One of the easiest and most effective ways parents can protect children from window-related hazards is to eliminate a child’s access to windows by keeping cribs, chairs and sofas away from windows and dangling cords. This also will make life easier since parents won’t be constantly fixing mussed-up blinds! But this is just the first step, children are naturally curious and surprisingly inventive, so childproofing dangerous window coverings is a must for a safe family home.

There are several ways parents can childproof unsafe window coverings (most made before 1995) without running out to purchase new products. If uncertain about the year window coverings were manufactured, a quick check will identify existing child safety features and help determine if simple safety repairs are needed:

• Do the pull cords connect at the end to create a loop? If so, is the plastic end “tassel” one solid piece, or will it break apart easily, breaking the cord loop? (If it separates into two pieces, it probably is a safety tassel)
• Can the inner cord (between the blind slats) be pulled out?
• Does the continuous loop (on some vertical and horizontal blinds) dangle freely?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider making a few childproofing modifications to your window coverings. Below we’ve listed the most common child safety issues and sources for free safety repair kits. One solution or a combination of solutions may apply, depending upon the window covering’s style, use and how accessible it is to young children

Exciting Windows! can provide these devices, or call The Window Covering Safety Council at 1-800-506-4636 to request free safety devices.

Read more at: KidSmartLiving.com

Tweet This Post