ᐅ How can I modify an IKEA Besta unit to make it safe for children?
Created on: 16 Feb 2024 09:07
I
ixledeo
Hello everyone, I currently have an IKEA Besta at home that I would like to modify to make it safe for my toddlers. The main question is: How can I adapt an IKEA Besta to be childproof? Specifically, I am thinking about measures to prevent the furniture from tipping over, rounding off sharp corners, and ensuring children cannot access small parts or hard-to-reach drawers. I would greatly appreciate tips and experiences on how to make this rather angular piece of furniture safe for children—especially which materials, safety devices, and modifications have proven effective. Thank you in advance!
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warrenka5716 Feb 2024 11:52ixledeo schrieb:
The basic question is: How can I modify an IKEA Besta to make it safe for children?One more point I find important: Pay attention to which screws or wall anchors you use when securing the Besta to the wall. I made sure it is firmly fixed to prevent accidents. Also, regarding drawers closing on their own: soft-close mechanisms or magnetic catches can help prevent children from pinching their fingers.
Thank you all for the helpful tips! Regarding wall fastenings, I live in an older building with partly crumbling plaster walls – so I will probably need to use special anchors to be safe. The idea of edge protectors and foam buffers sounds great; I will get those right away. For the drawers, I was thinking of child safety locks with a latch and possibly soft-close mechanisms. Would you recommend locking the inside as well, or just securing the outside? How do you usually handle this?
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warrenka5717 Feb 2024 09:21ixledeo schrieb:
Would you recommend securing the interior as well, or just the outside?I didn’t secure the interior because that usually involves extra effort and unnecessary complexity. If it’s firmly attached to the wall and the doors/drawers are childproof locked, that is usually sufficient. My kids didn’t have trouble opening the cabinet; much more important is the stable mounting and padding on the edges.
If you have the option, definitely install child safety locks on all doors and drawers. This is simply a great safety advantage. I would only consider fully locking off rooms if you constantly see a risk from small parts. Otherwise, it’s better to stay pragmatic. Good luck!
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