The road to hell is paved with good intentions...

Safety locks on the cabinets, drawer locks on the, duh, drawers, outlet plugs, infant gate, taped down wires, and padded every sharp corner in the apartment. I tried to make our entire home a safe little universe for Nate. Unfortunately in every room there is a virtual supernova. The radiator!





We have cast iron baseboards, and to go with the rest of the half-A construction, they are completely uncovered. For the last year, I have been troubled as to what to do. Last winter, I learned that these radiators get blazing hot. Fortunately, Nathaniel wasn't crawling yet. All summer and fall I researched radiator covers. They ranged from hideous to ridiculously expensive, many hideous AND ridiculously expensive.

I came up with a DIY solution, a stylish looking gate to deter curious little hands. I don't have much (or any) cabinetry experience, but I do think they turned out OK.

Maybe a bit rough, but I think they have a certain Scandinavian charm. And it would keep Nate away from our medieval heating system. I was feeling pretty good about myself.






Until last week, the coldest day of the year. Juliet called me at work, Nate burned his arm on the radiator! Fortunately, the burn wasn't too severe.

But how did he get past my Swedish radiator barricade?

Apparently Nathaniel dropped a toy between my radiator guard and the radiator, he reached down. This might not have happened if there was no guard. It makes me nauseous thinking about it.

I have since covered the radiator with an aluminum screen, to prevent toys and tiny hands. We'll see...