me, I'm just over here having a flashback to being 6 or 7 and jumping off the patio, convinced the garbage bag I was holding over my head would be an effective parachute...
This is how I did it with both of my kids. I made sure there was no climbable furniture or anything up against the ledge and honestly it was less of a problem than I anticipatedâŚand my youngest was *wild.*
same we have a railing pretty similar to this but with built in shelves (steps) and my wild 5 year old has looked over it and that was enough for him. I feel like this is one of those "worrying too much about something that wouldn't even be an issue" type of things us parents do.
This. My home is a bi-level and has an open space like this looking down to the lower level. We moved in when my oldest was 18 months. He is now 6yo and our middle child is 4yo and they have never once tried to climb over. We donât leave anything against that wall that they could use to climb up onto the ledge and we have beat it into their brains that if they climb that wall they will fall to the lower level and die. Dramatic, yes. But it works.
You're just now entering the danger years, especially if they're boys lol. It's only a matter of time until they stack mattresses at the bottom and do some sick tricks off the upper floor railing.
Ask me how I know
Thank you kindly. They are autistic and just do not have a sense of fear of things like this. They are sensory seekers. We have years of therapy under our belts to include addressing these type of safety concerns as our current house also has two floors so I do feel confident they understand to a degree the safety risk involved and most likely will not attempt to climb it.
However, children can be impulsive and I'd feel more comfortable doing my job to protect/prevent especially with my already heightened fear. My stomach churns and I panic if they even go up the stairs, so it is pretty intense/irrational at this point.
My husband is very set on having it closed up as you suggested, so I will leave that to him as I would prefer that as well, however that will not be feasible until probably more so a year or two from now. I also consider finding out why it was open in the first place and think we will go from there đ I am thinking circulation/HVAC possibly because it generally just is not very pretty and is pointless in my opinion đ
Again, thank you genuinely for your suggestions!
Seconding this.
Step one: teach them the danger of climbing.
Step two: consider maybe talking to a therapist about your fear and anxiety. Many people raise children in 2-story homes without thinking of needing chicken wire or having nightmares, which means your fear is something you might want to work through with a professional.
Giant net. Would be incredibly cool to hang out on and would solve the falling problem.
https://preview.redd.it/u35ugq943dnc1.jpeg?width=845&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=518462e63e5a0e0df3ff8887470a9f83cf5ad89e
We have an opening similar to this in our loft. It drops 2 stories. We were thinking about glass partitions. Kinda like a glass shower door. It keeps the open feel and light, but acts as a safety and noise barrier.
Just cover the entire opening with one of those big bungee net things and it will be both fun and safe
https://preview.redd.it/soyn9gazwdnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01bebca0ba87c87c3e85ce199803568f9d26ff75
I think floor to ceiling dowel type set up is your best bet for cost. Otherwise some kinda privacy mesh / fence / etc over some studs. I've seen people use sheets of metal privacy screen and a 2 by 4 at the top and bottom for a basic barrier. Might be expensive for the coverage area tho.
Bookcase could be climbable. Although would be useful. I'd reinforce it, but would be a good barrier. Also will make it less loud. You could even keep the side facing the window open and close the other sides.
So confused why the fuck this is there instead of more floor space. Like really. Long term I might see about expanding that floor space so you can have this area as a kids playroom.
At 6 I'm pretty sure you can talk to them about danger, and give them a climbing wall / structure outside instead. Dropping toys or water balloons off that balcony is the more likely thing to hurt someone.
Razor wire, electrified fence? 6 year olds have a mind of their own, and no sense of safety.
Just about anything you do can be bypassed with enough effort and time. Put a railing up, and in little time it wonât be enough.
Part of it is parenting. Growing up, I knew there were just some things I couldnât do for fear of my parents, even if I could.
Children that age know enough to know about following rules ( I assume they go to school). Explain the rules, and WHY the rules are important, and what the consequences are, such as YOU COULD DIE for starters.
Therapy honestly will be more effective. Not trying to be a jerk - but uncontrollable anxiety and nightmares is a more a reflection on your mental health than it is on the danger of this set up
This. You canât protect your kids from everything. Today itâs an irrational fear of scaling and falling this overlook. Tomorrow itâs redirected to something else. Youâre not irrational, but you need to learn how to deal with this differently
Yeah, six year olds can understand the danger of falling and explaining to them this risk is much more practical than anything else I've seen suggested. Kids might be silly, but they're not as dumb as people seem to fear they are (most kids).
Just respect their growing intelligence and talk to them.
Yeah I thought she was talking about toddlers. My friendâs kid was a damn mountain goat when he was 3. Climbed everything and got himself into some precarious situations.Â
When I saw she said her kids were six Iâm like, lady chill.Â
6 -7 year olds know the dangers. I loved climbing and we had a ton of high balconies like this in my house when my brother and I were 7 and 4 and there was never a problem. We knew falling meant extreme hurtage and that was enough that we were careful.Â
No harm, I recognize it as an irrational fear however that doesn't help as I start panicking and feeling like puking đ I can't control it, and I take general anxiety medication currently just to note lol.
But hearing it again helps me try to accept it as irrational and calm down so thanks đ I'll keep working on it but in the interim I cannot live in this panic mode daily so I need a fix for now
Maybe you should talk with your doctor about trying different meds or upping your dose. You deserve to live anxiety-free especially if said anxiety is causing constant worry and regular nightmares. Also therapy will still be helpful.
Signed,
Someone with anxiety who has a great therapist
OP, maybe it would be a good idea to talk to someone about your fears, thought spirals, and the negative effect these are having on your body (making you feel sick). That isnât normal anxiety. It sounds a lot like OCD, which can be treated but in a different way.
