Children are joys to our home, especially when they’re safe and healthy. As parents and guardians, we implement rules and make changes in the house to make sure they’re safe. But our home can have a lot of hazards that we are not aware of. Doors, cabinets, and dressers can be hazardous to curious children. It is vital to know how to child proof dresser drawers and other home appliances to avoid accidents in our homes.
If we went through each part of the household, we could come up with many things that need childproofing. These include sockets, table edges, cabinets, and doors. In this article, we will focus on dresser drawers and how to child proof dresser drawers.
Why Childproofing is Essential
Before we learn how to child proof dresser drawers, we need to understand the basics of childproofing. Having a child around the home means additional responsibility. Childproofing is one of the most effective ways to minimize child-related accidents.
Childproofing refers to the action taken that makes something safe for children to access or the measures taken to make things inaccessible to children. The goals are secure access or complete inaccessibility.
Our dresser drawers become a hazard to children in several ways:
- They can access sharp objects like scissors and toxic substances like medication.
- When closing, their fingers might get caught in the drawers .
- They can use drawer handles to climb up the dresser .
- They could pull out a drawer by accident.
- A dresser might fall on them.
Three Easy Ways on How to Child Proof Dresser Drawers
Dresser drawers do present some real dangers, but there is a childproof fix.
1. Adhesive Magnetic Locks
These magnetic locks don’t require drilling at all. You can install as much as you like on different drawers as well, making it an easy and hassle-free childproofing option. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:
Step 1 – First, you should make sure your lock works by testing the lock and unlock mechanism.
Step 2 – Position the lock on the inside of the drawer and test your magnetic key lock with the lock.
Step 3 – Remove the adhesive and install the template on the upper part of the drawer.
Step 4 – Use the model as a guide so you can properly install the magnetic lock.
Step 5 – Remove the template over the magnetic lock and allow 24hrs for the adhesive to properly stick.
Step 6 – Activate the lock. It can either be a green indicator or a small lever to push.
Step 7 – Close your drawer and use the magnetic key to unlock.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Take care of your magnetic key. You wouldn’t want to parent proof your drawers too!
2. Hook and Loop Fasteners
For some of you who might not prefer spending on adhesive magnetic locks for your drawers, hook, and loop fasteners are an excellent option. These are more popularly known as Velcro, even if there are other available brands. This is very easy to install and will not require any changes to your drawers. It doesn’t change the look of your drawers and is also very easy to update.
Step 1 – Choose industrial grade fasteners. Industrial grade is more durable than others.
Step 2 – Place one side of the fastener on the drawer frame with glue or double-sided tape. Position the other side of the fastener on the drawer itself.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You can add more fasteners where you see fit.
Step 3 – Test the hold of the fasteners by closing and opening your drawers.
3. Furniture Anchors
The first two options we provided to you are focused on the drawers. The ways on how to child proof dresser drawers also means we need to secure the dresser to make sure it doesn’t tip over.
Step 1 – Measure the height of the furniture and match it to the wall.
Step 2 – Measure 8 inches below the height of your dresser. Manufacturer instructions may vary for this step, so always read the manual.
Step 3 – Mark the holes on the wall for you to drill using the furniture anchor brackets as your guide.
Step 4 – Use a drill bit to screw in the brackets to the wall.
Step 5 – Choose a solid wood piece on the dresser. This is usually the substantial-top part of a dresser.
Step 6 – Mark the holes on the dresser. Use a drill bit to screw in the opposite brackets. The brackets don’t have to be entirely in the center. Furniture anchors allow some flexibility.
Step 7 – Tighten the straps in place. The shorter end of the anchor must be on the wall, and the longer end must be on the dresser. After sliding the dresser up to the wall and tightening the straps, your dresser is now anchored.
There are other options available that will require some hardware changes and drilling during installation. And although they are specifically designed to childproof drawers, they might cause some damage to your dressers. Ultimately, knowing what works best for us should help us choose.
Maintaining A Child Proof Home
Childproofing dresser drawers are relatively simple, but the secret is in maintaining the security of the home. Here are a few tips:
- Remove dangerous objects from drawers – these include sharp objects, plastic, and loose and dense items.
- Keep an eye on them – Having a curious child around can be a challenge, but part of the joy of having them around is witnessing their curiosities advance as they grow.
- Redirect their behavior when they attempt to do things that could cause harm.
Conclusion
Securing dresser drawers from children is a way to make sure they would not get into an accident. We have all the tools to help us with their safety, and we can always learn how to child proof dresser drawers, but ultimately no one else can keep them out of harm’s way better than us.
I hope this article has shed some light on your home safety and improvement skills. Safety is a vital trait for every home, and it should be our duty to execute it, especially as parents. Find out more about Child Proof Drawers.