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Help!!! How do I make this window safe for my toddler?

last year

I am buying a home and two of the spare bedrooms have super low windows (they stop just above the baseboard heating). I'm paranoid about putting my toddler in this room without putting some things in place to make the room feel more safe. Any ideas? Also, how difficult/pricey would it be to replace the windows with smaller ones and just fill in the bottom with wall/siding?


Comments (11)

  • PRO
    last year

    Aren’t there locks on the windows? Permanently altering the house for thousands and thousands of dollars seems excessive for a brief problem. Worst case screw plexiglass glass over the interior lower portion of the window for now.

  • last year

    Look into installing window guards of the kinds used in apartment buildings. Your local fire department may have ideas as well.

  • last year

    Remove the curtains so the child doesn’t pull them down by hanging on them. The windows should be tough enough a toddler can’t accidentally break them.

  • PRO
    last year

    If your toddler ran at the window full steam, he'd bounce off and land on his butt. No way he's breaking the glass. Not happening.

  • last year

    Furniture in front of it (not ideal from a design perspective) but consider that a temp fix for a temp ‘problem’ - not sure what your fears are about? Breaking the glass with a plastic toy? They won’t be able to even open a window til much older….

  • last year

    So keep the windows closed, like you would the door to a basement staircase.

  • last year

    I agree with the commenter who said to remove the curtains if you think your toddler will try pulling on them, etc. (That said, we had long blackout curtains in our toddler's room starting at age 2, and it was never an issue but you know your kid best.) You can get pull-down shades instead and then pull them down for bed and pull them up each morning. The window itself shouldn't be a hazard. I actually think a low window is kind of nice for a toddler. They can enjoy the view for once. The kid can have fun making suncatchers to hang against the window or you can put up cling-on decals. When old enough, Crayola makes window markers for kids.

  • PRO
    last year

    You can add locks to the window sash if it does not have any currently. You can also insert a block of wood that the window cannot be raised without removing the block. For security, I would recommend both of these even if you didn't have a toddler.


    Like @ShadyWillowFarm said, you could remove the curtains but speaking as a window treatment professional... if you replace them with something like blinds or shades, please use cordless or motorized products. Young children like to play with cords and can easily get the cord wrapped around a finger or an arm or their neck causing injury.


    Your biggest challenge will be if you plan to open the window to let fresh air in. In that case you may need to consider some sort of grate or guard system that mounts to the outside of the house.

  • last year

    Did the last 2 commenters read this thread? Nope.

  • last year

    I’ll speak to the window glass breaking. My toddler grandchild loves to pound on windows. Their house has original 1978 windows and they are single paned and very breakable. For now, they are using a tension gate like barrier with bars. (The windows are inset about 6”). Certainly not pretty, but it is safe. As others have said - no cords, no sheer panels.