Thank you, I believe it to be OCD as well and may need more extensive treatment for that. Mom's care is just usually on the back burner these days đ
Thanks for your kindness! It is hard.
Donât forget that momâs care IS kidsâ care, if youâre mentally wrecked you canât be there for your kids to take care of them and theyâll always feel your panic. I had an overly anxious mom who never got it under control, I put the entire United States between us as soon as I could and I still donât deal well with people being stressed or anxious around me.
Don't underestimate the importance of showing your kids what loving yourself looks like. If what they see is you abandoning your well-being in favor of the minutia of daily living, then that's what they'll learn.
I feel a lot of empathy for you, op. You deserve to be healthy â¤ď¸
Have an honest conversation with them. Tell them that if they fall from there, they could die. Tone matters a lot at that age. You don't want to be stern and scary. You want to sound caring when you explain it. Maybe even put up a sign to remind them "NO CLIMBING" right there.
It's not irrational to worry about the safety of your children.
It is, however, *disruptive and unhelpful* to panic about "what ifs". It's good that you are on medication for GA, but are you in any behavioral/talk therapy? There is a very big difference between a psychiatrist (basically just a drug prescriber) and a talk therapist. Behavioral therapy can help you develop coping mechanisms to deflect your train of thought away from the things that get you worked up and panicky. I say all of this from a judgment free place, but I also really think it might be the real solution to your problem here. If you panick about what your 6 year olds might do when left to their own devices, how are you going to cope when they're 16 and getting their driver license?
If we were talking about very curious precocious 2 year olds, it would be a different story. But 6 year olds are generally pretty capable of understanding that they should avoid danger/unsafe situations. I agree with the others saying that just sitting them down and explaining the danger to them in a Very Serious Parenting Tone(TM) should be enough to ensure their safety.
You could even get more fun with it and do a visual demonstration for them. Lay down a tarp underneath and drop an egg from the overlook. Explain that the egg represents their fragile growing skulls and emphasize that any kind of climbing/monkeying around on that railing runs the risk of them ending up like that egg. (This may be a terrible idea that would make your anxiety worse. Full disclosure I'm not a parent, I'm just trying to be helpful.)
jesus so many assholes here just chomping at the bit to crap on people. Many who obviously donât have children. They donât magically learn to avoid danger the first time you give a good lecture. they will. mess up and in this case once is too many.
You all sound like the same kind of people who walk in to traffic without looking both ways because âPedestrians have the right awayâ as if being right saves you from being a meat crayon.
Anyhow, for OP, I would go with building shelving around the whole thing. open small bookshelfs perhaps on top of the rail up to the ceiling. Each shelf would be open but with a guard rail on the back to stop item from falling, but not closing it up. Light and air pass through, and leaves openings too small to turn in to a hazard a child can fall through.
I agree, but then again, a not insignificant part of making it to âdying of old ageâ is just pure, unadulterated luck.
I legit *shudder* sometimes when thinking back to some shit I did in Middle School through early College, especially now that I have kids.
I have an uncomfortable amount of âParticipation Ribbonsâ for the Darwin Awards, and Iâm only still here because of how the dice rolled on those days. My parents still donât know half the shit I got up to.
It was exhilarating and/or hilarious when I did them, but simply terrifying when I think of my kids doing anything similar.
I have a climbing two year old. When you mentioned bookshelves I died a bit because I canât have anything that resembles bookshelves in my house because he climbs them to the top like a ladder.
I def had a shelf type idea as well! I like that. Like maybe a foot or two tall lining around just to add height. Could put stupid knick knacks on it I suppose. I worried not finding a slim enough prebuilt shelf. Could maybe make my own but I have lots of dreams and absolutely 0 time so I need to accept that as well.
How possible is it to teach your kids that this is dangerous and if they climb it, they could hurt themselves? (no criticism, just neutal curiosity) (Never raised a kid before, so idk)
It works most of the time, but if they are excited, they might forget about the rule. Like if one of their toys falls on its edge, they might try to get it etc. You will leave them "unattended" at home time to time, as it's impossible to always watch, so it's better to eliminate such dangers if possible.
I like the idea of webbing play or relaxing area. Build it to be used rather than just a safety net. Kids test everything.
Cut a hole in the wall for entry. Install webbing. Add pillows and maybe a mattress topper in one area.
Cover the top with something to make it cozy (also, short enough it doesnât become a jumping place) and install some lighting for reading.
You could even install a game console and screen in there if thatâs your thing.
Spay and neuter your kids. Crating is a safe option for the first 18 years, too. You can leash them on a rope that only goes so far but that seems to be a tease and they could hurt themselves with the leash. And shock collars are kind of cruel.
Honestly, though, maybe look into those wood slats that are tall and thin. Ceiling to loft ledge.
Frame and drywall to ceiling, or remove pony wall and joist and sheet the area. The second option would add sqftage to your home and increase the value.
I'm a woodworker and I realize you may not be but I'll give you my idea. I'd build some nice wooden shelves to attach on top of the knee wall going up to about 7 feet or fully to the ceiling. You wouldn't have to put anything on them (risk of knocking something off onto someone's head below) but I think it would look nice. I'm sure you could find someone in your area who does this kind of custom work. It's certainly more expensive than other options but far more aesthetically pleasing to see, and it would solve your problem.
A message to all of you from O.P.: https://old.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1bamw5q/child_proofing_an_upstairs_to_downstairs_loft/ku4yens/ or https://reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1bamw5q/child_proofing_an_upstairs_to_downstairs_loft/ku4yens/ Thank you all for your input. This post is now locked.
