ᐅ How can I assemble Malm furniture to make it child-friendly?

Hello everyone, I am planning to assemble an IKEA Malm dresser at home and want to make sure it is child-safe. I am especially interested in how to secure the furniture so that it cannot tip over and so my children won’t get injured while playing or climbing on it. Are there any reliable installation methods, special fasteners, or accessories you would recommend? Additionally, I would like to know if it makes sense to install safety locks on all the drawers or if there are other risks I should be aware of. I look forward to any concrete tips or personal experiences on how you have made your Malm furniture child-safe.

Basically, you should always secure the Malm dresser to the wall to prevent children from tipping it over. The appropriate IKEA kit for this is recommended. You can easily add drawer locks if children are young.

A detailed response: Malm dressers do not come with built-in anti-tip mechanisms, so securing them to the wall is essential. According to safety guidelines, an anti-tip kit including wall anchors, plugs, and screws must be used. Parents should also install drawer locks to prevent drawers from accidentally sliding out and fingers from getting pinched. There are various types available, such as adhesive or screw-on locks. Additionally, it is advisable to soften sharp corners with edge protectors made of silicone. Finally, installation on a level and solid surface is recommended.

I wonder if attaching furniture to the wall alone is truly sufficient to cover all risks. Children are inventive and can still climb up or use drawers as steps. Would it make sense to additionally weigh down the furniture at the base? What alternatives to the usual anti-tip devices do you know, and how reliable are they in everyday use? Are there any experiences regarding the durability of the fixing materials, especially in rental apartments with different wall types?

Natan schrieb:
Would it be advisable to add weight to the underside of the furniture?

This can indeed be an additional safety measure, provided that adding weight does not compromise the furniture’s stability. Another important aspect is the regular inspection of all fastening points, as screws can loosen over time. The same applies to drawer locks, which not only protect against finger injuries but also prevent children from pulling out drawers and using them as climbing aids. In addition to securing the furniture to the wall and using safety devices, I also recommend educating children about potential dangers and placing the furniture in areas where toys and activities take place to help prevent further accidents.

I assembled my Malm dresser like this: First, be sure to use the IKEA anti-tip hardware and attach it to a solid part of the wall, not drywall without appropriate anchors. Additionally, I installed magnetic child safety locks inside the drawers. These work so that adults can open the drawers using a small magnetic key, but they remain locked for children. This is simple and prevents the usual slamming of the drawers. Also recommended are corner protectors on the exposed edges. Safety comes first, especially with active children.