Hello everyone,
I am planning to use IKEA Billy bookcases in my twins’ nursery, but I have serious concerns about safety. The bookcases are quite sturdy, but I have read that they can tip over if children climb on them or pull on the furniture. My question to experienced parents here is:
What options are there to make Billy bookcases child-safe so they won’t tip over and at the same time pose no injury risk to children? I am particularly thinking about measures such as wall anchoring, door or drawer locks, or possibly special protective profiles.
Do you have any proven tips or recommendations? And what about the slotted back panels – should these be left in or removed?
Thanks in advance for your help!
I am planning to use IKEA Billy bookcases in my twins’ nursery, but I have serious concerns about safety. The bookcases are quite sturdy, but I have read that they can tip over if children climb on them or pull on the furniture. My question to experienced parents here is:
What options are there to make Billy bookcases child-safe so they won’t tip over and at the same time pose no injury risk to children? I am particularly thinking about measures such as wall anchoring, door or drawer locks, or possibly special protective profiles.
Do you have any proven tips or recommendations? And what about the slotted back panels – should these be left in or removed?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Here is a simple step-by-step guide to childproofing Billy shelves:
1. First, remove all items and completely empty the shelf.
2. Find suitable wall spots – ideally solid surfaces like brick or sturdy backing, not drywall.
3. Use appropriately long and strong screws with wall plugs or, even better, screw anchors.
4. Attach the shelf using anti-tip straps – IKEA offers suitable kits for this.
5. Clean the corners and apply corner protectors.
6. If there are drawers, install child safety locks.
Important: The back panel of the shelf should always remain installed to ensure stability. One extra tip: check all fixings every 6 months to make sure they are still tight.
1. First, remove all items and completely empty the shelf.
2. Find suitable wall spots – ideally solid surfaces like brick or sturdy backing, not drywall.
3. Use appropriately long and strong screws with wall plugs or, even better, screw anchors.
4. Attach the shelf using anti-tip straps – IKEA offers suitable kits for this.
5. Clean the corners and apply corner protectors.
6. If there are drawers, install child safety locks.
Important: The back panel of the shelf should always remain installed to ensure stability. One extra tip: check all fixings every 6 months to make sure they are still tight.
Thank you all for the quick and helpful advice!
One quick follow-up question: I noticed that the shelves can also be connected from the back using metal connectors. Does this actually make the structure more stable, or is this only useful when placing multiple shelves side by side?
Also, what do you think about using door locks for the cabinet doors that I plan to install on the shelves? Has anyone tried this, and is it secure enough to prevent the doors from being opened?
I want to avoid that children reach inside when opening the doors and hurt themselves.
One quick follow-up question: I noticed that the shelves can also be connected from the back using metal connectors. Does this actually make the structure more stable, or is this only useful when placing multiple shelves side by side?
Also, what do you think about using door locks for the cabinet doors that I plan to install on the shelves? Has anyone tried this, and is it secure enough to prevent the doors from being opened?
I want to avoid that children reach inside when opening the doors and hurt themselves.
K
KarTristan28 Nov 2016 09:22bogregor schrieb:
I saw that the shelves can also be connected from the back using metal connectors. Does that really make the structure more stable, or is that only useful for multiple shelves placed side by side?Connecting them is useful when several shelves are placed side by side or next to each other, as they then stabilize each other. For a single shelf, it doesn’t add much, since the main stability depends on wall mounting and the back panel.
Regarding door locks: If children are already able to pull on doors, I recommend magnetic locks that are installed hidden inside. They are very reliable and difficult for children to open.
KarTristan schrieb:
If children are already at the stage of pulling on doors, I recommend magnetic locksWe have exactly those kinds of locks, and they are really practical. They open easily with a special key. This way, children cannot open them on their own, and the furniture doesn’t feel too much like a prison.
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