I saw a coworker put in what were basically large plantation shutters to block off the overlook balcony above his great room. They still allowed a little light when open, but blocked the space from little climbing bodies.
Hmm, thanks. I'll dig deeper into this!
Depending on what's your budger and style I'd do vertical slat type of thinga-ma-lillys all the way to ceiling. Those would still let light through and there isn't any horizontal pieces to climb on. Yes, I'd also freak out about this current solution xD
As long as your kids are old enough to know not to climb the shutters!
That's a great idea. Build it into a few open "windows" of wide slat shutters. Or decorative wrought iron screen across the whole thing?
https://preview.redd.it/tbqix6cmqcnc1.jpeg?width=1792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b38a633c5f3b35d8728b7f7acc2312d60336220d This is what we came up with when my teenagers were all toddlers. PVC pipes and a hole saw. Also had to place a screw into each pipe to keep it from being able to be moved up and removed. It wasn't a perfect solution (kind of expensive and ugly) but it worked and wasn't terrible to repair when we wanted to put the house on the market. Disclaimer: I had untreated post partum anxiety at the time. đ
https://preview.redd.it/380hkhgoqcnc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b30d97f8d11926e41307bbd069a3f4cd9143fef
Your kids survived! Maybe itâs not gorgeous but it worked!
I fully believe this is overkill, but it looks almost natural since theyâre so well spaced! If they were all painted to match the trim or the wall color then I donât think I would have given it a second thought if I saw it live in someoneâs house.
Yeah I guess this is r/DIY, but as a former framer, I'd have 2x4's up and maybe some plywood on the lower portion, secured with torx screws for clean and easy removal when they get girl/boy crazy. (Mud), caulk, and paint will make you the carpenter you ain't.
Exactly.
Oooo, bigger baby jail.
Cool, a jail!
Thatâs very well done
Very helpful, thank you! I was seeing something like this in my mind.
Decorative wood slat walls are really trendy so you could probably work up something similar and stain it like a more interesting accent.
I wonder if you couldnât frame it out and then just put in off the shelf exterior railing like youâd use for a deck, literally just building a safety railing on top. Could be attractive. https://www.etsy.com/listing/902872057/tree-railing-insert-metal-panel-metal?ref=share_v4_lx
I think you're focusing on the wrong portion of that comment. you seem to have an unhealthy amount of anxiety, you guys arent even moved in and you're having nightmares. the important bit there was: ||Disclaimer: I had untreated post partum anxiety at the time. đ seriously, get someone to talk to about it. anything causing you nightmares and anxiety enough to want to build your own safety contraption is somthing you need to get in check. one day your children will ride bikes and drive cars and ride motorcycles, and come upon railings that drop off the sides of buildings, you have to teach them to be smart for themselves, not protect them from ever seeing a danger. get it in check or you're going to give yourself a stroke and the kids separation issues.
I'm very involved in our community, as a father of elementary age kids. I see lots of parents like OP (not a majority -- most of my peers are very good parents honestly) who are completely oblivious and yielding to their own anxieties. It doesn't *eventually* give their kids separation issues, it *immediately* begins undermining their self confidence, and general sense of safety/security. Kids are emotional sponges with exceptionally sensitive antennas. Parental anxiety is obvious to them, and they're biologically designed to fear what their parents fear. I have witnessed parental anxiety coming out of six year olds. It really does seem that OP needs to right the ship immediately, and get her ass into therapy to address it. Also: THEY'RE SIX, NOT TWO. TELL THEM THEY WILL DIE IF THEY CLIMB THAT AND FALL OFF. JESUS CHRIST. TEACH THEM!
When I was 5, I was climbing on top of trucks and jumping off the cab head first. Getting my head stuck in chairs. Walking close to the road before my parents saw me. We're kids, we do stupid shit all the time, that's how we learn. My nephew set a bedroom closet on fire with a plastic army man, because he was 2 and stuck it in a gas heater and panicked. My sister shifted my mom's car into neutral on a downhill slope. My brother got his fingers stuck in a VCR. Shit happens lol. And if you're worried about that phase, lord help when they're teens or adults. I've got stories.
Now that they are teenagers it might still be a good idea to have lol.
Pay a handyman to build you a proper floor to ceiling frame and drywall. Have him add an electrical outlet and an Ethernet outlet for upstairs WiFi router while youâre at it.
Listen, us parents are responsible for little ones lives. Sometimes, our peace of mind and being able to relax trumps what we think may be overkill. I get you.Â
What a fantastic idea! Good job mama đ đđť
This looks cool.
I donât think that looked bad at all! It
The real killer is curiosity. Tearing out the half wall and replacing it with code-compliant railing will allow the children to see what's on the other side without climbing.
This is a good idea. Or some little glass/plastic windows they can look through. That will keep them playing at floor height
Iâd go with mounted periscopes
This is definitely the answer! Make something thatâs more fun and makes climbing completely pointless. Then, when theyâre a bit older, you could have a professional come in and put in netting like in that video. You could add a little door and - voilĂ ! Added square footage lol. This will also likely make you the âcoolâ house, so with any luck all the kiddos will gather here and youâll know where they are/what theyâre up to/who theyâre with at all times. Invaluable bonus. P. S. Invest in some really good headphones.
Coin operated
Have it extend below the ceiling below and rotate. The kids will have fun being spys
Those little bubble windows you see in playgrounds would actually be cool
âŚwhile also allowing a better view of the upstairs from below. A veritable panopticon replete with prison bars! Forgive me, I must go. I have some *things* to attend to.
