ᐅ How can I secure Ikea Besta furniture to prevent it from tipping over when there are small children around?

Hello everyone,

I have a rather specific question and hope for your experience or advice: How can I secure Ikea Besta furniture against tipping over with small children? My daughter is just under two years old and very active. Since the Besta units in our living room are quite tall and sometimes hold heavy items, I’m concerned she might climb on them or that the furniture could tip over.

What mounting or securing options are available that actually work in practice? I’m particularly interested if anyone has experience with the original Ikea mounting kits or if other methods are safer or more recommendable. Any tips on installation, stabilization, or alternative furniture arrangements to reduce the risk would be great.

Thanks in advance for your input!

SHADI63 schrieb:
How do I secure Ikea Besta furniture to prevent tipping with small children?

Hey, this is really an important topic, especially when little ones are always curious and unstoppable!

I simply used the wall mounts provided by Ikea. They are discreet but give the Besta solid support. My little daredevil still tried climbing on it, but the furniture stayed firmly in place.

A quick tip: make sure to fix it into a solid wall substrate (no drywall without proper anchors). Also, consider storing items near the floor, since the top sections are usually heavier and more likely to tip.

Always keep an eye on your little destruction experts – but with this kind of securing, you already have a good level of protection.

SHADI63 schrieb:
What fastening or securing options actually work in practice?

A very good question that should not be underestimated. First of all, I would recommend using the original wall brackets from Ikea, which are specifically designed for Besta modules. These metal brackets are attached above the furniture, fixing both the cabinet and the wall. Important points to consider are:

- Fastening into a solid wall section (concrete, masonry, or suitable anchors for drywall)
- Using appropriate screws that can support the weight
- Checking the fastening strength after a few months

Another option is to additionally stabilize the furniture with L-shaped angle brackets or to create a connection between individual module units at the base if multiple Besta units are placed side by side.

For most families, it also makes sense to childproof the lower section of the furniture: for example, by fitting the fronts with child locks to prevent little ones from pulling everything out and possibly pulling on it.

Specific advice: Do not rely only on the regular screws in the back panel during assembly, but always secure the furniture piece additionally. If possible, avoid building the furniture too high, because the lower the height, the lower the risk of tipping over.

FAZAR schrieb:
Don’t rely solely on the standard screws in the back panel area during assembly

I completely agree! And if you’re like me, using the Besta as a shelving unit—so wider rather than taller—that’s even better, almost like a guard against tipping over.

Of course, you can never guarantee 100% safety, but things like wall anchors or the Ikea mounting brackets really make a difference in everyday use. I’d also recommend paying attention to where you place heavy decorations or electronics. Store heavy items at about reachable height preferably at the bottom; this lowers the center of gravity.

And yes, kids love to grow taller—stability is your best friend here 😉

I mounted the Besta using the Ikea wall brackets, and they hold very well.

Important: Wall anchors are a must.

Otherwise, don’t stack the furniture too high.

putan schrieb:
Of course, you can never guarantee 100% safety

I have to step in here: I think this discussion focuses too much on safety measures and not enough on the bigger picture. Safety devices help, of course, but it’s really worth asking whether furniture with children around should be arranged in a way that encourages climbing in the first place.

Honestly, Ikea Besta is a bit of a “half win,” often overly stacked with all kinds of things on top that just invite climbing. My point is: furniture should be less densely packed and arranged more openly to reduce the temptation and stress.

If you take kids’ climbing instincts seriously, you need to adjust furniture selection and placement, not just rely on screws and fasteners.