ᐅ How can I make BILLY shelves child-safe and stable?

Created on: 26 Mar 2017 09:17
L
Lonku
Hello everyone, I have several Billy shelves from IKEA at home that I want to make child-safe and stable. My children are still small, and I’m concerned that the shelves could tip over or that they could be injured by falling books or objects. I am particularly interested in specific methods and materials for securing the shelves to the wall, as well as reinforcing them internally. Are there any special wall fasteners that work particularly well? What alternatives are there to traditional screw fixing? Also, are there proven tricks to make the shelves sturdy against tipping without having to completely rebuild them? I’m looking forward to your experiences and tips, including advice on proper installation and safety. Thanks in advance!
K
kumau
27 Mar 2017 09:45
I would add: regularly check wall fastenings and tighten them if necessary. This is often overlooked but important for long-lasting stability.
T
tuFernando
27 Mar 2017 10:23
It also helped me to use special wall anchors for the fixtures, which provide better support under load. Safety is always a combination of several measures, such as pushing books back, using safety devices, and wall mounting. Once the little ones are older, you can then gradually reduce these measures.
L
Lonku
27 Mar 2017 17:05
Thank you very much for your valuable tips! I will implement the combination of wall mounting, rubber buffers for the edges, and an additional thin backing reinforcement. It’s good to know that small flat-head screws are better suited. I will also deliberately reduce the load on the top of the shelf from heavy items. If I gain any further experience, I will be happy to share it again.