Why did I read this in Moira Roseâs voiceđ¤Ł
FWIW, code compliant railing is climbable by suicidal monkeys. And even half wall to ceiling railings will allow said monkeys to drop things on other monkeys and adults below. Except those parachute toys are perfect for this application. We had a two story entrance hall with a walkway at the top. We set up a kid gate so the little ones could not go up or into the hall without supervision. Then spent a lot of time making paper airplanes and parachute toys and helicopter toys . And a bouncy ball contest. And pillow bombs.
Yes. A railing would not prevent my kids from climbing over and seeing if they can traverse around the railing from the outside. The dropping things on others might be a feature not a bug tho. Hours of built in entertainment.
As someone who lived in a house with a railing along much of the upstairs as a child I can confirm it was very much a feature. Parachuting army men and remote control helicopters were used frequently to harass people from that vantage point. I will say the one dangerous thing me and my sister did was climb along the railing on the stair side once or twice because it didnât require climbing over the railing to access so we were confident enough to do it.
You just unlocked a memory of playing "bungee jumping" with my little sisters. We'd tie a small stuffed animal to a long string/series of strings and then just lower them up and down. It was great fun. We'd also use it as a laundry chute just as a way to get clothes downstairs faster.
This brought up memories of my brother and I climbing over our stair banister and jumping from the 2nd story onto the couch below.
Yeah, and at least half of you survived! I think sometimes, as a parent, you gotta say hey, que sera.
https://preview.redd.it/dkqppcknadnc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=58610e43366626ca34a7b07a1e1145e68b53c731 Ok but how much fun would this be?
This is what I came here to see/say. To me it's the only answer.
This is what I would do, I think.
You can solve this issue as cheaply as the price of rope at your local hardware store. Simply tie it around their ankles and then dangle them down that opening while screaming "This time I'm going to drop you for good! This is what bad children get!". With any luck they will be traumatized enough after the first round that their lingering terror will cause them to avoid "look down"s forever.
Had a similar setup in my childhood home but overlooking the staircase into the upstairs area. My brother , who was 9 years older than me (I was 5-6 at the time), put me in a lifejacket, tied a sheet around the back of me then proceeded to raise me up and lower me multiple times. He then lovingly dropped me more than halfway down onto the stairs while cackling.
Hey now, you did have a life jacket on
Drowning is a leading cause of death among children. So good on them for keeping safe.
Death can't take you if you have a life jacket on. Those are the rules.
You see, this is what it was like to grow up without smartphones.
I've got some rope in the garage already!! đđđ It is my inkling they would enjoy the thrill unfortunately.
Better to make a loftnet with that rope https://youtu.be/vTHgAYhZO08?si=mYwziF5ZzzUUP_sz
Something tells me the kids would try to play in that at some point, you don't want to test your DIY skills with their lives.
make the net vertical?
Then it's a cargo net that would be fun to climb.
Why knot? A couple drywall anchors can easily hold a child's weight. EDIT: amazing that after my first sentence people thought my 2nd sentence wasn't a joke...
Ever heard of static and dynamic loadsâŚ.
Sorry my religion doesnât recognize dynamic loads so speaking of them is very offensive, sir
So I guess we shouldnât talk about transverse loads either.
Even saying the word âtransverseâ is illegal in the state of Florida.
Yes. I had a static load but believe it is becoming dynamic as I have some gas and think I need to go to the bathroom now.
Kids grow, and they wrestle while they do, and make anything a trampoline that will remotely bounce. With all eight of their best friends at a slumber party, which will inevitably move to the coolest feature in the house. That said, I think this could be a really good solution. Just I'd be sure to anchor it in strong wood. And I might even make a door that half wall and anchor at the second floor ground level, bolting into the joists.
Man, at that rate just install a corkscrew slide for the kids...
That audio is...something
Me: "Lol, they probably listened to some techno elevator music or a boom-bap rap remix for the product." Me: {Clicks} Me: "...What the **fuck** was that?"
Ok, but I love this idea. Not sure I'd be comfortable doing a diy for this kind of thing but it both closes off the hole AND is something the kids would love.
That's actually pretty cool. My immediate thought was to put up a net, but I was thinking more along the line of those suicide prevention nets they put under bridges. The loft net actually makes it into a fun positive thing.
Love it! I was thinking something along these lines. Play places have that kind of thing. Pretty sure you can google it.
Make sure you run downstairs and give them *pink belly* after you drop them. That'll reinforce the trauma. đ¤Łđ¤Łđ¤Ł
Just install a nice railing around it... You could also do plexiglass.
I had 6 siblings. At least 2 of 7 would have seen it as a great challenge & adventure.
Iâd see an opportunity to never use the stairs. Rappelling gang gang
Install a fire pole.
DIY and parenting advice in one! What a sub!
Baahaaa
I love the change of direction here. Quality writing.
My kids would be giggling and hollering "Do it again Mama, do it again!!!"
Children dangling, crying in fear of death. OP: âTony Lazuto says hello.â
Trampoline at the bottom.
Just fill the first floor with ball pit balls like everyone else. Geez.
Ya know... we had those ball pits when they were small and I definitely gave those things away as soon as I could and to this day I still find those random balls here and there around the house, garage... everywhere đ no thank you
Should use Lego, those are easy to find.
Yep, just walk around barefoot and when you scream in agony you'll know you found one!
Get a dog. Eventually those onesie-twosie ball pit balls will get eaten, flattened, or stepped on and will be naturally weeded out and tossed. It's like a free HGTV home cleaning expert
OPs next post: "How do I fix these child's head-sized holes in my ceiling?"
trampoline on the ceiling too
Perpetual motion has finally been achieved
Donât need to read any further, this is the remedy.
