ᐅ How can I make MALM furniture child-safe?

gigazar schrieb:
Are there any experiences with how stable these are and whether they are practical for everyday use (for adults)?

Yes, most clip-on locks are made of durable plastic – they hold well and can be easily opened by parents with a small trick. It is important that the clips are specifically designed for the depth of the Malm drawers; otherwise, they may slip out or significantly interfere with opening.

With shallow recessed handles, installing a small latch can sometimes be difficult due to lack of grip. Magnetic locks work better in these cases because they can be mounted inside on the back panel of the drawer without affecting the appearance.

For beds from the Malm series: anti-tip devices are also useful, especially for children who pull themselves up on the edges. Some recommend placing the bed directly against the wall and fastening it there, which practically eliminates tipping. Please ensure there is enough space from the wall to avoid any risk of pinching.

I ask again: How old are the children and how active are they? This does make a difference in the urgency and type of safety measures needed.

PLOMA schrieb:
I ask again: How old are the children and how active are they?

The children are 1 and 3 years old, very active and curious. The older one is already pulling himself up a lot and will soon start systematically exploring drawers... 🙂

Thanks, I will keep your advice about the wall fixings in mind and make sure there’s no gap between the bed and the wall to avoid any pinching hazards.

gigazar schrieb:
The children are 1 and 3 years old, very active and curious.

Age is really important!

Little explorers like that are experts at finding every safety gap 😉

I would recommend setting up a system: anti-tip devices, drawer locks, baby gates or door barriers to keep areas with MALM furniture as inaccessible as possible.

Then the classic advice: don’t put heavy items in the top drawers to make the furniture heavier – this also helps prevent tipping.

Good luck with your little adventurers! 🙂

For MALM beds, corner molding strips for wall anchoring are a good idea. For drawers, child safety locks with a simple click mechanism can also be used; these work from the inside and do not affect the appearance.

Just a quick note:

IKEA anti-tip devices are good but not necessarily the best option. I used metal brackets with screws attached to both the wall and the cabinet myself – it holds better, requires more drilling, but safety comes first.

Drawer locks: Magnetic solutions are great, and yes, they are practical for everyday use – you get used to them quickly. 😊

Keep an eye on whether your children tend to catch on the drawers or open them forcefully. With heavy use, it is more worthwhile to have a soft-close mechanism installed to reduce the risk of pinching injuries. Many MALM furniture pieces already come with this feature built-in; retrofit kits are available for older models.