Baby and small dog containment

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Last summer I was looking for a way to keep my (then) six month old within the confines of our outdoor patio. I was going to fence it off for about a grand, but then I found this cool product called a "superyard". It comes in two forms, a six panel and a two panel 'extension'. Whether you buy it in six or two panels is irrelevent, each panel can be separated or joined so three 'extensions' can be linked to make a 'superyard xt'. I got a great deal on the two panel version and bought eight of those.

Once linked, each joint can bend on a ratcheting mechanism that takes some force to overcome (or you can push down on the joint with about 30lbs of force and move it smoothly. You can shape it to suit the area to be contained, or join the ends and make a big play yard. As long as you make a few "L"s in it or zig zag it deeply enough, its fairly stable.

For storage, you can fold the thing down completely flat, each panel is ~30x30 and a little over an inch thick, so my 16 panel, 40 foot deal flattens out to about 18" thick.

After using it with no problems on the patio, this winter we took it in the house and used it to fence off the big screen, christmas tree, and the kitchen area from the rest of the house. My in-laws have a bunch of those little bug eyed rat dogs, and an RV they travel in all the time. When they saw this, they bought about the same amount and deploy it around the entrance to the rv, taping the ends to the side of the rv. That lets them leave the rv doors open for the dogs to come and go and prevents other peoples dogs, kids and whatnot from running through their area.

Really innovative and easy product to use to solve 'containment' problems.

Yesterday, my little 11 month old monkey showed me a new trick though. He can climb up the panels by holding onto the top rail and sticking his big toes through the holes, but so far hadnt come close to 'going over'. Yesterday he hiked up, reached over the gate to a railing thats about a foot taller than the gate, and pulled himself up and over and dropped back down to his feet on the other side.

I should have known by the monkey feet...

 

[Outtahere]

() I'm always amazed at how kids can find away around something meant to keep them from harm.

 

[REWahoo]

Yesterday, my little 11 month old monkey showed me a new trick though. He can climb up the panels by holding onto the top rail and sticking his big toes through the holes, but so far hadnt come close to 'going over'. Yesterday he hiked up, reached over the gate to a railing thats about a foot taller than the gate, and pulled himself up and over and dropped back down to his feet on the other side.

Amazing coincidence that you bring up this subject.

Late yesterday, my 18-month old grandson found a way to climb on something and get his hand up to kitchen counter top height. He pulled a pan of very hot liquid off the counter top, spilling it all over himself. This led to a very exciting ride in an EMS ambulance during rush hour, with me arriving just as they pulled away from the house and trying to follow them to the ER.

RANT: If you are in heavy traffic and see/hear an ambulance with lights/siren GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY!!!

He is currently in a pediatric burn unit with 2nd degree burns on 30% of his body, primarily his arms and chest. For those of you not familiar with the specifics of a 2nd degree burn, that's when the top layer or two of skin blisters and peels off. 2nd degree is more painful than 3rd degree burns (but not less damaging) since 3rd degree also destroys the nerve endings in the skin and therefore "hurts" less. Doctors are using something called "bio-med" wrap on his arms. We are not sure yet about scarring or other potential long-term effects, but I know the recovery will be more painful and much longer in duration than any little kid deserves it to be. We aren't sure when he will get to go home, but it looks like Christmas will be quite a bit different for our family this year than planned.

Also, beyond the nasty burns to that little guy, there are other wounds. My "mister mom" SIL, who was watching his little one and cooking dinner, is beating himself up severely for not preventing the accident. His wounds are all internal, and they are severe.

My point here is simple: TH, and anyone else out there with very small children, please understand just how dangerous the climbing and curiosity genes can be, especially when combined.

 

[73ss454]

REWahoo,

I also have a Grand Child about 18 months old. I hear your pain and I hope things go well.

I always fear that I'll be alone with her and she'll get hurt some how. The guilt would be too much for me.

 

[KB]

REW

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandson. How terrible. I hope he heals well; you're right...it only takes an instant.

Unfortunately, we humans do make mistakes and accidents happen. I feel for your SIL also.

TH, those walls sound pretty cool. My oldest was a climber....scary stuff.

 

[JPatrick]

Sorry about your grand kiddo REW.  I suspect the worst thing about this will be that the healing period is so dang slow and the little ones are a good bit less patient than older folks.  Hope your SIL understands you can be the best parent in the world and still nothing is 100%.  That's painfully proven day in and day out.

 

[Dreamer]

I am so sorry to hear about your grandchild. What a horrible thing for everyone.
It does happen so quickly. You always have to have your guard up with small children and at times it is still not enough!

Dreamer

 

[Jarhead*]

ReWahoo:

Just noticed your post re: Grandson.

