The Door Hinge Problem
The hinge area is every bit as dangerous as the gap between the door edge and the door frame, yet it is very often overlooked. If your children are anything like mine, their hands will be almost magnetically attracted to that nasty gap in the hinge area. Although this problem is not as easy to solve as the other more obvious door slamming risk, there are some great safety products listed further down this page.
Door Hinge Guards in Nursery / Kindergarten
Once your child gets to nursery / kindergarten age, you will notice that every single door hinge in these buildings has a guard. But, unless someone lets you in on the risks before your child gets to that age and you notice this for yourself, it may well be too late to prevent your child from injuring their fingers. Some door hinges are much worse than others and you will have to make your own informed decision. But, I urge you to at least consider the issue and check out some of the products that are designed to deal with this danger.
My Own Personal Experience
I am perhaps more aware of this risk than others since my own younger sister lost a small part of her ring finger in a door-closing accident when she was a toddler. It was a very unpleasant incident and could have been much worse than it actually was if her fingers had been inserted further in than they actually were! My parents would no doubt point to the fact that people’s attitude to risk was very different in the 1970s and, furthermore, there probably weren’t any suitable products on the market for them to buy in any event. Nowadays, parents have no such excuses and if you are reading this post then you are probably already taking the issue seriously and looking for some solutions.
Too Expensive and Difficult to Fit?
One of the problems with door hinge guards is that they are more expensive than the very cheap door edge guards and have generally required a greater amount of effort to fit them. But, if you can afford them, they should not be too difficult for someone with a basic knowledge of DIY to fit them correctly. In fact, some door hinge guards don’t require nails or tacks to attach them to the door and doorframe. Instead, they are conveniently held in place by an adhesive strip that enables easy installation and reduces damage to the door itself.
The Best Door Hinge Guards
There are different products available in the UK and the US.
UK
(1) Finger Clear Hinge Safety Shields
In my opinion, one of the best products is the Finger Clear Hinge Safety Shield Protector (shown in image above).
It gets excellent User Reviews.
These guards really are an excellent (and relatively inexpensive) solution to the problem – I cannot recommend them highly enough. They only take a couple of minutes to install using the adhesive strips and then stay firmly in place for maximum peace of mind. They are suitable for any door with an edge that is no more than 44mm wide.
If your home is anything like mine, you will probably need more than 1 of these.
(2) Cardera Door Finger Guards
They are 120 cm in length.
Importantly for those parents that aren’t particularly competent at DIY or who simply don’t want to make holes in their doors or door frames, these hinge guards are self-adhesive, so there is no drilling or screwing involved in the installation process.
USA
I haven’t been able to find the Finger Clear Door Hinge Guards or Cardea Hinge Guards on the US market.
However, there are a number of alternative options including:
(1) Pinch-Not Door Safety Shield Set
- Provides complete finger protection at the hinge-side of the door.
- Allows normal operation of the door.
- Easy and quick installation, with no tools or screws required.
- Snap-to-fit feature allows for customization for shorter doors.
- Attractive and affordable.
Click here to Check Latest Price
(2) Fingersafe Push-Side MK1A
- Blends in with Existing Hardware
- 2 Year Warranty – Strong Enough for Commerical applications
- Gently Ejects Fingers from the Hinged-side of Doors, No More Crushed Fingers!
- Top of the Line – Made in the USA
- Once Properly Installed, acts as a Privacy & Draft Guard
Click here to Check Latest Price
(3) Fingersafe Pull-Side MK1B
- Blends in with Existing Hardware
- 2 Year Warranty – Strong Enough for Commerical applications
- Gently Ejects Fingers from the Hinged-side of Doors, No More Crushed Fingers!
- Top of the Line – Made in the USA
- Once Properly Installed, acts as a Privacy & Draft Guard
Click here to Check Latest Price
Further Information
If you have any feedback or questions about my Door Hinge Guards, please feel free to leave a comment in the box below or send an email to kristian@kidsafetyfirst.com
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