Are There Safer Window Treatment Options for Children?

When we discuss window treatment options, it’s often a fun discussion, a hashing out of form, function and preferences. However, a crucial and yet rarely discussed aspect of the window treatment conversation is the risks that corded and sashed window treatments pose to children.

The window industry is attuned to these dangers, and you will almost always see warnings and disclaimers attached to window treatment products that are cord operated. Indeed, the window industry has even invested in retrofitting strategies designed to make existing window treatments safer for young children. Whether or not retrofitting strategies will do enough to reduce risk is yet to be seen.

What remains clear is that corded window products do pose a strangulation and choking threat to young children (and pets as well). Over the past decade, more than 500 children have died in accidents related to corded blinds. If you have small children in the home, it is important that you are aware of this so that you can take the necessary precautions.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, corded windows are among the top five household dangers to children. Safety experts recommend using only non-corded or retractable corded blinds in homes with infants and young children. The Window Covering Safety Council’s slogan truly says it all: kids...cords...caution.

Here, important steps that you can take to help keep kids safe at home when it comes to window treatments.

1. If possible, use only non-corded window treatments in homes where children live or visit. Safer options include curtains (without sashes), drapes, and motorized blinds and shades.
2. When you are travelling with children, pay attention to the placement and style of window treatments. Avoid letting children play with corded blinds or be alone in rooms with unsecured cords. If children aren’t used to seeing them at home, they can be an appealing plaything.
3. Never place a corded blind near a child’s sleeping area. This also goes for long curtains that the child could get tangled in.
4. Check to make sure that all window treatments are installed correctly. A loose or improperly installed blind or curtain might seem like just a homeowner’s nuisance, but can pose a real danger to a curious kid.
5. Window treatments outfitted with continuous loop cords should be tightly fixed to the wall and any excess cordage should be wrapped around a fixture for that purpose.

“There are no acceptable alternatives with cords at this point,” says Linda Kaiser, founder of Window Blind Safety, a consumer advocacy group. The window treatment industry has been hard at work trying to figure out how to retrofit existing window treatment products. These strategies include replacing cords with wands, or removing the external cords and fixing the blinds securely in place. However, unless the cord is entirely removed from the interior of the window treatment system, there is still a slight risk to children, should the system fall or the child decide to explore and climb on the window.

When it comes to kids, safety is a top priority. Safety experts strongly recommend replacing corded blinds and curtains with sashes with safer options. It’s still possible to have stylish and functional window treatments that don’t pose a risk to kids -- motorized blinds, shades, or securely fastened drapes can all create the mood and feel you desire for your space, while allowing you to keep your peace of mind.