individual electric radiator is great for a kid's room-we used ours in there for years and they never went near it. Plus, it's easy enough to cover-if you're half-way handy with wood, you just make a plywood case-leaving enough space around it to allow the heat to circulate and cover the front with metal lattice. Good side-feature-you now have an extra display shelf
May I assume this is your only child? I ask because of the over-cautiousness the wife has. New heaters meet or exceed safety guidelines. That, along with some no-touching rules and a watchful eye will more than be enough, safety wise. I'm more concerned about the abundance of covers-she could crawl under in her sleep, mixing exhaled air with limited inhaled, making for a very sleepy, lethargic kid.