Introduction: How to Baby-Proof Sharp Corners on the CHEAP!!!
If you are a cheap-loving mama like me, and you've got a baby around the house, this project will save you some substantial cash compared to buying a baby-proofing kit from the toy store. You need a few simple supplies and only half an hour or so.
Supplies:
Plumbing foam pipe insulation (hardware store), preferably the self-sealing variety, but if not that's OK too.
Scissors
Duct Tape (I didn't need it, but it could come in handy.)
Supplies:
Plumbing foam pipe insulation (hardware store), preferably the self-sealing variety, but if not that's OK too.
Scissors
Duct Tape (I didn't need it, but it could come in handy.)
Step 1: Cut the Foam Pipe Insulation
Here, you can see that the foam pipe insulation has a split down the length of the 6 foot long pieces that I purchased from the hardware store for about $2 a piece. Behind the yellow peel-away backing the foam is already sticky, which is handy for this project. It is meant to go around a pipe and stick to itself, so be careful to peel only one side at a time as you work.
First:
Figure out how long you want to cut your pipe. I wanted to make protective corners and then added pieces to go between the corners to cover the length of my coffee table. Suit yourself, it is pretty simple.
Next cut a V shape out of the middle of each corner, one on either side of the pipe. Be careful to leave space between these Vs to wrap around the corner. In other words, don't wind up cutting your pipe in half by mistake.
First:
Figure out how long you want to cut your pipe. I wanted to make protective corners and then added pieces to go between the corners to cover the length of my coffee table. Suit yourself, it is pretty simple.
Next cut a V shape out of the middle of each corner, one on either side of the pipe. Be careful to leave space between these Vs to wrap around the corner. In other words, don't wind up cutting your pipe in half by mistake.
Step 2: Apply Corners
Second:
Fit the cut pieces over your corner and then, carefully peel off the yellow backing leaving the sticky part on your table. Hold the foam carefully in place while working and then press to your surface to secure. If, for some reason, the foam does not want to stick to your surface, use a bit of handy-dandy duct tape to secure it.
I decided to add long pieces in between the corners, which is simple in comparison to the corners.
Voila! You have just baby-proofed your furniture!
Fit the cut pieces over your corner and then, carefully peel off the yellow backing leaving the sticky part on your table. Hold the foam carefully in place while working and then press to your surface to secure. If, for some reason, the foam does not want to stick to your surface, use a bit of handy-dandy duct tape to secure it.
I decided to add long pieces in between the corners, which is simple in comparison to the corners.
Voila! You have just baby-proofed your furniture!
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9 Comments
7 years ago
thank you for sharing this post! my 1 year old daughter is also teething but hasn't tried to chew on the foam, before reading the comments posted I went ahead and used 3M double sided foam tape to attach the foam to the glass, then covered the visible foam with clear 3M packing tape. Voila!!!!
Reply 6 years ago
Hi there, do you know if the adhesive on the foam piping is easily cleaned up after the baby is grown? Thanks!
6 years ago
Hi there, do you know if the adhesive on the foam piping is easily cleaned up after the baby is grown? Thanks!
8 years ago on Introduction
hi, as a professional babyproofer, don't think we haven't thought of this, but the reason we cannot use this and instead use JPMA approved padding is that this foam can be eaten and broken into small pieces and thus creating a choking hazard. Not counting who wants the nasty pvc in their childs belly. We would be sued instantly if we did this. So when it comes to kids, home remedies like this are definitely not the best and it would be better to go by the approved padding for what 10-15 a roll. With those glass tables I would be more concerned with a kiddo breaking the glass and getting badly cut vs hitting their head on a beveled edge. Yes some of these tables do not have tempered glass (still dangerous) and when broken have huge shards that can do any of us in. Also parents those tapes you are using could have lead in them, could is the word.
Reply 7 years ago
Thanks for pointing out the choking hazard. I wouldn't have thought of that, and that foam is definitely able to pulled apart by teeth and small fingers.
8 years ago on Introduction
Love this, so much cheaper than pre-packaged baby bumpers. I did this for my lil' boy n' it was great for a good while until he decided he liked to eat foam!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Maybe if I duct tape over a fresh install it'll solve the eating issue.
10 years ago on Introduction
hey great idea!!!
10 years ago on Introduction
Argh! I've gotta start writing short, simple I'bles. I did exactly the same thing for my daughter when she was born, and it worked great! Instead of duct tape, what I used in a few places, and to seal over the corner joints, was black 3M vinyl tape (the kind sold for car upholstery "repairs"). It holds extremely well, and is quite sturdy.
A couple of things you'll discover, if you haven't already: the closed-foam pipe insulation is very attractive as a teething toy. It's pretty inert, so I suspect that any that gets ingested will go right though to the other end :-/ However, you're like to have some divots missing over the course of a few months.
The other one is that the adhesive seems to be stronger in tension than the foam itself. When my daughter started pulling herself up along side the table, there were several places where the foam pulled away along the adhesive strip. I ended up running a strip of the vinyl tape (see above) along most of the upper piece to protect it.