Poor little guy.

As all parents with small children understand, they are curious, and fast at that age.

Your SIL is in a tough place. I don't envy him.

They are doing some fantastic work in "burn units" nowadays, and hopefully they'll get the little guy patched up.

Hang in there, as no doubt, this will be a very different Holiday Season for all of you.

Regards, Jarhead

 

[haha]

ReWahoo,

I had missed this thread. My heart goes out to you, I really hope your grandson will be fine, and that his hurting will be not too bad.

Poor guy!

Ha

 

[Outtahere]

REW, My heart goes out to you, your family and your grandson. Children are fast and in the blink of an eye things like this happen, it's no ones fault. I pray for a speedy and full recovery and take heart that children that age heal incredibly fast and he'll probably never remember the incident.

Carolyn

 

[Martha]

REW, are you bringing Christmas to the hospital? Hope both you grandson and son in law are doing better.

 

[Eagle43]

REWahoo,
Hope all is well with your grandson. That's terrible news and illustrates the necessity of watching kids closely because they are so fast. I hope recovery is fast and complete. Tell SIL there are no guarantees and no fault is indicated. Bad stuff does happen to good people, occasionally.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

REW - I'm very sorry to hear about your grandson. This is the stuff my worst nightmares are full of.

I put a larger temporary gate on the kitchen, and have my eyes on a 42" high permanent non-climbable one. To date he's not allowed in the kitchen at all unless he's strapped in his highchair, and thats going to continue for some time.

Hopefully this presses folks to find better solutions for containing their little ones.

 

[HFWR]

Add my voice to the chorus, REW; may the recovery be swift and complete for all!!

 

[LRS]

Wishing your grandson a speedy recovery, REW. Poor little fellow!

When my daughter was about two, I found her in the kitchen making a big pile of books and magazines in front of the stove. I asked her what on earth she was doing?

"I'm making a BIG pile of books, then I'm gonna to climb on it, get on the counter, then I'm gonna get into the medicine cabinet and get ALL of the vitamins!" she lisped in a happy tone.

Needless to say the medicine and ALL of the vitamins were whisked away to a safer location immediately. My daughter at that age was both bright and fearless, and never hesitated to act on any "good" idea she had.

 

[REWahoo]

My sincere thanks to all of you who expressed your concern and well-wishes. I am very happy to report that youngest grandson was released from the hospital this afternoon and is now home with his two older brothers eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa tonight. His burns look like heck, gauze bandages wrapping both arms, his chest and lower face the color of crisp bacon. But he is in great spirits, running around the house and bugging his big brothers. It is truly amazing how quickly the young can bounce back from life-threatening injuries.

His dad is doing pretty well, no doubt as a result of how much the little guy has improved. But when a neighbor came over to see how the grandson was doing, I could see my son-in-law’s guilt return as he once again described how the accident happened. I suppose both dad and the little guy will heal over time.

Getting that little guy home was my Christmas present. I hope all of you get something really nice, but I've got to tell you my gift is going to be hard to beat.

 

[KB]

I'm so happy to hear that he is home. That's great news.
Enjoy your Holiday with your family.

 

[haha]

I am very happy to report that youngest grandson was released from the hospital this afternoon and is now home with his two older brothers eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa tonight.  His burns look like heck, gauze bandages wrapping both arms, his chest and lower face the color of crisp bacon.  But he is in great spirits, running around the house and bugging his big brothers.  It is truly amazing how quickly the young can bounce back from life-threatening injuries. 

Great news ReWahoo! Your little guy has the right stuff for sure.

Ha

 

[Dreamer]

That put a smile on my face! Congratulations on a great Christmas present. Life is good!

Dreamer

 

[73ss454]

That's good news, hope you have a great Christmas with your family.

 

[Nords]

But when a neighbor came over to see how the grandson was doing, I could see my son-in-law’s guilt return as he once again described how the accident happened.  I suppose both dad and the little guy will heal over time.

Speaking from a few emergency rooms of our own, it's amazing that kids survive our attempts to raise them... Merry Christmas, REW. Hope everyone does OK these next few weeks.

 

[73ss454]

It's also amazing that we as parents survive the process.

 

[uncledrz]

REW
My heart goes out to you and the little one, hopefully recovery will happen and in a few years this will only be a fading memory. Little ones heal amazingly well.

Having gone through kids and grandkids (still have some little ones now) I can attest how fast and curious they are. Got to keep them away from the stove and keep all handles turned inward.

Uncledrz

 

[Leslie]

REW--
Fantastic news...kids are resilient little creatures! Glad you'll all be together today!

 

[Outtahere]

Rew, that's wonderful news.