Childproofing Furniture
Childproofing furniture includes several steps. One of the steps must be to prevent the furniture from tipping over. Also, we must keep heavy items from falling on our children. Year after year, many children do not survive tip-over related injuries and even more are treated in emergency departments.
How does This Happen
Children like to climb on furniture. Seems like for them, the home is a playground. Tip-over related injuries involve heavy objects falling on an individual as a result of some kind of interaction with it. For example, climbing or pulling on an item while it is in a position of normal use. This interaction with the item results in the center of gravity of the item changing. When the item falls on an individual, the injuries are typically crushing or compressing in nature.
Just the Facts
81 percent of tip-over fatalities occur in the home.
*Breaking News*
Childproofing Recommendation
Infant House recommends tethering all furniture 3 or more drawers tall, changing tables, all book cases, armoires, grandfather clocks and other unstable furniture to the wall. All TVs must be secured as well. In addition, heavy items on top of furniture, such as a potted plant or sculpture must be secured or removed. Infant House makes these recommendations for all homes with children up through 7 years of age.
What Product Do I Use?
There are many child proofing products on the market for restraining furniture. Use caution, many of the products are not very good and do not meet our standards. Infant House uses professional grade straps for child proofing furniture. You can choose either black or white straps and installation takes about 20 minutes for each piece.
Review
Child proofing the furniture in your home will help prevent:
- Injury to your child.
- Damage to furniture and your TV
- Damage to the contents of your furniture
About the Author:
Jack Smith is a child proofing expert with Infant House, a child safety company serving the Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio Texas areas. He is the Daddy of boy/girl twins. Affiliated with the International Association for Child Safety. Contributing author of “Chaos 2 Calm the moms-of-multiples’ guide to an organized family”. Seen on CBS and inventor of the GlideLok – a childproof door latch sold worldwide. Contact:InfantHouse.com or call 866-Infant5 (866-463-2685) for your in-home child proofing evaluation. Sources: cpsc, www.anchorit.gov 01/17
