Furniture and televisions

Safety at home

Young children may climb furniture to reach items on high shelves or in drawers. Climbing can cause furniture or televisions to tip over onto a child, causing serious injuries — including head or internal injuries — that could lead to death.

General furniture safety tips

• Always supervise children in the home and teach them not to climb or hang from furniture.
• Choose storage furniture (bookcases, cabinets, television stands and dressers) with wide and stable bases that sit directly on the floor. Models with legs or wheels are more likely to tip over.
• Attach furniture to the wall using angle braces, anchors or safety straps. If these items come with the product, follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation. Secure to dry-wall stud if possible.
• Place televisions far back on low, stable furniture that is designed to hold the weight and size of the television. Attach the television to a stand if possible.
• Keep electrical cords behind furniture where children cannot reach them.
• Do not place items that may appeal to children — such as toys, plants and remote controls — on top of TVs or tall furniture.

Safety and dressers

Children may climb dressers because the drawers can be opened and used as steps. But open drawers make a dresser unstable, increasing the chance of it tipping over. For your children's safety:

• Do not place TVs on dressers. They are not designed to hold them.
• Open only one drawer at a time and close all drawers when not in use.
• Install locking devices on each drawer.
• Place heavier items — like books — in lower drawers.
• When buying a dresser, look for one that meets the requirements of the current ASTM F2057 Safety Standard for Chests, Door Chests and Dressers.