Preventing Furniture Tip-Overs: A Hidden Danger

Every 17 minutes, a child is injured by furniture or a TV tipping over. These accidents can cause serious injuries and even death, yet they're almost entirely preventable. As children learn to pull up, cruise, and climb, unsecured furniture becomes a significant hazard that many parents don't think about until it's too late.

Understanding the Danger CPSC

Furniture tip-overs happen when children climb on, pull on, or hang from unstable furniture. Dressers are the most dangerous because children often use open drawers as steps to climb. TVs, especially older CRT models, are also extremely hazardous.

Sobering statistics:

• A child dies every two weeks from a furniture tip-over
• Over 22,000 children are injured by tip-overs annually
• Most victims are under age 6
• 70% of deaths involve dressers
• Many tip-overs occur when a caregiver is home but in another room

Why children are at risk:

• Natural curiosity drives them to climb
• Open drawers look like steps or ladders
• Children don't understand physics or consequences
• Small bodies are easily crushed by heavy furniture
• Top-heavy furniture is unstable when pulled on

High-Risk Furniture AAP

Any furniture taller than 30 inches should be anchored, but some items pose greater risks.

Highest risk items:

• Dressers and chests of drawers (especially tall ones)
• Bookshelves and bookcases
• Entertainment centers
• Armoires and wardrobes
• Desks and computer desks
• Televisions (mounted or on stands)

Moderate risk items:

• Nightstands
• Side tables
• Kitchen furniture
• Bathroom cabinets
• Free-standing shelving units

Factors that increase risk:

• Furniture with multiple drawers (climbing temptation)
• Heavy items stored on top
• Uneven or soft flooring
• Furniture on wheels without locks
• Top-heavy design

How to Anchor Furniture CPSC

Anchoring furniture to the wall is the single most effective way to prevent tip-overs.

Types of anchoring methods:

Furniture straps/anti-tip straps:

• Most common and effective method
• One end attaches to furniture, other to wall stud
• Use two straps per piece (top corners)
• Must go into wall stud, not just drywall
• Available at hardware stores and online

L-brackets:

• Metal brackets that attach furniture to wall
• Very secure but visible
• Good for bookshelves and larger pieces
• Require drilling into furniture and wall

Wall anchors with cables:

• Similar to straps but with metal cables
• Very strong and durable
• Good for heavy furniture

How to anchor properly:
1. Locate wall studs using a stud finder
2. Attach one end of the strap to the back of the furniture near the top
3. Attach the other end directly into a wall stud
4. Ensure the strap is taut—no slack
5. Use screws appropriate for the furniture and wall
6. Test by gently pulling on the furniture

Tips for successful anchoring:

• Follow manufacturer instructions
• Use appropriate hardware for your wall type (drywall, plaster, concrete)
• Check that anchors remain secure periodically
• Re-anchor when moving furniture or moving to a new home

TV Safety AAP

Televisions present unique tip-over risks, and the danger hasn't disappeared with flat-screen TVs.

TV tip-over facts:

• Flat-screen TVs are lighter but tip more easily
• Children are attracted to TV images
• TVs on stands without anchoring are unstable

Safe TV placement:

• Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall using manufacturer-approved mounts
• Place TVs on low, stable, TV-designed furniture
• Push TV as far back on the furniture as possible
• Anchor TV furniture to the wall
• Use TV straps if not wall-mounted

Never:

• Place TVs on dressers, shelves, or furniture not designed for them
• Let cords dangle where children can pull them
• Place remotes on top of TV (entices climbing)
• Assume flat-screen TVs are safe without anchoring

Room-by-Room Approach

Nursery/child's bedroom:

• Anchor dressers and changing tables
• Secure any bookshelves
• Don't place furniture where child could use it to climb out of crib
• Remove or secure unstable items

Living room/family room:

• Mount or anchor TV
• Anchor entertainment centers and bookshelves
• Secure any tall speaker stands
• Anchor decorative shelving

Playroom:

• Use low, stable furniture
• Anchor toy storage units
• Avoid tall bookshelves if possible
• Keep climbing toys away from furniture

Throughout home:

• Walk through each room looking for tip risks
• Think about what's climbable from a toddler's perspective
• Anchor any furniture a child could pull on or climb

Beyond Anchoring: Additional Safety Measures Safe Kids

Reduce climbing temptation:

• Keep dresser drawers closed
• Don't place toys or remotes on top of furniture
• Remove drawer handles if possible (or use dresser drawer stops)
• Place items children want at low levels

Storage strategies:

• Store heavier items in lower drawers
• Don't overload top shelves
• Remove items that might entice climbing
• Keep interesting items out of sight on high furniture

Supervision:

• Watch children around furniture
• Teach that climbing on furniture is not safe
• Intervene when you see climbing behavior
• Remember tip-overs happen in seconds

What to Do if Furniture Tips

If furniture falls on a child:

1. Stay calm - panicking won't help
2. Assess the situation - is the child responsive?
3. Don't move heavy furniture if you might cause more injury
4. Call 911 for any significant impact
5. Keep the child still if neck/back injury is possible
6. Comfort and monitor until help arrives

Watch for:

• Loss of consciousness
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe bleeding
• Obvious fractures
• Changes in behavior after the event

When You Can't Anchor

Some situations make anchoring challenging, but there are still steps you can take.

Rental properties:

• Many landlords allow small holes for safety devices
• Use furniture straps (smaller holes than brackets)
• Document installation and repair holes when moving
• Explore damage-free alternatives (though less effective)

Challenging walls:

• Brick/concrete: Use appropriate masonry anchors
• Plaster walls: Find studs or use toggle bolts
• Mobile homes: Follow manufacturer guidelines

If you truly can't anchor:

• Replace tall furniture with low, stable alternatives
• Remove drawers from dressers if possible
• Weight bottom drawers heavily
• Increase supervision dramatically

Creating a Safe Home

Immediate actions:

• Inventory all furniture over 30 inches tall
• Purchase appropriate anchoring supplies
• Anchor highest-risk items first (dressers, bookshelves, TVs)
• Check existing anchors are secure

Ongoing safety:

• Check anchors every few months
• Re-anchor when furniture is moved
• Anchor furniture when moving to new home
• Include anchoring when buying new furniture

The Bottom Line

Furniture tip-overs are a serious but preventable danger. Every dresser, bookshelf, and TV should be anchored to the wall. It takes just minutes to install anchors but a lifetime to recover from a serious injury. Don't wait—anchor your furniture today.

Clara can help you create a safer home for your climbing explorer!