Child Proof Your Furniture!
Below are a few tips, links and a video on how to child proof the furniture in your home to prevent unforeseen accidents that could cause serious injury to your child. Due to liability, we do not install or sell furniture anchors in our store but we can make recommendations if you inquire. Installation is simple, fast and easy but please call a professional if you are unsure the best route to take to safely install tip restraints.
Hangman Install Video
Best to anchor any cabinet over 30". After market anchors are generally better than the often cheap anchors that are supplied by the furniture manufacturers. Search for highest rated restraints.
Hangman Restraint
Find a stud, pre-drill and always fasten into the top of the cabinet. Some restraints can be mounted to the underside of the top inside the cabinet by drilling a hole through the back and mounting the bracket to the underside top .
Never place items like remotes or toys high up on a cabinet that could entice your child to climb the cabinet to get the item. Place heavier items near the bottom.
See above video for best install!
Whenever possible the safest choice is to mount your TV right on the wall. Be sure to hit studs when mounting the bracket.
If you can’t wall mount, secure your television with a strap or anchor to the wall on an appropriate low media cabinet.
If you do decided to install the tip restraints that came with the furniture, carefully follow all the manufacturer's instructions.
Why
How To
Experts deems these accidents 100 percent preventable when the correct hardware is used and installed properly. Wall anchors can be purchased at any hardware store or online, and are essential for making sure tall pieces of furniture stay upright against a wall.
1. Purchase appropriate furniture anchors
Purchase furniture restraints, also called furniture anchors or tethers, from safety specialists. Not all devices are created equal! Your furniture might have come with small plastic cable ties but we do not recommend you use them (the plastic can degrade and break over time or they may not be appropriate for forces applied in a tip-over). L brackets (angle braces) and earthquake anchoring products work well for some furniture.
2. Use two for each piece of furniture
Plan on using at least two (2) restraints per piece of furniture. Wide pieces of furniture might need additional restraints. For stacked pieces of furniture, anchor the top piece (e.g., hutch, additional bookcase, etc.) to the base and then anchor to the wall.
3. Install into solid wood
Ensure the restraints are installed into a solid piece of wood on the back (or the top) of the furniture. You will find that some furniture has very thin pieces of wood or other materials on the back that would not be able to hold a screw. You may even be able to drill a hole through the thin back near the top and connect a bracket to the inside top and run the wire/tether to the wall bracket.
4. Attach anchor to a wall stud
Use a wood stud (stud finders are available to assist you in locating them). DO NOT attach a product with plastic drywall anchors. You may need to adjust the size of the screw that you are using to ensure it is installed securely into the stud. If the cabinet or bookcase is tall and you don't mind drilling into the top of the unit, a simple L bracket using four screws and making sure you hit a stud is a very cheap, secure way to anchor a cabinet tight to the wall!
5. Ensure restraints are tight and regularly check them.
Many products require the installer to tighten them during the last step of installation. There should not be slack in the furniture strap/anchor.
6. Consider hiring a professional child proofer to help.
They are experienced and very familiar with the proper installation of furniture restraints. Due to liability, we do not sell or install furniture anchors in our store but we can make recommendations if you inquire.