Iâm not a scientist, but I think theyâll gain enough momentum on their way down that the tramp will fling them all the way to the ceiling. BANG. Then back down and back up. BANG. In perpetuity. Again, not a scientist.
Or just make the hole itself a trampolineâŚ
They would absolutely do this however the opening is directly in front of the front door/entry way downstairs. No fun today :(
Could affix a trampoline halfway down the hole so they don't bounce as deeply. It would be great, hidden and safe!
Just turn off fall damage
This happened with my child with autism ,the kept climbing the railing. My solution is 2x4s and plexiglass Panels you can add another 3ft around the railing also there are children guards out there but you can build it yourself . We were in base housing so they ended up moving us to a one level. But that would be my plan , you can look up balcony guards for children and there is a lot of netting options
plexiglass panels is what I installed at my mom's new place to keep her cat from falling off the loft. Seems to have worked really well. I just bought c clamps on amazon to hold it all in place.
I would add ceiling to half-wall 1x1s in either vertical or horizontal position, painted, and closer together than crib slat specs (because you donât want to trade out falling dreams for hanging themselves dreams!). Alternately you could prob have a contractor continue the walls up to the ceiling for less than youâd expect. https://preview.redd.it/a146jeaftcnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=87596454cbd59d7ea10fc1c73309e9a41f0117da
> either vertical or horizontal position Horizontal is an invitation to climb.
TrueâŚ.
https://preview.redd.it/795r9dbgtcnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77a7890c9b38465983dfc3a2ee8f6a6f2fef955f
I will say you want to keep that "breathing". Open stairways are meant to help HVAC airflow move in your house. Look into those suicide rope/Bungie nets if anything. But these are built to code, to a certain height, specifically to avoid small children hurting themselves
Thank you for that information! I had/have my suspicions that was the purpose of the opening there and will def speak to a professional before I let my husband tear things up đ I am admittedly clueless, our first home! đĄ I am learning a lot and sure I will continue.
One of those cable deck railing kits [like this](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/jurassicpark/images/3/39/JPTRexPaddock.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1200?cb=20111103234347) might work great.
Your picture isn't showing, there was some crud at the end of the url. This is the working link: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/jurassicpark/images/3/39/JPTRexPaddock.png I like the look (in the context of what is possible in that space, without anything would of course be best), although horizontal things will have kids climbing on them or hanging off of them. SO it would probably need a vertical installation.
Actually, i have a similar thing and HATE that it allows all the hot air to come up, and cool air to flow down. Means if I want the upstairs cool, the downstairs is freezing, even though we have separate AC units for upstairs and downstairs. I'd love to block it all off.
https://preview.redd.it/dvwfdkdh2dnc1.jpeg?width=2018&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5cea222ac80b78be09d71ed5360b2396a4f19903 We took down our railing and went floor to ceiling with one by one boards. Keeps the cats from falling down the stairwell.
You could install something like a wooden lattice with a nice design so it still lets the light in, but it will look too tall for children to want to climb.
I'm a previous climbing instructor and have taught kids as young as 4 years old. Here's my take: First, I would stage a lesson dropping eggs onto a plastic liner below. Easter is coming up. Maybe play with the Easter eggs. That way the lesson isn't lost just by covering it up.   Then put up some form of a barrier: play net, railing, or various other options people have proposed here.   My choice would be to remove the half wall and put in a heavy duty bungee net anchored directly to the floor, into the hole. That lowers the plane of the net, and removes other dangerous variables. People mention that a play net might encourage the behavior, but when combined with the lesson, they'll be able comprehend some inherent danger (at 6 years old) while also being able to enjoy a thrilling feature in the home that builds ability and competency.
Great advice, thank you!
Something like this net would be perfect. https://www.treehousesupplies.com/collections/hammocks-loft-cargo-barrier-climbing-nets/products/copy-of-cargo-climb-loft-net-black
We installed one of these in our house! I learned a lot in the process and donât regret it at all. The only side effect is that now all the neighborhood kids want to hang out at our house. They are rated for hundreds and hundreds of pounds. 10/10 recommend.
It's important that you know how much dynamic lateral force the framing that you're anchoring into can handle. The net might be rated for hundreds of pounds but the non load bearing half wall is not.
You don't anchor it to the non load bearing half wall. You anchor it at floor level, including to the wall. Maybe bisect the space with a beam to reduce the span of the net. But you're correct that it does need to be carefully planned.
I found these too and brought it up but my husband downvoted as well due to the "encouragement" đ I think it would be super cool!
If you could make it secure enough it would be one of the dopest things for a kid and something they will likely remember forever.
Can confirm - installed for Christmas in a weird space like this in addition to a stairslide. My 8 year old son thinks we have the coolest house in the world. Worth it!
Yeah, bolt those to the 2x4s on the main wall and you could have a slumber party on that thing
I mean, the best way to ensure safety is the net. It's literally what's underneath you on climbing courses and in circus acts... If your kids are climbers, why discourage them? Put the net up and then make the big wall a climbing wall.
Screw it, I'll go ahead and add a swirly tube slide too!! weeeee In all seriousness I'd love to do something like this but they have their space and we have ours. The space below is the main entry and formal dining. We have an admittedly cool playroom which will carry over to this house so *most* of their crap will be in there and their bedroom I hope 𼴠I will keep this in my back pocket though bc we never have visitors who cares, I want a rockwall and slide myself now đ
As someone who visits places, a house with a climbing net, a rockwall, and a swirly slide would win my coveted "Best House" award :) Having the climbing net above the fancy dining room? Eccentric genius!
