Child Proofing Blinds

How to Child-Proof Blinds – Part 2

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Whether you have children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, having little ones in your home can be stressful. This is especially true if you haven’t child-proofed anything. It can be next to impossible to keep a constant eye on children, and all it takes is a few seconds for a little one to get in trouble. One of the first things you need to child-proof are your window treatments, especially if you have blinds. The pull cords on blinds often form loops that present a suffocation risk to children. At Arjay’s, we know just what it takes to make blinds child-safe, and we believe that you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for safety.

If you have outdated blinds, it’s probably in your best interest to invest in new ones with better safety systems. However, we would be happy to consult with you on ways to child-proof your current blinds if necessary. In general, your main goal is going to be to eliminate the risk presented by the blinds’ pull cord.  In our previous blog, we discussed the value of cord cleats and separate tassels. Today, we have a few more ways you can tackle the pull cord issue.

Child-Proofing Window Blinds

Loop Solution 3: Install breakaway tassels

  • You can bring separate pull cords together within a tassel that breaks when pressure is put on it. That way, you still enjoy the benefit of tamed pull cords, but if a little one decides to reach up and pull on the cord, the tassel will break off and the dangerous loop will be broken. We recommend people install this kind of tassel even if they’re pursuing another solution as well.

Loop Solution 4: Install tie-downs

  • In this solution, you keep the loop. You mount a hook either on the wall or the floor, and catch the loop through it. You will be able to operate your blinds, but the loop will be trapped by the hook and unavailable for little fingers.

Inner Cord Solution: Install cord stopsdreamstime_xl_23754275

  • If your blinds predate 1999, they have a serious design flaw. The pull cords descend through the center of each slat. Little fingers easily get between the slats and can grab this inner cord. When pulled, the inner pull cord easily comes out in the exact shape we want to avoid: a loop. In this situation, we would highly recommend replacing the blinds. They are, after all, almost 20 years old. If you do not want to replace them, you will need to install cord stops. They stop the inner cord from being pulled out in a loop.

If you’ve looked your current blinds over and they clearly aren’t safe, maybe you’re facing the opportunity to refresh your home with new window treatments! They are much like paint in that they can utterly transform a roof. The team at Arjay’s is excited to consult with you on your budget and desired look. We are here to deliver world-class results, and we won’t quit until we do. Learn more today!

Give us a call!