Which Window Treatments are Best for Your Children's Safety?
Keep Your Home Beautiful and Hazard Free
Did you know that from 2012 to 2017, there were 50 fatalities reported to the Consumer Product Safety Council CPSC that
were related to window cord strangulation among infants and young children under 10 years old. It's not October, the official "Cord safety" month, but this topic is important enough to be covered any time. People work hard at making their homes safe, but often window treatments are overlooked.
I’m committed to keeping homes safe by making sure my clients are informed on choosing the right product. While you might not be a parent, if you have children visit your home or plan to sell in the future, having child-safe window treatments will bring you and any future owners peace of mind. In this month’s post, I’ll be sharing tips on how to choose safe window treatments and making what you already have child safe.
Which Window Treatments are Unsafe for Kids?
Any window treatments with cords present a danger. Most commonly these are the pull cords on blinds and shades, but cord operated drapery panels can be a risk as well. Continuous loops on drapery rods and blinds can present a danger if not secured properly. Children are creative! even Inaccessible cords can sometimes be accessed.
This image scares me! The beaded cord loop is not secured and is a danger to the child’s safety.
Which are the Best Treatments for a Child-Safe Home?
My best suggestions for child-safe window treatments are all cord-free. Baton or wand draw drapery panels and cordless shades or blinds eliminate operating cords that can present a hazard. Both drapery panels and shades can be motorized and many shades can be raised and lowered by springs or hidden cords in the headrail.
How do you know if your treatments are safe? Check the cord loop on drapery rods. vertical and horizontal blinds. Is the bottom of the cord loop secured to the wall or floor? The cord should run through a tension device attached to the wall. Additionally, if there is slack in the cord loop, the cord or device needs to be adjusted so that the cord is taut.
Check the back of roman shades. Can you access the lift cords and pull out a large loop? Are the lift rings spaced more than 8" apart vertically? If the answer to either of these is yes then the shades need to be replaced or retrofitted with safety products. A child under the age of 6 has an average size head of 17". A spacing of 8" or less between the rings creates no larger than a 16.9" space between the cord and the back of the shade, reducing the chance for a child's head to fit through.
Is the operating cord on blinds free hanging? If it is longer than 40% of the length of the blind when it's closed, the cord needs to be shortened. A cord cleat next to the shade to secure the cording when the shade is raised is necessary.
Parasol shade from Lafayette Interior Fashions with lift and lock option. My favorite lift system after motorized - no cords!
Parasol shade from Lafayette Interior Fashions with retractable cord- no cord cleat is needed.
Parasol shade from Lafayette Interior Fashions. Shown with continuous cord in tension device.
How I Can Help You
Education is key in making a safe window treatments. I keep up to date with additions to and changes in cord safety regulations and I adhere to the guidelines. Shroud cord or ring locks are used for the lift cords on shades I fabricate and all cord loops have tension devices attached. My installer is aware of the safety standards and he makes sure tension devices are correctly installed. I test all shades before they leave my workroom to be sure they are compliant.
Rings lock at each lift point help prevent pulling out a long loop of cord.
My Advice
In addition to having safe window treatments, keep cribs, bedding, and furniture away from windows. I love making beautiful window treatments, but I also believe in safety.
I welcome you to reach out to me if you have any questions, whether you order from me or not!
Ready for the perfect window treatment for your space and family? Contact me, and I'd be delighted to help!
Until next time,
Laura