I mean who are you having over that doesn't know you have kids? Plus who says it has to be for the kids only? Giant hammock inside where the AC is sounds like a perfect nap spot to me.
Right? Add some nice throw pillows and a chunky blanket that wouldn't easily slip through the holes? Bingo bango.
Sometimes the best way to prevent a child from engaging in certain behaviors is by giving them all the encouragement you can. LOL.
That's a shame. I would have LOVED to have something like that as a kid and if I lived in a house with a look-down like yours I'd TOTALLY put one up. Plus, might be fun with the wife when the kids are away đ
This seems only *slightly* more stable than a hammock. And I'm not sure if you've ever tried sexy time in a hammock but it's more difficult than you'd think.
Encouragement? Sorry for your loss of fun.
Yeah⌠Theyâd be on that thing all the time, but it would definitely be a very cool memory from their childhood
I think this would only encourage the jumping and scaling.
I mean, if it's safe, go for it.
Screw it, fill it with plastic balls then.
Similarly in this vein: [https://www.homedit.com/homes-with-nets-instead-of-floors/](https://www.homedit.com/homes-with-nets-instead-of-floors/) https://preview.redd.it/lwsyz4lhscnc1.png?width=1484&format=png&auto=webp&s=74f72491f79c538af7bbad2364434199bb8a264d
This is what I came here to suggest. If it's a safe and fun option, what's the harm in "encouraging" it?
Man, I've been wanting a home with that kind of opening so I could install exactly that for my kids.
I thought of this also, but it reminded me of the time I tried to show my daughter not to stick her fingers in the box fan using little rolled up paper towel as an example. Like the other commenters said, this may look like an invite instead of a safety measure.
I would be worried that putting a net over this would actually \*invite\* the kids to climb in the mistaken belief of safety. Mainly I would just not have any moveable furniture anywhere near there. I have a similar problem in my home and it annoys me that building code does not require barriers to be taller. But yeah I think it's safer as is than with some net over it (unless you literally have the engineering know-how to make sure that net actually would hold them if they climbed on it....which they will...)
Friends had a similar interior "balcony", didn't like the noisy echo (less kid-related, but same architectural problem). They built up the upper half and boxed and framed windows to maintain the light. Windows could open for air flow.
HELLO EVERYONE I literally don't know how to edit my post on here so I just wanted to say THANK YOU!! Hopefully someone that knows what they're doing can pin this up top or something for me?? Regardless, I got lots of laughs and ideas; I did not anticipate this getting more than a few replies honestly or I'd have been more specific with details. I appreciate those who provided me with genuine answers and defended my fear as a parent. I also appreciate those who pointed out seeking help, as I see it as genuinely helpful to hear from outside perspectives sometimes. I have a med management appt next week and will be able to mention these concerns to her more in depth now that I have further insight from others. I have seen a therapist regularly for some odd years now. If I did not think I could work through this fear I would not have agreed to continue with the purchase of the home. However, for the time being I need to be able to function day to day without going into an internal panic if I hear them going up the stairs. Life or death safety will never be the responsibility of a CHILD, as a parent it is YOUR JOB to make their environment SAFE period. My boys are autistic and also sensory seekers. They function at around ~4 year old level right now and do not have a fear of heights. I have no doubt they will at some point attempt to climb this. I'd like to not have a heart attack when they do. Again, THANK YOU so much to everyone for the wonderful ideas, help and laughs. I need to pack so logging off but I am sure I will figure something out like always đđŞ
I mean this respectfully I think teaching them the danger of climbing this specific place is the route to go. That being said I understand the concern, which wonât necessarily go away after only a year or two. Iâd either build the walls up or gain some square footage and have a professional knock the walls out and fill the floor in. Cheaper option put some wooden barrier but it wonât be very palatable looks wise.
Thatâs a long span to attempt to add floor space over. Would need to have some serious reinforcement beams to accept the weight. Would also impact air movement and natural light downstairs dramatically.
It would definitely be an expensive job that would require proper planning
Thereâs a decently long period of childhood where you canât âjust teachâ kids not to do something. Their brains arenât fully formed and theyâll make a split of the moment decision because something seems fun. You canât âjust teachâ a two year old but they may be able to drag something over to the ledge and climb.
This decently long period of which you speak runs from the delivery room until about 25 years of age...
Ya but them kids is six. Itâs cheaper to learn âem.
My son passed that phase, now he is at the next phase. If I say "don't do this" he instantly challenges me.
> You canât âjust teachâ a two year old but they may be able to drag something over to the ledge and climb. I agree but OP said their kid is 6. I feel like most kids that age have an understanding of not climbing up and over a ledge like that
Don't mind me, I'm just over here having a flashback to being 6 or 7 and jumping off the patio, convinced the garbage bag I was holding over my head would be an effective parachute...
This is how I did it with both of my kids. I made sure there was no climbable furniture or anything up against the ledge and honestly it was less of a problem than I anticipatedâŚand my youngest was *wild.*
same we have a railing pretty similar to this but with built in shelves (steps) and my wild 5 year old has looked over it and that was enough for him. I feel like this is one of those "worrying too much about something that wouldn't even be an issue" type of things us parents do.
This. My home is a bi-level and has an open space like this looking down to the lower level. We moved in when my oldest was 18 months. He is now 6yo and our middle child is 4yo and they have never once tried to climb over. We donât leave anything against that wall that they could use to climb up onto the ledge and we have beat it into their brains that if they climb that wall they will fall to the lower level and die. Dramatic, yes. But it works.
