Safeguarding Stairs advice needed!

[editorialmoo]

Hi there,

We are moving into a rented property and the stairs are painted wood with horizontal bannisters that have big gaps between them.

I wondered if anyone had come across innovative solutions to prevent small children slipping on the stairs (I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old) and also slipping crawling through the bannisters, which are also on the first floor.

We are looking for something that will not damage the wooden stairs to minimise repairs when we leave.

I've posted a pic of similar bannisters although with these ones the gaps are much bigger and the spindles much smaller.

Any help would be appreciated and if anyone knows a builder/ fitter who might be able to help out that would be great.

Thank you!

[sanity girl]

Wind string around and around to cover gaps?

[sanity girl]

Or just install a retractable stair gate - lascal one is very good

[espelli]

A friend has stairs like these and has fitted sheets of perspex to the horizontal bannisters. It has the advantage of not blocking light or affecting the look of the stairs and then you could fill in the screw holes when you leave and touch up the paint.

[Saffron]

like this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/PHP-Baby-4600-Bannister-Plastic/dp/B0000E2DIE

[dontpanic]

I would get perspex and drill holes in the right places, then use cable ties to fit really tightly. Alternatively you could buy polycarbonate sheeting from B&Q and do similar. Then you can make it even higher than the banisters already are.

[editorialmoo]

Brilliant! Quite a few ideas there I hadn't come up with so thank you everyone. that's very reassuring.