ᐅ Increasing Safety of BILLY Shelves Around Children – Practical Measures

Hello everyone,

I have a Billy bookshelf at home, which is placed in a room frequently used by my one-year-old child. Therefore, I am concerned about how to improve the safety of the bookshelf, especially regarding children. Although the shelf is stable, I have read several times that furniture like this often poses a tipping risk if toddlers climb on it or use it as a play or climbing structure.

I am interested in specific measures that are truly preventive: for example, attaching angle brackets to the wall, ensuring the proper base area, or using safety devices on the shelves to prevent little fingers from getting pinched.

Which safety measures do you consider sensible and practical? What experiences have you had? Are there standardized accessories you would recommend? Or are certain modifications to the furniture or the room better at significantly reducing the risk?

Thank you in advance for your tips!

I would definitely recommend securing the shelf to the wall. The original brackets from IKEA are often a good starting point. Also, make sure that no heavy items are placed on top that children could pull down.

roman36 schrieb:
I would definitely recommend attaching the shelf to the wall.

I agree with that. I myself thought about it for a long time and was unsure if it would be enough, since my little one is constantly pulling on the furniture out of curiosity. What helped me was not only screwing the shelf in place but also attaching small protective strips to the lower edges. Additionally, I tried to arrange the shelf so that no favorite toys are placed on the top shelves. This naturally distracts the children from the more critical areas.

Also, it’s normal to worry, but being aware and taking these measures has a much more positive impact on safety than constant punishment or forbidding.

It is essential to check whether the wall is suitable for this. For drywall, special anchors are required. Always secure the shelf to the wall at the bottom. Children like to climb, and if the shelf is not fixed, it can become a hazard.

In addition to wall mounting, I recommend storing heavy items as low as possible. There are also corner protector profiles available that soften sharp edges. This reduces the risk of injury if a child accidentally runs into them.

Relitau schrieb:
Are there perhaps specific modifications to the furniture or the room that significantly reduce the risk?

Well, I set up my BILLY corner like this: The shelf is securely fixed to the wall, I also put up a small “no climbing” sign for my son (of course with humor 😄), and all the large, heavy books are placed on the lower shelves. Rounded corner protectors have been installed – and since then, everything has been calm and safe.