[jamiev]

hi, got a baby on the way and wanted some advice on how to baby proof my home cinema kit?
my main concerns are the av equipment at the front (little fingers getting in)and my speakers on the stands (danger of being pulled over)!
my set-up here; My new home cinema - Z2

want to do it a cheap as possible, anyone help, or got any ideas!

thanks

jamie

[Mickle]

Something you could do is go wild on the blu-tac. Stick anything quite light down. It won't be impossible to get it off but a toddler or small child would have some difficulty pulling them off. Poking fingers is a little more difficult though.... Possible a glass stand with lockable fronts or something? I've never seen anything like it but i'm sure you could find something

In regards to the speakers you could again use 'tac to stick it down. Is it possible to weight the stand with lead shot? That might make it more difficult for a little 'un to pull over. Of course it might be more dangerous to the bubby if they do manage to pull it over. Depends how heavy you an make them I suppse.

Let us know ho you get on.

[Shockabuku]

Once they get tall enough, they will want to poke their little fingers into your expensive tweeters, so make sure yer grills are in place when not in use! I speak from experience .

[and30280]

OR....... Pack it up put it in the loft and wait till the little one is 18 by that time kick them out unpack and enjoy home cinema Bliss!!!!!!!!!!!
In retrospect that what i wish I had done as I now have a Pull up screen with baby Wee inside and stained and a non functioning DVD HDD and my little 1 is nearly 2 Oh and the Ps3 well the less said about that the better lol

[Mildoo]

Im in the same boat as you. baby will be due in about 3 weeks.

As i type, my setup is getting moved from the lounge and going into the garage, which is now being done up as the cinema/games room.

[M4TT1982]

got a 11 week old at the mo, and we are moving house soon,

so will be modifiing my current stand to take glass doors that lock and the grills back on the speakers.

see how that goes.

[cybrey]

I would wall mount the speakers and create a surround for your kit ( out of cardboard). That way you can move the surround when the child is not around.

[hon65]

I have a 15 month old and just a couple of things I have done, must put the fronts on the speakers, fingers in tweeters/cones!!
Just teaching No! is a basic, it does eventually sink in.

only problems so far is turning the Amp and TV on and off, and on and off, and on and...you get the idea

at 15 months not fussed at all now really more interested in which kitchen cupboards have the food in now.....

[jamiev]

hi, thanks for all the great ideas. i have seen some lockable units for about £90 from ikea/argos etc. i will wall mont the speakers so does anyone know where i can them from?
I will have to mount them higher than what the stands are at the moment!
will this effect the sound much??

jamie

[mrm3]

Originally Posted by and30280

...I now have a Pull up screen with baby Wee inside and stained and a non functioning DVD HDD and my little 1 is nearly 2 Oh and the Ps3 well the less said about that the better lol

lol

[albriscoe]

Why don`t you do what I did, have a vasectomy so no late slipups, wait for 25 years and then build a house with a dedicated cinema room . Build all the grand kids bedrooms with their own tv`s in and bobs yer uncle .

See a simple answer to all your problems really

Seriously whatever you do the little buggers will destroy something eventually so good luck

cheers Allan

[HandsomeBWonderful]

From the look of your setup I'd definitely invest in a good quality t.v. unit or alternatively have one made to the size and specs you want and get safety glass with magnetic locks for the doors - that'll keep the buggers out. I made up a unit out of pine reasonable cheaply (see pic below) and must say it's very satisfying seeing them pawing at the glass trying to get at the goodies inside. Try to integrate your front speakers into the t.v. unit - free-standing speakers and speaker cables are like a magnet to crawling kids. Rear speakers should be wall mounted high up out of arms reach with all cabling either hidden inside trunking or, even better, inside the wall. Remember, what they can't see they can't pull.

I will say though that NOTHING will prevent them from drawing on your t.v. My new Bravia lasted exactly 4 days before my 3 year old decided to trace Winnie the Pooh permanently onto it in blue biro. She actually did quite a good job too so despite my initial stress levels hitting an all-time high I was secretly quite impressed with her penmanship...

I guess it all goes with the job of being a Daddy... so enjoy and remember when they do break something it's not the end of the world (plus it gives you a good excuse to upgrade).

[HandsomeBWonderful]

P.S. Not sure about the blu tac idea mentioned above. Not only would an infant easily remove anything tacked down but they'd then probably have a little snack on the blu tac as a reward. As someone else mentioned above a firm NO is the best baby-proofing. After 3 or 4 years it'll eventually sink in to the point where you'll actually trust your kids with your equipment. My 3 year old has already mastered the Pronto... I just need to work on her drawing creativity.

[stevelup]

In my lifetime, I have bought no less than four replacement tweeter diaphragms for my B&W DM600 series speakers...

My own kids never touched them - it was always 'visitors' who did it!

They are only 12 quid and take two minutes to fit so no the end of the world...


Steve

[SG-22]

Originally Posted by HandsomeBWonderful

My new Bravia lasted exactly 4 days before my 3 year old decided to trace Winnie the Pooh permanently onto it in blue biro. She actually did quite a good job too so despite my initial stress levels hitting an all-time high I was secretly quite impressed with her penmanship...[/IMG]

any pics