Why Child Safe Shades Are for Grandparents, Too

Grandchildren are one of the greatest gifts life gives us. Making memories, sharing our knowledge from over the years, and creating the perfect summer destination for our little ones to visit is something we look forward to. However, with the joy and excitement they bring to our lives also comes their imagination…and eventually trouble. Children can turn any and everything into a toy–play time, or not–including your decor and furnishings. What child-proofing techniques do you have in place? The experts from At Home Blinds & Decor are ready to help you find child safe shades to add to your child-proofing checklist.

 

Child Proofing Priorities

Nowadays, even before our little ones are home from the hospital, childproofing the home becomes a main priority for parents. From covering every outlet, to installing corner and edge bumpers, parents have it covered. However, childproofing isn’t something that grandparents should neglect.

dangers of blind cords
Children quickly turn blind cords into a tangled mess, but this time, Mom was the one caught in the cords!

Keeping our children safe, even on a getaway to grandma’s house, should be a priority as well. Children’s curiosity gets the best of them. Before you know it, the harmless cords on grandma’s blinds can become their new favorite toy. Child safe blinds eliminate the dangers of cords, so children can enjoy exploring.

 

Cords: Why Are They Dangerous?

You might think there are more dangerous things in the home than blind cords, such as steep stairs or sharp corners. But, statistics show that two children are seen in the emergency room each day due to blind cord injuries. Parents or Grandparents having eyes on their little ones at all times of the day is simply unrealistic. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. And, let’s face it, the majority of the time you won’t be there when they happen. Most blind cord related injuries have occurred when caregivers have left a small child in the bedroom to sleep. They wander and play, often getting caught in dangling cords, or even loops created to keep the cords out of hands-reach. Thinking of every dangerous incident that your children can get into can be overwhelming. Why not start by eliminating one of those dangers with child safe shades.

little kids playing in front of large window covered by cellular shade and drapery in modern playroom
Duette® Honeycomb Shades

The most harmful features of the home are the ones deemed hard to reach, and cords are considered one of them. By removing the temptation of playing with these dangling pieces of magic, children don’t have to resist them on their own. With a new awareness for safe home appliances through social media, child safe shades and blinds are moving their way up the lists. The safety they provide for children is a given. And, the added convenience is a bonus for both parents and grandparents.

What Are the Regulations?

Perhaps the most dangerous part of any window treatment are the cords. In 2018, the US Consumer Safety Commission banned any loose cords on window treatments. This standard was deemed somewhat “voluntary” at the time, giving companies time to re-design and create cordless and cord-safe options for families. As of 2022, the Federal Register published the final ruling for May of 2023: “The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) has determined that custom window coverings with accessible operating cords longer than 8 inches pose an unreasonable risk of strangulation to children 8 years old and younger.” This applies to all operating cords on custom window coverings.

 

What Are My Next Steps?

I’m glad you asked! Do you have dangling cords in your home? Many homeowners keep their window coverings for years, so there is a chance you could have unsafe cords in your home. While replacing corded blinds is the recommendation, if it’s not possible to replace them right now, the Window Covering Safety Council has created a resource to offer advice, helpful videos and a free retrofit kit for unsafe blind cords.

child safety cord safe blinds Hunter Douglas Fort Myers 33908

If replacing your window coverings is in the future, it’s time to find out about the options that exist. This should be a fun process–the window coverings in your home offer design elements at the window, so they are as beautiful as they are functional.

Go Cordless.

LiteRise Cordless Shades

hand adjusts cordless shades with the literise system for child safe window coverings
Duette® Honeycomb Shades with LiteRise® Cordless Operation

If your prefer cordless blinds or shades with a manual operating system, a great option would be LiteRise. This is a cordless system that holds your blinds and shades in any position you prefer. Push down to lower and pull up to raise–your blinds or shades stay put, even when your little ones don’t.

Cordless Motorization

ipad to control smart blinds Fort Myers FL
EverWood® Blinds with PowerView® Automation

Motorized operation of cordless window coverings offers the ultimate convenience and safety for child safe shades, blinds and shutters. This automation gives you the power to control your window treatments through your mobile device, a remote control, or voice command. Blinds can tilt open and closed without dangling cords.

Motorized Wand Control

detail of wand motorization and how to use
SoftTouch™ Motorization

Another motorized option brings cordless window covering control to individual windows. The SoftTouch operating system features a wand that lies alongside the side of the window. A gentle nudge up or pull down will activate the opening and closing of the window shade. No more cords that dangle. And, if the wand is handled in a rough way, or pulled too hard, it simply dislocates from the top of the shade.

The Original Cordless Window Treatment: Shutters

child-safe plantation shutters for playroom design Naples 34119
Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters

Window shutters are a cordless window treatment by nature. Simply adjust the louvers to increase and decrease light control and privacy. One feature that should be noted is that Hunter Douglas will not hyper-extend through an open window. There are safety features that keep these shutters from allowing children to push them toward the outside of the home.

Are There Safe Cords?

With safety standards established, the possibility of cords still exists. They just have to be less than 8 inches, keeping any chance of danger away.

UltraGlide

close up ultraglide cord windows
Pirouette® Shades with Cord Safety: UltraGlide

UltraGlide has quickly become a favorite operating system. These child safe shades adjust up and down, while the cord retracts to a shortened position automatically after being pulled to adjust.

Cord Tensioner

continuous cord loop fastened in window frame for safety Fort Myers FL
Designer Banded Shades with Cord Tensioner

The cord loops that are so often used on some of the largest shades are a potential danger–unless they are installed appropriately. The proper installation of these cord loops is done with a cord tensioner. The tensioner attaches to the interior of the window frame, securing it in place. The cord is wrapped tightly, unable to loosen, but capable of moving to make adjustments.

Peace of Mind with Child Safe Shades

At Home Blinds & Decor is committed to helping you create a safe environment for your children and grandchildren to play without worry. They deserve a safe place to explore, and you deserve peace of mind. We take child safety very seriously, and we’d like you to know all of your options in child safe shades and blinds. Contact our team for your free shop-at-home appointment. We’ll get you started on the road to child safety today!