This post was sponsored by Window Covering Safety Council as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
It’s that time of year again to gather with family and friends, host parties and play dates, and keep our kids holly and jolly. With all of these planned and spontaneous events, there may be things that slip our minds, but our family’s safety should still be of the utmost importance.
Keeping kids safe can be a challenge when the danger may not be obvious. Did you know that corded blinds are actually a home safety hazard for very young children?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission calls corded window coverings one of the top hidden hazards in American homes, with infants and children accidentally becoming entangled in window blind cords.
Put window covering safety at the top of your child proofing checklist!
The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) is dedicated to educating parents and caregivers about the potential strangulation risks of window blind and shade cords and urges consumers to only use cordless window coverings or window coverings with inaccessible cords in homes with young children.
Here are some of their recommendations for window covering safety while childproofing your home:
1. Never Place Cribs Next to a Window
Whenever possible, place cribs and furniture on a non-windowed wall. Dangling or accessible cords on window coverings can pose an accidental strangulation hazard to infants and young children. In addition to that, a child leaning close to a window could cause them to fall out or get hurt.
2. Never Use Corded Blinds
For safety’s sake, replace older corded window coverings with today’s safer products. The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC), safety advocates, and government safety officials recommend that you only use cordless window coverings in homes with young children.
3. Only Use Blinds with the Best for Kids Certification
To aid consumers in making the right choice when selecting window coverings, cordless options can easily be identified by the new Best for Kids™ certification program. In order to be eligible for this certification, manufacturers must meet the specified program criteria and submit their window covering products to a designated third party testing laboratory.
Once products pass testing, they may be labeled Best for Kids™. Best for Kids products are currently available at major retailers across the country.
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Keep your children, and other children in your care as safe as possible by following all of the guidelines set forth by the WCSC. They recommend that only cordless window coverings or window coverings with inaccessible cords be used in homes with young children.
Marissa is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist turned stay-at-home mom who loves sharing her tips, tricks, and ideas for navigating motherhood. Her days are filled starting tickle wars and dance parties with three energetic toddlers and wondering how long she can leave the house a mess until her husband notices. When she doesn’t have her hands full of children, she enjoys a glass (or 3) of wine, reality tv, and country music. In addition to blogging about all things motherhood, she sells printables on Etsy and has another website, teachinglittles.com, for kid’s activity ideas.
