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October?! Already? Who hit the fast-forward button on my life? It's hard to believe another year is winding down, but no complaints here. I am loving fall! The best food, the best clothes, and the best weather--plus, October is National Window Covering Safety Month. Ok fine, that doesn't conjure up the same cozy feelings of nostalgia as pumpkin patches and cider pressing and crisp morning walks through the crunchy leaves...but it IS very important. So I'm partnering with Bali Blinds to share some tips on how to child-proof your windows! I'm passionate about this topic, as the mother of two little boys who get into everything. Even if you don't have young kids yourself, this is good to know if you have children in your house on a regular basis. Not to be too dramatic, but it could literally be a matter of life and death.
1. Never place a crib, bed or other low-standing furniture near a window. Children love to climb and explore their surroundings. They can accidentally fall through an open window or window screen, or become tragically entangled in a nearby window cord. For safety's sake, place cribs and furniture on window-less walls.
2. Check your home for window coverings with dangling or accessible cords. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) named corded window coverings as one of the top five hidden hazards in American homes. Exposed cords are a strangulation hazard to infants and young children. Identify any windows with dangling cords, and remediate them with the steps below.
3. If possible, replace older corded window coverings with today’s safer products. The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) recommends that you use only cordless window treatments in homes with young children. You can get cordless blinds that you lift yourself, or motorized blinds that are operated by a remote (ooh, fancy!). Look for products marked with the "Best for Kids" logo, as they have been tested by a third party lab and are certified safe for kids and pets.
4. You can order retrofit kits for FREE. The best option is to replace your corded window treatments altogether. But if that's not possible right now, you can get free retrofit kits from WCSC at windowcoverings.org. These kits includes cord stops and safety devices that will shorten and tie up your cords so they're out of reach. Bali Blinds will also send you free cord cleats, no matter where your blinds or shades are from.
5. Safety is important for every home. Don't assume this blog post doesn't apply to you if you don't have young kids right now. If you expect to have kids or grandkids in the future, if you host children on a regular basis, if you have pets, or if you're going to replace your window treatments soon anyways, it's a smart idea to buy Best for Kids certified window treatments, like cordless blinds or automatic blinds. They will give you the maximum peace of mind, and will add value to your home. Window treatments last for years, and your family’s safety is always a good investment!
Bali Blinds has partnered with The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) to help spread the word about safe window coverings. You can learn more here and here, and you can help share this important information by posting on social media with #cordlessforkids (feel free to pin or share the infographic below).
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I'm thankful you recommended using cordless blinds or automatic blinds if we have kids at home since this will give us maximum peace of mind by making sure they're safe around children. My kids and I just moved to a new house recently, so I need to buy window treatments to use soon. I'll keep this in mind while I look for where we can buy home window treatments soon.