How to Childproof a TV
According to Consumer Reports, each year dozens of babies, toddlers and small children are killed by unstable TV sets that fall on top of them. Even a small TV could create a devastating injury to a curious toddler. Don’t let your little one become the next victim of this tragic, preventable accident. Childproof your TV set and stand immediately, before it’s too late.
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Things You'll Need
- Childproofing equipment
- Child safety locks
- Plastic socket covers
- Wall mounting gear
Instructions
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Wall mount all LCD or plasma TVs with secure hardware that is designed specifically for this purpose. If it can withstand an earthquake, it’s mounted securely.
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Make sure a TV on a stand or a bedroom chest of drawers -- if you must have one there -- is mounted securely to the wall, leaving no space for a child to crawl behind. Get a locking bar that connects the TV to the wall with a thin, sturdy piece of metal. When installed correctly, the bar will prevent the TV from tipping forward or backward.
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Get a simple, sturdy TV stand and mount it to the wall. A plain TV stand without any drawers is safer than an armoire. A toddler can open up drawers and climb to the top of a piece of furniture, pulling the TV down upon himself. Be safe; skip the drawers or seal them shut.
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Cover all sharp edges of any stand or dresser you might use with rubber child protection guards.
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Hide all wires and cover all unused electrical outlets with plastic baby proofing plugs. Invest in material that will keep all wires bound together and covered in plastic, so baby can’t pull or gnaw on them.
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Cover the buttons on a TV set. If you want to avoid damage to your home theater system, invest in special baby covers, latches and locks that are designed to protect the knobs and delicate circuitry of your set.
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Install TV guard mounts to put in front of all big screen TVs. This will keep little hands and fingers off your screen, as well as wires and buttons.
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Tips & Warnings
Don’t put your TV on any swing arm mounts, as small children can get their fingers caught in these, or they can pull the sets off the mount.
References
Resources
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