coffee tables

**Hebs** · 19-12-2010, 09:14 AM

how many of you have coffee tables?

i want one but didnt know if it was too dangerous

**FussyElmo** · 19-12-2010, 09:17 AM

I dont and the reason is its a guaranteed accident in my house with just my children

We wanted one when the living room was done but me and dh both said it was an accident waiting to happen

**mrs_scottydog** · 19-12-2010, 09:34 AM

We have one but we got it before we had our DS. I find it very useful as the children can do jigsaws and play with other toys on it, and the shelf that used to have piles of papers on it have now been replaced with lots of toys and childrens books and jigsaws. Ours is solid oak, I wouldn't recommend one with a glass top. Hx

**sweets** · 19-12-2010, 09:59 AM

i have a chunky pine one that ive had since before minding.

it has rounded corners and is great as an extra surface to put books on, i have a through lounge diner for the children to play in and the coffee table is in the lounge bit which i encourage to be the quiet area with limited toys so having books on it is ideal as they choose one and snuggle on the sofa with it.

great for the furniture cruisers to hold on to too!

**Kes** · 19-12-2010, 10:04 AM

I don't have one but felt that I did'nt have the space for one. It should be fine as long as you risk assess it and put on corner protectors if needed.

**samb** · 19-12-2010, 10:21 AM

I have a nest of tables - I find them useful as I can put them together away or get each one out if needed for activities such as puzzles or colouring. However they are obviously smaller than a coffee table. I don't have the space for a coffee table but if you have then I don't see why you shouldn't have one. Just choose one with the children in mind too.

**Louise0208** · 19-12-2010, 10:29 AM

i have one but moved it to the end of the sofa so the littlies have more room to play.

if i got rid of everything that was a potential accident then id live in a padded cell

**kel1983** · 19-12-2010, 12:38 PM

We have a large coffee table

We did worry about it when we were registering but when the Ofsted lady came for our pre registration interview she suggested just placing pipe lagging around the edges. This is so cheap to buy at any hardware store and you can remove it when not minding.

The coffee table is pushed against the end of the sofa and the wall so there is still loads of room for the children to play.

Also my little 20 month old mindee loves to sit at it with her juice.

**PixiePetal** · 19-12-2010, 01:00 PM

I have one which I would like to replace with something not so heavy and big - it's solid pine rectangular.

Would like a square one

It would be in my sitting room, which is only used as a quiet room for mindees. I don't see a problem with safety really - all kids have furniture at home, we can't remove it all, just watch out for little ones banging themselves on corners and avoid glass tops

**Hebs** · 19-12-2010, 01:10 PM

thanks guys,

i only have 1 mindee who is a non walker.... but getting there

my living room is pretty big and i thought it would be good for the lo's drawing etc

**Flisspaps** · 19-12-2010, 01:33 PM

I've got a Mexican pine one so it's chunky and it's got square corners, but at my pre-reg visit Mrs O just said that it was fine as it wasn't a glass topped one. No mention of pipe lagging/corner cushions.

It's pushed to the side of the room but DD likes to use it for cruising, and we move it to the middle of the room in the evening if we want to use it properly!

**beccas** · 19-12-2010, 01:39 PM

i have a chunky pine one its rounded adges and so no risk of major injury only had one child bang their head onit since i have been minding almost 9 years and the lo is very clumsy falls over freash air.

Penny1959 · 19-12-2010, 01:46 PM

I have a pine one in the lounge - I push mine in front of the TV - it makes more room, stops sticky fingers getting on the TV and still provides a place for puzzles etc.

Penny

**sweets** · 19-12-2010, 01:57 PM

mine has lots of uses, at this very moment it is being used as a foot stool for me! lol. but tommorrow it will be used to stop a little person getting to the christmas tree.

a coffee table is a very handy piece of furniture

**marnieb** · 19-12-2010, 02:39 PM

I have one in front of the cd tower so small people can't get at them!!! And also it is ideal for littilies to do puzzles and drawing on. As the others have siad, just make sure you have plenty of corner protectors.

**teacake2** · 19-12-2010, 03:31 PM

I have a pine rectangular one, it is just the right height for the little ones to sit at to play, do crafts, and eat at, and when they have gone home it reverts back to our use.
Teacake2

**singingcactus** · 19-12-2010, 03:48 PM

We have a couple around, they are well behaved and don't kidnap, beat up or insult the children so we are quite happy with them - I don't find they pose a threat to the children.

**em29** · 19-12-2010, 03:51 PM

Aah well i did have a rectangular coffee table. No sharp edges etc. However my ds tripped near the table and headbutted it and needed his forehead glued. However, I do think these sorts of things are just accidents and we woudnt have anything in our homes. He could headbutt the wall for goodness sake! I have removed the table as it did cause an accident though.