ᐅ How can Malm furniture be made child-safe?

I recently have small children at home and want to make our IKEA Malm furniture child-safe to prevent accidents and create a safe environment. Specifically, I am wondering: How can the typical Malm dressers and drawer units be modified so that they cannot tip over, and the drawers cannot be pulled out completely or cause finger injuries? What safety products or modifications are recommended to ensure both tip-over safety and child-safe use of the drawers and doors? Would it also be advisable to make the surfaces child-safe or to protect the corners in some way? I look forward to detailed suggestions and experiences.

BLAZSI65 schrieb:
How can the typical Malm dressers and drawer units be modified so that they neither tip over nor have drawers that fall out or cause finger pinching injuries?

This is an excellent question, as Malm furniture is common in many households but is not inherently designed to be childproof. First, you should definitely install anti-tip restraints, which are specifically available for IKEA furniture. These are usually attached to the back of the dresser and secured to the wall. They prevent the furniture from tipping, which is crucial for small children’s safety.

Regarding the drawers, I recommend using child safety locks for drawers and doors. For example, there are special anti-pinch latches that prevent drawers from being fully pulled out or opened uncontrollably. Additionally, there are stoppers that limit the opening angle. It’s important that the installation is simple and reversible in case you want to use the furniture without safety locks later on.

Concerning finger pinching: Malm drawers do not have built-in soft-close dampers, so you can add special drawer dampers that slow down closing and thus prevent pinching. Alternatively, soft silicone edge protectors can be applied to edges.

On the topic of surfaces and corners: sealing the surface with a non-toxic, child-friendly varnish can reduce the risk of splinters, but this is usually not essential. More important are corner protectors made of foam or silicone, which can be easily applied to corners, especially at lower levels where children might bump into them.

If you like, I can also provide you with a list of recommended products and links. My question to you is: How old are the children exactly, and how mobile and curious are they? This greatly influences the necessary safety measures.

I can totally relate – our little one was also extremely curious and immediately tried to open the drawers of the Malm dresser.

I’ve found some simple yet effective solutions for us:

kaubi schrieb:
Install anti-tip brackets

– This is truly essential. I’ve attached these not only to cabinets but also to large shelving units. Nothing is worse than that uneasy feeling that something might topple over.

Regarding pinching hazards: We retrofitted child-friendly soft-close dampers that make closing much gentler. It saves tears – literally. And since Malm drawers often have rather sharp corners, we added removable foam edge protectors.

Another tip from me: Sometimes securing the drawers at the bottom with a small magnetic catch helps. It holds tight enough to keep toddlers out, but isn’t too inconvenient for adults.

Oh, and very important: Even when using safety devices, it’s crucial to keep your eyes and ears open! Kids are clever little explorers 🙂

I hope this helps you! 🙂

BLAZSI65 schrieb:
How can Malm furniture be made childproof?

The most important are wall anchors to prevent tipping and child safety locks on the drawers.

Drawer dampers prevent pinching. Edge protectors protect fingers.

You don’t necessarily need more than that; Malm furniture is built solidly.