Child Safety for Blinds and Shades
Hanging and exposed window cords can be dangerous to children and pets and are considered strangulation hazards. The Window Covering Safety Council recommends ONLY cordless window treatments in homes with small children. If you have a home with older window treatments, we recommend that you upgrade to today's safer options.
Go Cordless Blinds & Shades
Installing window treatments with no chords is the safer choice for homes with children and pets. Some window treatments like shutters and vertical blinds are inherently cordless and with others, a cordless lift must be added while choosing options for your blinds or shades.
Out of Sight & Out of Reach
Cordless options are safer for children and the best options for households with kids or pets. If you cannot replace an older window treatment right away, order a FREE retrofit kit for corded window coverings. All window blinds, shades, and cords should always be out of reach of small children.
Prevent Access to Cords
Beds, cribs, boxes, and climbable items should never be placed near a window or door. Children and pets can access cords and other mechanisms of your window coverings from these elevated surfaces causing a choking (and falling) hazard for curious little ones.
Pull It Tight!
Hold downs (anchors for continuous cord loop mechanisms) are available to permanently secure the looped cords of shades, drapes, or some blinds to a window or door. It is important to remember that ANY exposed cords are considered unsafe for children.
Properly Install
Be absolutely certain that all window treatments are installed correctly, even cordless options. Children and pets may be able to reach lower areas of a window treatment and improperly installed or fastened blinds or shades could fall and seriously injure and adult or child.
Updated Child Safety Standards - Effective December 2018
The Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) set new standards for child safety, to take effect by December 15, 2018. The revised guidelines state that cords on any custom-made window covering can't be longer than 40% of the height of the window covering.
Bottom Rail Label For All Corded Blinds and Shades
We take child safety very seriously at justblinds, and all our products adhere to the new WCMA standards. While these new guidelines are a step in the right direction for child safety, we strongly advise that you choose a cordless or motorized lift system for your window covering if you have children or pets in the home.
Always check the Child Safety section on our product pages to determine if your product is safer for kids.
