This post is sponsored by The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC), however, all opinions are my own.
As a new mom, I remember baby proofing every aspect of our home. I did a lot of research, then took to the store to get our essentials. We confidently had every inch of our home baby proofed. However, that new mom had no clue that baby proofing would then turn into “toddler” proofing and finally child-proofing our home. It is so important to make sure that your safety protocols in your house grow with your child and that you stay up to date with the latest news/recommendations for safety.
I recently discovered that October is Window Covering Safety Month, an important safety initiative that encourages parents and caregivers to check window coverings for exposed or dangling cords which can pose a strangulation hazard to infants and young children. This has opened my eyes to a whole new area of child-proofing our home. Are you missing this important child-proofing tip? Are your window coverings safe?
An amazing resource for window covering safety is The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC), which is a coalition of major U.S. manufacturers, importers and retailers of window coverings dedicated to educating consumers about window cord safety.
Not sure what to check for? Here are a few things I have learned:
Older Window Coverings
Older corded window coverings may have pull cords or accessible inner cords that could pose a strangulation risk to small children. I know many of us are home more than ever right now, and it is therefore, the perfect time for renovations and home projects. Make it a priority to switch out older window coverings with new cordless coverings. Government safety officials and the WCSC recommend that only cordless window treatments be used in homes with infants and young children.
Tasseled pull cords
These type of cords need to be as short as possible, so that they are well out of the reach of children. WCSC urges parents and caregivers to check their corded window coverings for potential cord hazards and to retrofit or replace them with today’s safer products.
Grandparent’s/caregivers window coverings
Another key area is remembering to take note of window coverings used in grandparents homes, caregivers, or anywhere else your child(ren) spend a lot of time. When families childproof a home, window cords are often overlooked, and according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, corded window coverings are one of the top five hidden hazards in the home.
Best for Kids™ certified label
Safer window covering products can easily be identified by the Best for Kids™ certified label. In order to be eligible for the Best for Kids™ certification, manufacturers must meet the specified program criteria—the window covering must either have no cords or the inner cords cannot be accessible, as defined by the industry’s safety standard— and submit their window covering products to a designated third party testing laboratory. You can easily recognize these products by the logo used below.
Still looking for more information? The WCSC’s website, windowcoverings.org, is a comprehensive resource that includes cord safety information and illustrated how-to features, online ordering of free retrofit safety kits, safety related articles, design and safety tips, and links to other child-safety websites. It is an amazing resource that I highly recommend! What is another child-proofing tip you have heard lately?