Lauren HollandBy Lauren Holland

A toddler’s bedroom is where they sleep, play and explore on their own, so it deserves careful attention. Small changes to the crib, windows, furniture and alarms can reduce the risk of serious injury without turning the room into a sterile space. The guidance below draws on checklists and safety advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. No product or step can replace active supervision, but the right setup helps you create a more secure environment for your child.

Short version: Use a crib made after June 2011, keep it away from windows and cords, anchor all furniture and TVs, install window stops or guards, and place smoke and CO alarms inside and outside sleeping areas.

Start with a safe sleep space: cribs and toddler beds

The crib is the centerpiece of a toddler’s bedroom, and its condition matters. The AAP’s baby room checklist states that families should use a crib manufactured after June 2011, when current safety standards that banned drop-side rail cribs took effect. An older crib may not meet today’s requirements, especially if it has a drop side. Even a newer crib needs regular checks.

Crib safety checks

According to the AAP checklist, slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart so a child’s head cannot become trapped. There should be no decorative cut-outs in the headboard or footboard that could catch a limb. Corner posts, if present, should be flush with the end panels or very tall, because clothing and ribbons can snag on them and create a strangulation risk. All hardware must be original and tightly secured; substituting parts from a hardware store is not recommended. The AAP advises inspecting the crib for damage, loose joints, missing parts or sharp edges before each assembly and weekly after that.

The mattress must fit snugly. The AAP says that if you can insert more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib sides or ends, the combination should not be used. Remove and destroy any plastic wrapping from a new mattress, because it can suffocate a child. The crib should stay free of pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed animals and bumper pads. The AAP notes that bumper pads have been associated with infant deaths and that toddlers can use them to climb out.

When to move your child out of the crib

The AAP notes that the most common crib falls happen when a baby tries to climb out, and its guidance is clear: lower the mattress before your baby can sit, and set it at its lowest position before your child learns to stand. The checklist says to move a child to another bed when they reach 35 inches tall, or when the height of the side rail is less than three-quarters of the child’s height (roughly nipple level). Following this advice helps you decide when a toddler bed or other low bed is the next step, rather than waiting for a climb-out incident.

No matter which bed you choose, the AAP and CPSC both stress that cribs and beds should be placed away from windows and window covering cords. The CPSC’s window covering safety release states that all cribs, beds, furniture and toys should be moved away from windows and cords, preferably to another wall.

Windows and cords: keep them out of reach

Windows present two distinct hazards in a toddler’s room: strangulation from cords and falls from open windows. Addressing both is part of a thorough bedroom safety plan.

Cordless window coverings and cord safety

The CPSC urges families to choose cordless window coverings in any room where a young child may be present. Pull cords, continuous loop cords and inner cords are all dangerous. The agency reports that about nine children age 5 and younger die each year from strangulation in window blinds, shades, draperies and other corded coverings, and that entanglement can happen in less than a minute, often silently.

If replacing corded coverings with cordless ones is not possible right away, the CPSC recommends making pull cords as short as possible, keeping all cords out of a child’s reach, and ensuring that cord stops are installed and adjusted to limit inner cord movement. Continuous-loop cords for draperies and blinds should be anchored to the floor or wall. The CPSC’s broader childproofing guide adds that tension devices can secure continuous loops and bead chains, and that a free repair kit may be available through the Window Covering Safety Council. However, the safest choice remains cordless products, which are widely available. For more on this topic, see our window safety guidance.

Window guards and stops to prevent falls

The CPSC says thousands of young children are killed or injured in falls from windows every year. The CPSC’s window falls publication advises installing window guards or window stops. Window stops should allow the window to open no more than 4 inches. For windows on the 6th floor and below, the CPSC recommends guards that adults and older children can open easily in case of fire. Screens are not designed to prevent falls and should never be relied on for that purpose. Opening windows from the top, when possible, adds another layer of protection. Keeping furniture away from windows also discourages climbing, as the AAP and CPSC both note.

Anchor furniture and TVs to prevent tip-overs

Furniture and television tip-overs are a leading cause of injury in young children. The AAP’s tip-over prevention article states that a child is rushed to an emergency department at least once every hour of every day with injuries from a furniture or TV tip-over, and that 77% of tip-over deaths from 2000 to 2019 involved children under age six. About half of fatal incidents happen in bedrooms, sometimes while parents think their child is asleep.

