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6 of the best radiator covers for childproofing 2024
DO YOU NEED A RADIATOR COVER?
Radiators can get very hot and burn or scald small children. As a hard, metal surface they may also cause injury if collided with and any sharp edges could make this worse. The radiator pipes can also be a hazard if they are exposed. These could be covered with pipe sleeves.
What are the different types of radiator covers?
Wooden/MDF covers: Often used for aesthetic purposes but they are also good for childproofing a radiator. Gaps and holes allow the heat to escape to warm a room. Just make sure they are installed with a width gap of 5cm, a height gap of 3cm and a depth gap of 3cm. The valves and piping are also covered. There is the added bonus of extra storage as they have a shelf on top and they can be painted to fit in with the decor of a room. However, it is still a fairly hard surface if a child collides with it.
Fabric covers: A soft mesh fabric that is attached to the radiator, usually with Velcro. They pad the radiator and make it less hot to the touch.
Magnetic sheets: These cling to the radiator and reduce the chance of burns. They also offer padding and don’t affect the efficiency of the radiator very much.
Do radiator guards reduce the warmth of a room?
They do a bit. You could counterbalance this by putting a foil reflector at the back of the radiator, which reflects the heat lost at the back into the room. The best-known of these is Radflek.
What’s the alternative?
You can teach a child from a very young age not to touch a radiator.
A fireguard could be placed around a radiator.
There are also child-friendly radiators available with no sharp edges and a low heat surface area. For example, these.
WHERE TO GET THE BEST RADIATOR COVERS
Your local DIY store may sell them and there is a wide range at B&Q. Here are some other popular options.
This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:
Consumer reviews
Best-seller lists
Recommendations from industry experts
Award-winning products
Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.
The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 29 February 2024.
If you buy through a link, I may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.
1. Safetots Dual Fabric Premium Radiator Cover
The dual-layer mesh fabric provides 25mm of soft padding and prevents burns but also allows 95% of the radiator heat through.
Available in a variety of sizes and all of them are adjustable.
Machine washable and quick drying.
It just covers the radiator panel, not the pipes or thermostat.
2. Vida Designs Chelsea Radiator Cover
A popular radiator cover made from MDF with a white finish.
Available in four sizes.
Requires assembly home.
Comes with wall mounting brackets.
The back has a skirting board cut out.
The top, which can be used as a shelf, has rounded edges.
Vida Designs do a few different versions. The Arlington is very similar but has a wood-effect top shelf. The Milton has horizontal slats and the Oxford has a cross grill pattern.
3. AVC designs Kensington cover
Available in three sizes and in white or grey.
Made from MDF.
Home assembly.
All fittings included.
4. Radwraps nursery radiator covers
Magnetic radiator covers which make the radiator safe to touch without reducing its room heating efficiency.
It is a leather-like material so also provides padding for the radiator.
Designed alongside experts at John Moores Liverpool University and the NHS.
Takes just seconds to fit.
They have an anti-bacterial coating.
Available in any size you require.
Choose from a variety of designs or design your own.
5. Dunelm dinosaur white radiator cover
A white radiator cover with a dinosaur design. There is also a mermaid version.
Measures H81.5 x W102 x D19cm.
Made from MDF.
6. Habitat Odell Small Radiator Cover
This radiator cover has a lattice design.
This small size fits a radiator which measures H77.5 x W92.4 x D13.5cm. There are also medium and large covers available.
Fixings are included.
These 15 toys are all popular for a reason. Babies between the ages of six and twelve months love them. And they don’t drive their parents insane. Any ones that make noise have an off switch and many also a volume control. If you are looking to save money, there is only one item included that is anywhere near the £100 mark. Ten of the toys are under £20 and five are under £10.