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“One of the most terrifying and frankly devastating injuries children can experience is when a chest of drawers or bookshelf is not mounted and falls on a young child,” Patel said.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported in 2023 that there was an annual average of about 6,400 child injuries treated in the emergency department from furniture tip-overs.
“Dressers, shelves and other items that children can climb should be … secured to the wall, ideally into studs or with drywall anchors with provided hardware,” Sobolewski said.
Patel added that standing mirrors are also at risk for tipping over and should be mounted to walls.
So at what age is it safe to unmount furniture and mirrors?
Patel recommends always having heavy furniture mounted with kids in the house. For lighter items, like a standing mirror, she considers two factors: 1) If the mirror falls, would it hurt the child? 2) Would the child be able to get out without help?
“I hesitate to give ages as different kids have different levels of activity and developmental stages,” she added. “But personally, I … would not unmount [a standing mirror] until [the] child is in [their] early teens.
2. Toy Chests With Heavy Lids
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