Chest of Drawers can be bought with certain safety features and should not be neglected. Childhood injuries and deaths from tipping furniture are a growing problem, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics (ConsumerReports.org, 2010 ). When purchasing any type of furniture you should check the manual for safety features and hazards.

Think about safety for your kids

Some safety features are apparent such as safety straps or safety stops. While others may not, such as materials or accessories used. Glass drawer knobs if broken or chipped can become a safety hazard and can cause cuts or lacerations to anyone. Small pieces that are easily removed should not be placed in a child’s room where it can be swallowed. Safety straps on chest of drawers will help prevent tip-over of the full piece, but safety stops can prevent the drawers of the chest from being pulled completely out falling on to a little one’s toes. Items with rounded edges can prevent injury to children who are running full speed without any brakes.

Some manufactures will build with safety in mind and can still be bought at a decent cost. If certain safety features are not available on a brand you may be able to purchase them separately. Research is a must when making these type of decisions. When piecing together your chest of drawer follow by the instructions and adhere to the safety features available. Some safety features such as drawer stops can be removed, read the manual to know if this is a possibility.

A beautiful chest of drawer for a child’s room doesn’t have to be a scary purchase! IKEA’s Mammut 3 drawer chest can be purchased with the drawer stops and has an enclosed storage strap with purchase. IKEA is not the only brand, but one example of what can be purchased with the item.

To further the safety of your dresser be wise on how you use it. Do not place heavy items or pull away covers on top and place heavier items in the lower drawers. One issue that may not have a solution is finding ways to keep those little ones fingers getting smashed in drawers.  We all know how important it is to protect our little ones, so keep safety in mind.

To find brands that have passed certain test you can check ConsumerReports.org. This website can give you information on what chest of drawers are more likely to tip or break or cause hazardous issues.

Tags: chest, chest of drawers, chests of drawers, drawers, dressers, safety