A Guide to Child-Proofing Your Home

by Nick, Digital Specialist | September 9, 2021

Tall furniture can be a hazard in your home if it isn't secured properly. Here is a guide (with video) about how to prevent this by installing an anti-tip kit on your furniture.

Imagine being a toddler and seeing all this furniture that just...needs to be climbed! If you’re an adventurous toddler, tall pieces of furniture can look like Mount Everest and present an opportunity for some daredevil maneuvers! Unfortunately, these brave and daring toddlers can be injured (or worse) by furniture that’s tipped over onto them. We’ll spare you the gory and scary statistics, but if you’re a parent of a toddler, you should know that this is a real hazard in your home that needs to be addressed.

As a parent, you probably already know that you need to stay one step ahead of your child in order to keep them safe, and this is no exception. It can be too late before you realize that you need to address the situation- hopefully the tips in this article can prevent this from ever being an issue!

Specifically as it relates to furniture, your best bet will be to get an anti-tip kit. Make especially sure you have an anti-tip kit for tall pieces such as chests and dressers, but you may also want to consider securing other tall items, such as bookshelves and entertainment units. If your new furniture doesn’t come with an anti-tip kit, they can be purchased online or in many home improvement, big-box, or electronics stores. Anchors are usually inexpensive, costing anywhere between $10 and $25.

Most anchors are easy to install, with a few simple steps:
  - Secure one of the brackets to the wall (ideally in a stud in the wall)
  - Attach the second bracket to the back of the furniture
  - Following the instructions, connect the two brackets with the strap or tether and adjust to make sure it’s tight

You can even find anti-tip kits that are installed without screws in the wall (they usually use a strong adhesive), or ones that don’t require screwdrivers.

For more on how to install these kits, check out this video:

If you’re not handy or don’t have time, you can always hire a professional to do this work for you. There are professional child-proofing services that can inspect your home and help you address safety risks- just be aware that these services can be expensive, especially if they are certified and affiliated with the International Association for Child Safety.

While we’re on the topic, here are some other child-proofing things to consider:
  - You’ll want to make sure you have any child-proofing measures ready to go by the time your child starts to crawl

  - To best identify any hazards, get on your hands and knees and “crawl” around any parts of your home where your child could access. This will give you some perspective from their level. Make notes about exposed outlets, pointy edges, and household cleaners in addition to any tipping hazards.

  - Some essential items you’ll want to make sure you have include locks and latches for your cabinets, window guards, baby gates, outlet covers, corner guards, and furniture anchors.

  - Make sure to secure your TV if it isn’t mounted to the wall. You can purchase an anti-tip kit similar to a furniture kit from an electronics or big-box store. They can also be found online.

We hope these simple tips help keep your home safe!