LOCKS, LATCHES and FURNITURE RESTRAINTS for CHILD SAFETY

Little fingers find their way into all manner of places.  Drawers, cupboards, book shelves.  The list is endless.  In addition to this strong sense of curiosity, those just learning to walk often pull themselves up by a bookshelf or other piece of furniture.  Without the toddler’s knowledge, the bookcase they depended upon now threatens to topple over on them.

 So, go through the house to count the number of drawers and cupboard doors are in each room.  Then begin to fit each one with the appropriate latch mechanism. 

 Don’t forget refrigerators, freezers and toilets.  The toilet latch, most importantly, prevents a potential drowning.  It secondarily keeps a child from depositing toys and other things in that handy spot.

 Now take a look at china cabinets, bookcases and tall, free-standing chests or closets.  Anything that is taller and could topple over is a potential candidate for a furniture restraint.  Because toddlers are so small, your list might include end tables and the like as well.  They have to be close to a wall though.  Restraining devices work by fastening one end of the bracket into the piece of furniture and the other end into the studs in the wall.  Once both ends are secured, it takes a lot of force to cause a cabinet to topple.

 Speaking of toppling, this is the same control used to prevent furniture from falling over during an earthquake.  Thus, if you live in earthquake country, this is a procedure you should be using anyway.  Again, it is critical that the wall side of the bracket be screwed or lagged to the stud.  Except for extremely severe quakes, the moving earth may rattle the bookcase a bit, but it won’t topple over on someone.  If it’s only fastened to the plaster board, it will pop free in a minute.

 Securing cabinet and appliance doors and drawers will keep little guys out of trouble, at least this kind of trouble anyway, and out of harm’s way.   Attaching bookcases and china cabinets to wall studs prevents them from tipping over on a child.

 For more information on child safety, we invite you to join us at www.kidshomesafety.com.

 While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented here is correct, contents and any links are not warranted for accuracy or any other implied or explicit purposes, and are for information only.  Medical or other suitable professionals should be contacted when appropriate.