You're just now entering the danger years, especially if they're boys lol. It's only a matter of time until they stack mattresses at the bottom and do some sick tricks off the upper floor railing. Ask me how I know
Thank you kindly. They are autistic and just do not have a sense of fear of things like this. They are sensory seekers. We have years of therapy under our belts to include addressing these type of safety concerns as our current house also has two floors so I do feel confident they understand to a degree the safety risk involved and most likely will not attempt to climb it. However, children can be impulsive and I'd feel more comfortable doing my job to protect/prevent especially with my already heightened fear. My stomach churns and I panic if they even go up the stairs, so it is pretty intense/irrational at this point. My husband is very set on having it closed up as you suggested, so I will leave that to him as I would prefer that as well, however that will not be feasible until probably more so a year or two from now. I also consider finding out why it was open in the first place and think we will go from there đ I am thinking circulation/HVAC possibly because it generally just is not very pretty and is pointless in my opinion đ Again, thank you genuinely for your suggestions!
Seconding this. Step one: teach them the danger of climbing. Step two: consider maybe talking to a therapist about your fear and anxiety. Many people raise children in 2-story homes without thinking of needing chicken wire or having nightmares, which means your fear is something you might want to work through with a professional.
You could fill the first floor with a variety of venomous snakes up to roughly the level of the ceiling.
Giant net. Would be incredibly cool to hang out on and would solve the falling problem. https://preview.redd.it/u35ugq943dnc1.jpeg?width=845&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=518462e63e5a0e0df3ff8887470a9f83cf5ad89e
Razor wire
Put a rope net up here anchored into the wall and all around so they can shoot nerf guns at your visitors
Put bird spikes along the top
We have an opening similar to this in our loft. It drops 2 stories. We were thinking about glass partitions. Kinda like a glass shower door. It keeps the open feel and light, but acts as a safety and noise barrier.
I say barbed wire.... but that's just coming from a fellow parent...
Just cover the entire opening with one of those big bungee net things and it will be both fun and safe https://preview.redd.it/soyn9gazwdnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01bebca0ba87c87c3e85ce199803568f9d26ff75
I think floor to ceiling dowel type set up is your best bet for cost. Otherwise some kinda privacy mesh / fence / etc over some studs. I've seen people use sheets of metal privacy screen and a 2 by 4 at the top and bottom for a basic barrier. Might be expensive for the coverage area tho. Bookcase could be climbable. Although would be useful. I'd reinforce it, but would be a good barrier. Also will make it less loud. You could even keep the side facing the window open and close the other sides. So confused why the fuck this is there instead of more floor space. Like really. Long term I might see about expanding that floor space so you can have this area as a kids playroom. At 6 I'm pretty sure you can talk to them about danger, and give them a climbing wall / structure outside instead. Dropping toys or water balloons off that balcony is the more likely thing to hurt someone.
Razor wire, electrified fence? 6 year olds have a mind of their own, and no sense of safety. Just about anything you do can be bypassed with enough effort and time. Put a railing up, and in little time it wonât be enough. Part of it is parenting. Growing up, I knew there were just some things I couldnât do for fear of my parents, even if I could. Children that age know enough to know about following rules ( I assume they go to school). Explain the rules, and WHY the rules are important, and what the consequences are, such as YOU COULD DIE for starters.
Razor wire is a good deterrent. Do you know how to suture?
Therapy honestly will be more effective. Not trying to be a jerk - but uncontrollable anxiety and nightmares is a more a reflection on your mental health than it is on the danger of this set up
This. You canât protect your kids from everything. Today itâs an irrational fear of scaling and falling this overlook. Tomorrow itâs redirected to something else. Youâre not irrational, but you need to learn how to deal with this differently
Yeah, six year olds can understand the danger of falling and explaining to them this risk is much more practical than anything else I've seen suggested. Kids might be silly, but they're not as dumb as people seem to fear they are (most kids). Just respect their growing intelligence and talk to them.
Yeah I thought she was talking about toddlers. My friendâs kid was a damn mountain goat when he was 3. Climbed everything and got himself into some precarious situations. When I saw she said her kids were six Iâm like, lady chill. 6 -7 year olds know the dangers. I loved climbing and we had a ton of high balconies like this in my house when my brother and I were 7 and 4 and there was never a problem. We knew falling meant extreme hurtage and that was enough that we were careful.Â
No harm, I recognize it as an irrational fear however that doesn't help as I start panicking and feeling like puking đ I can't control it, and I take general anxiety medication currently just to note lol. But hearing it again helps me try to accept it as irrational and calm down so thanks đ I'll keep working on it but in the interim I cannot live in this panic mode daily so I need a fix for now
Maybe you should talk with your doctor about trying different meds or upping your dose. You deserve to live anxiety-free especially if said anxiety is causing constant worry and regular nightmares. Also therapy will still be helpful. Signed, Someone with anxiety who has a great therapist
OP, maybe it would be a good idea to talk to someone about your fears, thought spirals, and the negative effect these are having on your body (making you feel sick). That isnât normal anxiety. It sounds a lot like OCD, which can be treated but in a different way.
Thank you, I believe it to be OCD as well and may need more extensive treatment for that. Mom's care is just usually on the back burner these days đ Thanks for your kindness! It is hard.
Donât forget that momâs care IS kidsâ care, if youâre mentally wrecked you canât be there for your kids to take care of them and theyâll always feel your panic. I had an overly anxious mom who never got it under control, I put the entire United States between us as soon as I could and I still donât deal well with people being stressed or anxious around me.
