Hello everyone, I am currently looking into how to make IKEA Hemnes furniture as child-safe as possible. Specifically, I am concerned about common safety risks such as wardrobes and dressers tipping over, as well as the danger of children unintentionally opening drawers or doors and potentially injuring themselves or causing items to fall out. I am also interested in additional measures to secure corners and whether it is advisable to treat the materials or surfaces with special products to eliminate health risks. Does anyone have extensive experience or recommendations on how to best protect the different Hemnes furniture pieces? I am interested in practical tips, available safety accessories, and possible modification suggestions.
FeAndreas1 schrieb:
First, make sure to secure all furniture to the wall. IKEA provides special wall anchors for this purpose, which should definitely be used.This wall mounting is definitely the most important point. Experienced parents should note that for older walls (e.g., older buildings with rubble stone masonry), special anchors must be chosen; otherwise, the fastening can fail.
- In my experience, I recommend heavy-duty anchors for solid walls.
- For drywall (plasterboard) walls, special cavity anchors or microfiber anchors are necessary.
- The right tools (possibly a hammer drill) make installation easier.
FeAndreas1 schrieb:
For drawers and doors, I recommend child safety locks made of plastic, either mechanical locks or magnetic latches.Magnetic locks are durable and very child-safe since they cannot be opened from outside without the magnet. In addition, they are neatly installed on the inside, which does not affect the furniture’s appearance.
Another safety measure is to use sturdy door openers with cushioning to prevent children’s fingers from getting caught.
In summary and concisely:
- Hemnes furniture is made of solid wood, so the risk of tipping over is high without proper anchoring.
- The safest method is consistent wall mounting using appropriate plugs and screws.
- Internally installed magnetic child safety locks are technically superior: they prevent unintentional opening without affecting the appearance.
- Edge protectors should only be used in genuinely hazardous areas, and only certified, tested products.
- Do not modify the surface, as IKEA uses tested, safe paint finishes.
- Regular inspections of the safety devices are recommended.
This should significantly improve safety.
- Hemnes furniture is made of solid wood, so the risk of tipping over is high without proper anchoring.
- The safest method is consistent wall mounting using appropriate plugs and screws.
- Internally installed magnetic child safety locks are technically superior: they prevent unintentional opening without affecting the appearance.
- Edge protectors should only be used in genuinely hazardous areas, and only certified, tested products.
- Do not modify the surface, as IKEA uses tested, safe paint finishes.
- Regular inspections of the safety devices are recommended.
This should significantly improve safety.
Palenar schrieb:
Magnetic locks are durable and very childproof since they cannot be opened from the outside without the magnet.Thanks for the assessment, that does sound quite practical. How complex is the installation of these magnetic locks on the HEMNES furniture? Do you have to dismantle the furniture necessarily, or are there easy-to-mount options? Also, are the child safety latches removable without leaving any residue if the requirements change?
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FeAndreas129 May 2022 10:02Damin0 schrieb:
How complex is the installation of these magnetic locks in HEMNES furniture?Usually, the magnetic lock is screwed inside the drawer or door, which means you might need to remove the drawer and work on the inside. With HEMNES furniture, this is generally quite manageable since they have standardized dimensions and are easily accessible.
- Installation requires a small screwdriver and some basic DIY skills.
- Precise measurements are important to ensure the latch closes perfectly and the magnet functions well.
Damin0 schrieb:
Are the child safety locks removable without leaving any residue, in case the requirements change?Good quality systems are typically screwed in, which means no residue in a negative sense: screws leave holes but can be removed without damage. Clamp-on or adhesive models often leave sticky residues that are difficult to clean off.
My advice: Screw-in systems are more durable and secure. When removing them, simply fill the holes with wood filler and sand smooth.
Damin0 schrieb:
Also: Are the child safety locks removable without leaving any residue if requirements change?Some time ago, I installed child safety locks on drawers using adhesive strips that could be removed. However, the adhesive was stubborn and difficult to clean off. For this reason, I would recommend using screw-mounted child safety locks, as FeAndreas1 already suggested. Although installation takes a bit more effort, it is a better long-term solution.
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