Though I like to concentrate on the retail furniture market, I also happen to be the father of a 15 month old little girl. That simply means that the line between home and everything else I do blurs often. This is no different. I want to take a day or two here to talk about furniture safety.
Furniture safety is an issue because the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that in 2005, more than 3,000 children under the age of 5 years were treated in ER’s in the US due to injuries associated with televisions tipping over. When other types of furniture tip-overs are thrown in the number becomes even more startling.
The answer is that when there are children in the home or even visiting a home, furniture must be made safe. How can it be made safe or at least safer? There are a couple of things you can do.
First, you can check with your furniture retailer to find out what if any testing has been done on a particular piece. Pay special attention to television stands and entertainment centers. Additionally, look at tall pieces like chests and dressers, which can also be susceptible to tipping and falling.
Secondly, once you do have your furniture purchased and in your home, you should take the time to “child proof” it. That means you must make drawers harder to open by putting child safety latches on them. Additionally, you can use child safety tethers to get them to connect to the wall to help prevent tipping.
Finally, check with baby safety websites to see what there is you can do. Look for products to make furniture safer, and try to be thorough in your furniture safety.
There is no way to make anything safe one hundred percent of the time. What you can do, though, is stay aware and do your homework.
Over the next day or two, I will research a little more and add links to sites where you can learn more about furniture safety. I will also link to some products I have used in my home or that have been recommended to me be experts so that you can find what you need to make your furniture not only beautiful and functional, but also safe.
Hope this helps,
The Furniture Guy