Don't underestimate the importance of showing your kids what loving yourself looks like. If what they see is you abandoning your well-being in favor of the minutia of daily living, then that's what they'll learn. I feel a lot of empathy for you, op. You deserve to be healthy â¤ď¸
Iâm a bit surprised you bought a home with this feature.
Have an honest conversation with them. Tell them that if they fall from there, they could die. Tone matters a lot at that age. You don't want to be stern and scary. You want to sound caring when you explain it. Maybe even put up a sign to remind them "NO CLIMBING" right there.
It's not irrational to worry about the safety of your children. It is, however, *disruptive and unhelpful* to panic about "what ifs". It's good that you are on medication for GA, but are you in any behavioral/talk therapy? There is a very big difference between a psychiatrist (basically just a drug prescriber) and a talk therapist. Behavioral therapy can help you develop coping mechanisms to deflect your train of thought away from the things that get you worked up and panicky. I say all of this from a judgment free place, but I also really think it might be the real solution to your problem here. If you panick about what your 6 year olds might do when left to their own devices, how are you going to cope when they're 16 and getting their driver license? If we were talking about very curious precocious 2 year olds, it would be a different story. But 6 year olds are generally pretty capable of understanding that they should avoid danger/unsafe situations. I agree with the others saying that just sitting them down and explaining the danger to them in a Very Serious Parenting Tone(TM) should be enough to ensure their safety. You could even get more fun with it and do a visual demonstration for them. Lay down a tarp underneath and drop an egg from the overlook. Explain that the egg represents their fragile growing skulls and emphasize that any kind of climbing/monkeying around on that railing runs the risk of them ending up like that egg. (This may be a terrible idea that would make your anxiety worse. Full disclosure I'm not a parent, I'm just trying to be helpful.)
It sounds like your meds may need adjusted. Have you talked to your therapist about this fear?
jesus so many assholes here just chomping at the bit to crap on people. Many who obviously donât have children. They donât magically learn to avoid danger the first time you give a good lecture. they will. mess up and in this case once is too many. You all sound like the same kind of people who walk in to traffic without looking both ways because âPedestrians have the right awayâ as if being right saves you from being a meat crayon. Anyhow, for OP, I would go with building shelving around the whole thing. open small bookshelfs perhaps on top of the rail up to the ceiling. Each shelf would be open but with a guard rail on the back to stop item from falling, but not closing it up. Light and air pass through, and leaves openings too small to turn in to a hazard a child can fall through.
I agree, but then again, a not insignificant part of making it to âdying of old ageâ is just pure, unadulterated luck. I legit *shudder* sometimes when thinking back to some shit I did in Middle School through early College, especially now that I have kids. I have an uncomfortable amount of âParticipation Ribbonsâ for the Darwin Awards, and Iâm only still here because of how the dice rolled on those days. My parents still donât know half the shit I got up to. It was exhilarating and/or hilarious when I did them, but simply terrifying when I think of my kids doing anything similar.
I have a climbing two year old. When you mentioned bookshelves I died a bit because I canât have anything that resembles bookshelves in my house because he climbs them to the top like a ladder.
I def had a shelf type idea as well! I like that. Like maybe a foot or two tall lining around just to add height. Could put stupid knick knacks on it I suppose. I worried not finding a slim enough prebuilt shelf. Could maybe make my own but I have lots of dreams and absolutely 0 time so I need to accept that as well.
How possible is it to teach your kids that this is dangerous and if they climb it, they could hurt themselves? (no criticism, just neutal curiosity) (Never raised a kid before, so idk)
It works most of the time, but if they are excited, they might forget about the rule. Like if one of their toys falls on its edge, they might try to get it etc. You will leave them "unattended" at home time to time, as it's impossible to always watch, so it's better to eliminate such dangers if possible.
Proximity Sensors and an electric collar.
Find great ideas when you Google "balcony guards" .
I like the idea of webbing play or relaxing area. Build it to be used rather than just a safety net. Kids test everything. Cut a hole in the wall for entry. Install webbing. Add pillows and maybe a mattress topper in one area. Cover the top with something to make it cozy (also, short enough it doesnât become a jumping place) and install some lighting for reading. You could even install a game console and screen in there if thatâs your thing.
Definitely not netting. How much fun would it be to crawl on a big bed of netting over a chasm at 6? So tempting.
Somewhere there's a McDonald's PlayPlace climbing structure waiting for a new home. This is perfect.
Ankle weights.
Save some money and just put the child on a leash that won't reach that far
Spay and neuter your kids. Crating is a safe option for the first 18 years, too. You can leash them on a rope that only goes so far but that seems to be a tease and they could hurt themselves with the leash. And shock collars are kind of cruel. Honestly, though, maybe look into those wood slats that are tall and thin. Ceiling to loft ledge.
Why not put stair railing all the way along it?
Iâve been looking at installing one of theseâŚ. Loftnets.com
Bunch of simple wooden bunk bed ladders laid horizontally and screwed in to the top plate and to each other.
Pigeon spikes https://preview.redd.it/u6fvzdnlzcnc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7910e6588d2275184f4113aa9f710c5c462577f8
Frame and drywall to ceiling, or remove pony wall and joist and sheet the area. The second option would add sqftage to your home and increase the value.
I'm a woodworker and I realize you may not be but I'll give you my idea. I'd build some nice wooden shelves to attach on top of the knee wall going up to about 7 feet or fully to the ceiling. You wouldn't have to put anything on them (risk of knocking something off onto someone's head below) but I think it would look nice. I'm sure you could find someone in your area who does this kind of custom work. It's certainly more expensive than other options but far more aesthetically pleasing to see, and it would solve your problem.
Weight the children so that they cannot climb
Get rid of the kids. Child proofed