By Owen PalmerFurniture and television tip-overs are a hidden hazard that can happen in seconds. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched the Anchor It! campaign in response to a rise in injuries and deaths caused by unsecured furniture and TVs. According to the CPSC, anchoring all furniture with drawers, doors, and shelves to the wall prevents tip-over injuries and deaths. A federal rule to prevent furniture tip-over injuries and deaths took effect September 1, 2023, but the CPSC emphasizes that anchoring remains a critical step for every home with young children.
What Should Be Anchored
The CPSC’s childproofing guide lists several items that can tip over and crush a child. These include television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests, and ranges. Deaths and injuries occur when children climb onto, fall against, or pull themselves up on these pieces. The Anchor It! campaign specifically calls out furniture with drawers, doors, and shelves as needing to be secured. For added security, the CPSC advises anchoring these products to the floor or attaching them to a wall.
Free-standing ranges and stoves present an additional risk. The CPSC states that these appliances should be installed with anti-tip brackets to prevent scalding and crushing injuries. A practical way to apply this guidance is to walk through every room your child spends time in and note each TV and each piece with drawers, doors, or shelves.
Choosing an Anchoring Kit
The CPSC’s Anchor It! website explains that all you need are the right anchors and a few simple tools. A basic furniture or TV anchoring kit typically includes brackets and straps. You will also need a drill with a drill bit, a screwdriver, and a stud finder. The CPSC notes that even if you do not have any tools, you can usually get everything in one trip or one online order.
Follow the instructions that come with your anchoring kit and with the furniture or TV, since mounting details differ between products.
How to Install Furniture Anchors
The Anchor It! campaign breaks installation into a few straightforward steps. First, attach a bracket to the wall (the CPSC’s tool list includes a stud finder). Next, move the furniture close to the wall. Then attach the other bracket or plate to the furniture or TV. Connect the strap to both brackets and tighten it until it is secure. The CPSC then suggests a reality check: tug on the straps to be confident everything is secure.
If you are renting or plan to rearrange a room, the CPSC offers repair tips. Covering small holes from anchors is not difficult, even for someone with no home improvement experience. The site provides guidance on filling holes in the wall so you can leave the space as you found it. This makes anchoring a practical step for families in any living situation.
Additional Safety Practices
The Anchor It! campaign reminds caregivers that tip-overs can happen in the blink of an eye. The CPSC childproofing guide describes how they happen: children climb onto, fall against, or pull themselves up on furniture, TV stands and ranges. That is why the anchors need to be in place before a child is on the move.
For window areas, the CPSC recommends using cordless window coverings or tension devices to anchor continuous loops and bead chains to the floor or wall. While this is a separate hazard, it ties into the broader goal of securing anything a child could pull or climb. For more on window safety, see our window safety guide.
Comparison of Common Tip-Over Hazards
The table below summarizes the items the CPSC identifies as tip-over risks and the recommended prevention steps.
| Item | Risk | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| TVs and television stands | Can tip over and crush a child who climbs onto, falls against, or pulls up on them | Anchor to the wall or floor using a kit with straps and brackets |
| Dressers, chests, and desks | Listed by the CPSC among items children climb onto or pull up on | Anchor to the wall or floor |
| Bookcases and shelves | Listed by the CPSC among items that can tip over and crush young children | Anchor to the wall or floor |
| Free-standing ranges and stoves | Scalding and crushing injuries (CPSC) | Install anti-tip brackets |
Other childproofing devices can complement anchors. For example, cabinet and drawer locks help keep children out of cabinets and drawers that hold hazardous items, and outlet covers prevent electrical shocks. Together, these measures create a safer environment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to anchor every piece of furniture?
The CPSC recommends anchoring all furniture with drawers, doors, and shelves. That covers dressers, bookcases and similar pieces, plus every TV. The CPSC childproofing guide also lists television stands, shelves, desks, chests and ranges among the items that can tip over and crush young children.
Can I anchor furniture without damaging the wall?
Anchoring requires drilling small holes, but the CPSC’s Anchor It! site provides repair tips that show how to fill those holes easily. The campaign says that covering holes from anchors won’t be a problem when you move, rent or redecorate, even if you have never done it before. If you rent, check your lease before drilling.
What if my furniture didn’t come with an anchoring kit?
You can purchase a furniture anchoring kit separately. The CPSC notes that everything you need is available in one trip or online order. The CPSC’s list of what you’ll need is a furniture or TV anchoring kit, a drill and drill bit, a screwdriver, and a stud finder.
For more childproofing guidance, visit our Baby Safety section, where you will find articles on baby gate types, monitor cord safety, and other ways to keep your home safe for little ones.
Sources
- Anchor It! Furniture and TV Tip-Over Prevention
- CPSC: Childproofing Your Home
- Make Baby’s Room Safe: Parent Checklist
About Owen Palmer
Owen Palmer is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our baby gear guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.