Why anchoring matters

Children climb to reach items on top of dressers, bookcases and TV stands. The AAP explains that tip-overs can happen when furniture becomes unstable because of heavy objects on top, multiple open drawers, a top-heavy design, or placement on carpet. A falling piece of furniture can crush or suffocate a child, or cause serious head injuries, internal bleeding and broken bones. Even a flat-screen TV, which the AAP compares to the weight of one or two bowling balls, can cause severe harm if it topples.

How to secure dressers, bookcases and TVs

The CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign and the AAP both recommend anchoring all furniture and TVs to the wall. Anti-tip devices, such as metal L-brackets, should be installed into a wall stud whenever possible. The AAP notes that plastic anchors can become brittle over time, so metal hardware is preferred. The AAP adds that the heavier the furniture, the more anchors you should use. The CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign says televisions should only be placed on furniture designed to hold a television, such as TV stands or media centers, and the AAP stresses anchoring even flat-screen TVs. Older, heavy CRT televisions should be recycled rather than moved to another room.

In dressers and clothing-storage furniture, place heavier items on the lowest shelves or drawers and lighter objects higher up. Remove toys, electronics and remote controls from high surfaces so they do not tempt a child to climb. The AAP also suggests installing dresser drawer stops or safety straps that prevent drawers from being pulled all the way out; these can be the kind that attach on the outside of the drawer and the side of the dresser, or magnet locks. Our articles on furniture anchors and drawer locks walk through the options in more detail.

The CPSC reminds caregivers that no device is completely childproof; determined toddlers can overcome or disable safety products. That is why anchoring and supervision work together. If a piece of furniture does fall on a child, the AAP says to take the child to a pediatrician or emergency room right away, because even if they seem fine there could be internal bleeding or organ damage.

Other bedroom hazards: toy chests, smoke alarms and more

Beyond cribs, windows and furniture, a few other items in the bedroom deserve a closer look.

Toy chests

The AAP’s room safety checklist describes the safest toy chest as a box or basket without a lid. If a chest does have a lid, it should include safe hinges that hold the lid open in any position and do not pinch. The chest should also have air holes in case a child becomes trapped inside. These simple features reduce the risk of head injuries, pinched fingers and suffocation.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Both the AAP and the CPSC stress the importance of alarms in and near sleeping areas. The CPSC’s childproofing guide says to install smoke alarms on every level of the home, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas. The AAP checklist similarly recommends smoke alarms outside every bedroom, in furnace areas and on every level, including the basement. Alarms should be tested monthly. The CPSC advises changing batteries at least once a year, or using sealed 10-year batteries that do not need yearly changes.

Carbon monoxide alarms are also essential. The CPSC states that every home should have CO alarms outside of bedrooms near each sleeping area, even if the home has no fuel-burning appliances. The AAP recommends installing CO detectors on each floor. CO is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can come from appliances burning gas, oil, wood, propane or kerosene. Test CO alarms regularly and change batteries at least once a year.

For a broader look at reducing risks throughout the house, see our room-by-room safety section and the toddler-proofing guide. A safety checklist can help you track these steps room by room.

Frequently asked questions

When should I move my toddler from a crib to a bed?

The AAP checklist says to move a child to another bed when they reach 35 inches tall, or when the height of the side rail is less than three-quarters of the child’s height. This usually happens before a child climbs out, which helps prevent falls.

Do I need to anchor furniture if I watch my child closely?

Yes. The AAP notes that tip-overs can happen in an instant, even with an adult in the room, and about half of fatal incidents occur in bedrooms while parents think their child is asleep. Anchoring furniture and TVs is a critical backup to supervision.

What should I do if I think my child swallowed something poisonous?

Contact the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222. The CPSC recommends keeping the number handy and locking away all medicines, cleaners and other hazardous products, even those with child-resistant packaging. If a child is seriously injured or unresponsive, call 911.

For more room-specific safety steps, visit our bedroom safety category page.

Sources

Lauren Holland

About Lauren Holland

Lauren Holland is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our childproofing guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.