October is a great month. The pumpkin spice lattes are back and the weather is still warm but the evenings have a bite to them and it’s a good month to take a few minutes to help ensure your home is safer for children. October is National Window Covering Safety month and that means that with just a little bit of your time you can make a big difference for the children in your life. Here are some things that you can do in order to help child-proof your home’s window coverings. 

Window Coverings With Cords

If you have window coverings with long pull cords like traditional blinds or even some curtains, then you should take extra steps to ensure that those cords are safely out of reach for small children. Cords of all kinds can pose a safety (strangulation) hazard to children, especially infants. Here are some things you can do in order to help make your home safer for children:

• Replace all corded window coverings with modern cordless models if at all possible.

  • The Window Coverings Safety Council actually certifies certain window coverings as “Best For Kids” which means that they have been tested and approved as kid safe. Look for the “Best For Kids” seal when buying new coverings. More info on their website here. 

• If you can’t immediately replace or remove corded window coverings, then make sure that your existing cords are out of reach by safely tying them to secure anchors up high.

• Move all furniture, especially cribs and bassinets away from windows and window coverings with cords.

• If you have them, inspect your current cord anchors to ensure that they are still secure and aren’t in need of replacing.

• If they are old enough, take a moment to talk to your children about not playing with or near window coverings and to be careful around cords of all kinds.

Furniture Safety

As we mentioned earlier, move all furniture away from windows and window coverings that have cords. Make sure that the cords are high enough and out of the way enough that children can’t reach them even if they climb on nearby furniture. You’ll also want to anchor and secure all heavy and tippable furniture to make sure that they don’t tip over and fall on a child that is climbing it. Speaking of cords, you’ll also want to check your cords connected to your household appliances and make sure that they are out of the reach of children. Don’t forget to check your TV and entertainment center! 

All it takes is a few minutes to go through each room and check for hanging or unsecured cords and it can make a huge difference in the well-being of the children in your home. If you’re looking to replace your current window coverings with ones that are more child safe, then please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we would be happy to help you. Our friendly sales staff are standing by to help you with all of your window covering safety questions and needs. Give us a call today: (208) 888-1056.