This is general information. For current rules, recalls and product guidance in the United States, check the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Outside the US, check your national product safety agency. For a child's health or development, ask your pediatrician.
Why anchoring matters
Kids climb. They open drawers to use as steps, pull themselves up on shelves, and reach for things placed on top. Even a short, wide unit can tip forward when a child hangs on the front. A strap or bracket that ties the top of the unit to the wall stops it from rotating forward. The CPSC's Anchor It campaign has videos and guidance on tip-over prevention.
What to anchor
- Bookcases and tall shelves of any material
- Dressers and chests of drawers, even low ones
- Cube storage units, especially stacked ones
- Wardrobes and freestanding cabinets
- Flat-screen TVs and the stands they sit on
- Play kitchens and other tall play furniture that a child can pull on
Anchoring hardware
Many new dressers and bookcases come with an anti-tip kit. Use it, and follow the maker's instructions. If you need to buy hardware, furniture anti-tip straps or brackets are sold at most hardware stores. Choose ones rated for the weight of the furniture.
The wall matters more than the strap. A strap is only as strong as what it is screwed into:
| Wall type | General approach |
|---|---|
| Drywall over wood studs | Find a stud with a stud finder and screw into it. This is the most secure option for most homes. |
| Drywall with no stud where you need it | Use a heavy-duty drywall anchor rated for the load, or move the furniture so the strap lines up with a stud. |
| Brick, block or concrete | Use masonry anchors and a masonry drill bit. |
| Plaster and lath | Find the framing behind the plaster. Older walls vary, so ask a handy friend or a professional if you're unsure. |
Step by step
- Empty the furniture and place it where it will stay.
- Find a stud, or confirm your wall type, near the top of the unit.
- Attach one end of the strap or bracket to the top or back of the furniture, into solid wood or the frame. A thin back panel won't hold.
- Attach the other end to the wall at the stud, using the right fastener for your wall.
- Tighten so the unit can't lean forward. Push gently on the top to test it.
- Refill the furniture with heavy items low and light items high.
TVs
Older, heavy TVs and flat screens can both tip. Wall-mount a flat-screen TV using a mount rated for its size and weight, screwed into studs. If the TV stays on a stand, anchor both the TV and the stand. Avoid placing a TV on a dresser or shelf that wasn't designed to hold one, and route the cords so kids can't pull on them.
If you rent
Many landlords allow small screw holes for safety anchors, and some leases mention it. Ask, and patch the holes when you move out. If drilling isn't allowed, choose low furniture, keep heavy items at the bottom, and keep tall pieces out of the playroom. Adhesive products are not a substitute for a screwed-in anchor on tall or heavy furniture.
Check your anchors
- Look at straps and screws a few times a year. Tighten anything loose.
- Reanchor any furniture you move, even within the same room.
- Replace straps that are frayed, cracked or stretched.
- After a growth spurt or a new climbing phase, look at the room with fresh eyes.
If you're not comfortable drilling into walls, a handyperson can anchor a room in a short visit. It is one of the most useful safety jobs to pay for. For the rest of the room, see the playroom safety checklist.