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Baby-Proofing Furniture: What Needs Anchoring?

Does every piece of furniture need to be anchored for baby proofing?

No. You do not need to anchor every piece of furniture, but you should secure any item that could tip if your child pulls up on it, climbs it, or opens its drawers. Dressers, chests of drawers, bookcases, shelving units, and other tall or top-heavy pieces are priorities. A low, stable piece may not need an anchor, but its height alone does not make it safe: consider how it behaves when a drawer is open or a child pulls on an edge.

Which pieces should you secure first?

Start with furniture in rooms where your child spends time, especially the nursery, bedroom, and living room. Anchor dressers and bookcases even if they seem heavy. Drawers can act like steps, and a child’s weight can shift a piece’s balance quickly. Secure a TV to the wall or to a suitable stand, and anchor the stand if it could tip. Do not rely on a TV’s weight to keep the furniture beneath it stable.

Think beyond the furniture marketed for children, too. Entryway cabinets, storage towers, and freestanding shelves may become tempting handholds as your baby grows. Our room-by-room baby-proofing furniture guide can help you work through each space without overlooking everyday pieces.

How do you decide whether a smaller piece needs an anchor?

Ask whether your child could pull on it, climb it, or change its balance by opening a door or drawer. If the answer is yes, anchoring is the safer choice. A small side table that is sturdy on its own may not require a wall anchor, but you should still keep heavy objects off its edges and avoid placing items on top that encourage climbing.

What makes an anchor effective?

Use a furniture tip-over restraint suited to the piece and install it according to the furniture and hardware instructions. Fasten it to a secure point in the wall, such as a stud where the instructions call for one, and use appropriate hardware for masonry or other wall types. Attach the restraint to a sturdy part of the furniture, not a thin backing panel. If you rent, ask about approved installation options rather than leaving a tip-prone piece unsecured.

We recommend treating anchoring as one part of baby proofing, not the whole plan. Our team also suggests keeping heavier items in lower drawers, removing climbable objects from nearby surfaces, and reassessing rooms as your child becomes more mobile.