ᐅ Malm Furniture for Children – How Can I Ensure Safe Use?

Hello everyone,

I’d like to start a discussion because I’m unsure about the safest way to use Ikea Malm furniture around children. Specifically, I’m concerned about the tipping risk of dressers and cabinets, which is often an issue—especially when children are in the house, pulling on drawers or maybe even trying to climb on them. Are there proven methods to secure these pieces of furniture against tipping without posing a risk to the children or making the furniture completely impractical?

Also, I’m interested in any specific recommendations, such as the best type of wall anchor to use or if there are alternatives to traditional anti-tip devices that are also effective in the long term.

Perhaps some parents here have already gained experience or even developed particular solutions that are also visually acceptable?

Thanks for your tips!

Namirben schrieb:
how to use Ikea Malm furniture as safely as possible around children

The fundamental question, of course, is how much trust you place in the furniture and your own securing measures. Any cabinet can tip over if the wrong leverage is applied.

Regarding wall anchoring: Ikea usually supplies a simple metal bracket that is screwed into the wall and attached to the furniture. My concerns here are: 1. The quality of the wall itself – not every wall can support such a load. 2. The type of plugs and screws used must match the masonry exactly.

I would strongly recommend going to a hardware store and getting professional advice, especially for older walls. Simply using the plastic wall plugs included in the Ikea package and hoping they hold is, in my opinion, not a good plan.

I also wonder if there are any tests on these anti-tip devices? That would be important, because just because Ikea includes them does not mean they meet any safety standard.

theo63 schrieb:
For wall mounting: Ikea usually provides a simple metal bracket

Hello Namirben, hello Theo63,

I can add some information, as I have two young children at home and have secured the Malm dressers myself. The Ikea anti-tip device is basic but sufficient if installed correctly.

My advice: First, check what kind of wall you have. For drywall, special hollow wall anchors should definitely be used. In my case, the walls are concrete, so appropriate hammer anchors need to be chosen.

Also, I made sure to install the safety device at the height of the top drawer – this reduces stress on the mounting because the weight is not concentrated too far at the top or bottom.

Additionally, I fitted the drawers with a child safety lock system so the children cannot fully pull them out. This prevents them from using the furniture as a climbing aid.

In the long term, sturdy wall attachments and educating children in a playful way to judge risks help reduce dangers.

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

You can also place anti-slip mats under the furniture to stabilize it somewhat. Wall anchoring is mandatory when children are present.

Child safety locks on the drawers are advisable to prevent them from being pulled out completely.

Namirben schrieb:
are there any specific recommendations, for example, which type of wall mounting is best

Choosing the right wall mounting for Malm furniture in homes with children:

- For concrete walls, metal expansion anchors with appropriate screws are recommended to ensure high load capacity.
- For hollow walls (e.g., drywall), hollow wall anchors should be used to provide reliable support.
- The attachment points on the furniture are integrated into the back panel of Malm dressers; therefore, the screws must be securely fastened.
- It is also advisable to have the installation of the safety fittings checked by a professional if there is any uncertainty.

In addition to the wall mounting, it is important to observe the maximum load specifications. According to the Ikea data sheet, this furniture series is not designed to be climbed on, so targeted safety measures are essential.

Finally, regular safety inspections of the fastenings are crucial, as screws can loosen over time.

I also secured the Malm dresser against tipping for my little one – not only with the Ikea furniture anchors but additionally with small USB adhesive strips used for cushioning on walls, which provide support without leaving holes.

usbla schrieb:
Finally, important: regular safety checks of the fastenings

Absolutely! Last year, I found that a screw had loosened, and I fixed it right away.

From my experience, instead of relying on just one solution, it’s better to combine several small safety measures. And as GiRoyce says, educating children is also important – they learn how to handle furniture properly over time. 😉