fence making
March 13, 2006 3:56 PM Subscribe
My daughter needs to confine her 2 year old when she is outside. Any experience with attractive,cheap (~$500) fences to enclose approx. 400 sq. feet.
I don't have an answer, but thought I'd ask a clarifying question that might help someone else provide an answer.
Is the intent for the child to be supervised, or unsupervised? That is, is she looking to be able to run in the house for a minute to grab the wireless phone when it rings, or monitor her from the kitchen window, or just wants to keep her from getting away before she can get up out of her lawn chair and amble on over?
posted by davejay at 4:03 PM on March 13, 2006
Is the intent for the child to be supervised, or unsupervised? That is, is she looking to be able to run in the house for a minute to grab the wireless phone when it rings, or monitor her from the kitchen window, or just wants to keep her from getting away before she can get up out of her lawn chair and amble on over?
posted by davejay at 4:03 PM on March 13, 2006
This by no means encloses 400 sq. feet, but it is really good for enclosing children. I use one of these plus the extension (and I think you could add a few together and get a decent-sized space) -- throw a bunch of kid toys in, plus baby-size crawl-through stuff, and they're happy for a while. My older child even goes in to hang out with the baby. It sounds like you want something larger but perhaps this would help temporarily?
posted by theredpen at 4:04 PM on March 13, 2006
posted by theredpen at 4:04 PM on March 13, 2006
theredpen's suggestion above has been my parents' "keep the 2-4 year old nieces/nephews out of the TV and stereo cabinets" solution for a while now; works very well for indoor use.
posted by davejay at 4:07 PM on March 13, 2006
posted by davejay at 4:07 PM on March 13, 2006
When I was wee, my parents used wooden stakes with some sort of rubber-coated chicken-wireish fencing wrapped around them to keep me out of trouble when I was outside. It was effective, and it seems like it would be pretty cheap.
She should also avoid any kind of fence that the kid will be able to climb over - and don't underestimate the climbing abilities and determination that a fenced-in kid can have! I used to climb over the smaller, more rigid fences that my parents used on me inside the house all the time, and I've had a toddler I babysit for do the same thing when I've been taking care of her - so it's definitely something to keep in mind.
posted by bubukaba at 4:07 PM on March 13, 2006
She should also avoid any kind of fence that the kid will be able to climb over - and don't underestimate the climbing abilities and determination that a fenced-in kid can have! I used to climb over the smaller, more rigid fences that my parents used on me inside the house all the time, and I've had a toddler I babysit for do the same thing when I've been taking care of her - so it's definitely something to keep in mind.
posted by bubukaba at 4:07 PM on March 13, 2006
Response by poster: davejay ... This child is quick and there is a busy road close. She will be supervised , but she's quick.
posted by JohnR at 4:13 PM on March 13, 2006
posted by JohnR at 4:13 PM on March 13, 2006
After a little research, this fencing looks like what my parents used.
posted by bubukaba at 4:16 PM on March 13, 2006
posted by bubukaba at 4:16 PM on March 13, 2006
Best answer: Oops... won't let me link right to it - but it's called "MAT
Yard Gard, Vinyl Coated," and there's a picture of it here.
posted by bubukaba at 4:18 PM on March 13, 2006
Yard Gard, Vinyl Coated," and there's a picture of it here.
posted by bubukaba at 4:18 PM on March 13, 2006
I've never really liked cages -- what about a leash? the child wears some sort of contraption under its armpits and its butt, like parachute straps, and you daughter can have a leash long enough to have the child walk around but not long enough to find herself in danger
posted by matteo at 12:54 AM on March 14, 2006
posted by matteo at 12:54 AM on March 14, 2006
and "fence" that isn't permanently set in the ground can (and will) be defeated by a suitably determined 2-year-old. They truly are nature's little unstoppable force.
I'm sure money is an issue, but given the description of the environment, I'd seriously start considering a permanent fence in the yard. As the child gets older, it's a necessity.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:07 AM on March 14, 2006
I'm sure money is an issue, but given the description of the environment, I'd seriously start considering a permanent fence in the yard. As the child gets older, it's a necessity.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:07 AM on March 14, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by nomisxid at 3:59 PM on March 13, 2006