| Coffee tables can make or break a room. The right | | | | that can exist. One of the particular dangers |
| one can make a stylish statement bringing all of your | | | | commonly encountered is the problem of small children |
| furniture together into a unified whole. However, one | | | | learning to walk who injure themselves on sharp |
| element that many people fail to consider is whether | | | | corners. Many baby and parenting shops and even |
| their coffee table is actually safe. | | | | IKEA now sell corner bumpers; small rounded foam or |
| Most people when buying a coffee table, even a glass | | | | plastic caps that help to prevent injury. Whilst these |
| one, automatically assume that safety comes as | | | | are not too attractive to look at they are a great way |
| standard. However this is not always the case. | | | | to prevent accidents and only need to be used for a |
| Glass Coffee Tables | | | | relatively small time whilst your child is in their toddler |
| Glass coffee tables look elegant and modern and can | | | | phase. Similarly there are now "bumpers" available that |
| make a room look lighter and more airy. However, | | | | can be run along the edges of any wooden coffee |
| they can also represent a hazard to small children and | | | | table. These are heavily padded lengths of material |
| adults alike. This is because in the US there is no | | | | that fix to the surface to prevent injury. They can later |
| requirement for glass tables to be made from | | | | be removed when no longer needed. |
| tempered glass. | | | | Drawers And Lift Top Lids |
| Tempered glass is a glass that has been treated so | | | | Lift Top Lids can also present a hazard for small |
| that if shattered it splits into small, regular shaped | | | | children. Very often, particularly in the case of wooden |
| cubes that are unlikely to cause injury. However, many | | | | coffee tables the lid can be very heavy. Because of |
| tables are not made from this kind of glass. Many | | | | this there is always the possibility of small children |
| coffee tables are in fact made from a thicker sheet of | | | | trapping their fingers. If you select a table of this kind it |
| ordinary cheaper glass. If this glass shatters it can | | | | may be necessary to secure the top until your children |
| splinter into long spikes that can easily pierce the body. | | | | are older to prevent injury. |
| For this reason it is vitally important to check when | | | | Drawers are another hazard for small children. Fingers |
| purchasing a glass coffee table whether it has been | | | | are easily pinched and trapped. As with so many other |
| made with tempered glass. Not only should you ask | | | | areas of the home safety features may need to be |
| the sales assistant but you should seek confirmation | | | | incorporated, such as drawer locks, in order to keep |
| that their response is truthful as it can be very hard to | | | | your child safe. |
| tell what type of glass a table is made from just by | | | | As well as the safety features of coffee tables |
| looking. You might consider it unlikely that it will shatter, | | | | themselves there is also the important consideration of |
| but people do fall, particularly children. Even sitting on a | | | | what is placed on the coffee table. Whilst a dining table |
| table when distracted could cause it to shatter and | | | | might be out of reach for small children a coffee table |
| inflict life shattering injuries. | | | | is the perfect height for tiny fingers to investigate. |
| Many people suggest that in households with small | | | | Many small children have a particular fascination for |
| children even a tempered glass coffee table is | | | | coffee tables, spending hours investigating the |
| unsuitable as the possibility of it shattering is just too | | | | treasures that they can hold. It is therefore important to |
| great. Of course, it is up to individual parents to make | | | | think before placing hot drinks, glassware, china |
| their own choices in this matter, but it is always best to | | | | ornaments, nuts or anything else that could be a |
| err on the side of caution where safety is at stake. | | | | hazard on the surface. |
| For parents who consider a glass coffee table an | | | | Although all of these factors do require some time and |
| absolute necessity the option of safety films should | | | | consideration, the benefits of keeping your child safe |
| also be looked into. | | | | far outweigh any time or financial costs involved. |
| Wooden Coffee Tables | | | | Remember: where children are concerned safety is |
| Wooden coffee tables have less safety problems as | | | | always the number one priority. |
| a rule than glass ones; however there are still hazards | | | | |