Furniture and TV Tip-Over Prevention: How to Anchor Dressers and TVs to Protect Kids

Quick answer: Anchor dressers, bookcases, shelves and televisions to the wall, and place TVs on low, sturdy furniture designed for them. Young children climb drawers and pull on shelves, and an unanchored piece can fall on them. Since September 1, 2023, a mandatory U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standard (16 CFR 1261), required by the STURDY Act, has applied to new clothing storage units 27 inches or taller, but older furniture, other furniture types and televisions still need anchoring. Keep heavy items and tempting toys off the top of furniture, and keep drawers closed when not in use.

A dresser or television falling on a child is one of those risks parents rarely think about until they read a news story. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned about tip-overs for years and has made anchoring furniture and TVs a core part of its child safety messaging.

The fix is inexpensive and takes an afternoon. This guide explains why tip-overs happen, what changed in federal law and how to make each room safer. For a room-by-room view of home safety, see our family safety guide.

Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Anchor It! campaign materials and tip-over guidance; Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act (STURDY Act), enacted December 2022 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023; CPSC Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units, 16 CFR part 1261, effective September 1, 2023; American Academy of Pediatrics guidance for parents (HealthyChildren.org). This article is general safety information. Follow the instructions supplied with your furniture and anchoring hardware.

Why Furniture and TVs Tip Over

A dresser is stable when it stands empty with drawers shut. It becomes much less stable when:

• Drawers are open. Opening drawers shifts the center of gravity forward.
• A child climbs. Children use drawers like stairs, adding weight at the very front.
• Drawers are full. Heavy clothing in open drawers adds forward weight.
• The floor is uneven or carpeted. Thick carpet can tilt a piece forward.
• A TV sits on top. A heavy television on a dresser raises the center of gravity and invites a child to reach for it.

Televisions are a risk on their own. Flat screens are lighter than older tube TVs but are often top-heavy and set on stands that are too small. A child pulling on a cord or climbing a TV stand can bring the set down.

Why Rules Alone Are Not Enough for Toddlers

Toddlers and preschoolers are natural climbers. They are learning to pull up, reach and explore, and a dresser with drawers looks a lot like a staircase to a small child. Telling a two-year-old not to climb is reasonable, but children this age do not reliably remember or follow safety rules, especially when a favorite toy or a bright screen sits up high. That is why safety agencies focus on changing the environment rather than relying on supervision alone.

Supervision still matters. Even attentive parents cannot watch every moment, though, and tip-overs can happen in seconds, including during naps or early mornings when a child wakes up before the rest of the house. Anchoring works around the clock without anyone having to remember it.

What the STURDY Act Changed

For many years, furniture stability in the United States was covered by a voluntary industry standard. In December 2022, Congress passed the STURDY Act, which directed the CPSC to adopt a mandatory safety standard for clothing storage units. The resulting rule, 16 CFR part 1261, took effect for products manufactured on or after September 1, 2023.

In general terms, the standard:

• applies to clothing storage units such as dressers, chests and armoires that are 27 inches or taller;
• requires stability testing that simulates real-world conditions, including carpeting, loaded drawers, multiple open drawers and the force of a climbing child; and
• requires warning labels on the product.

The standard does not apply to older furniture already in homes, and it does not cover every type of furniture, such as many bookcases or TV stands. It also does not replace anchoring. CPSC guidance continues to recommend anchoring furniture even when it meets stability requirements.

How to Anchor Furniture

Most new dressers include an anti-tip kit. Kits are also sold separately at hardware stores. The basic steps:

1. Find a stud. Use a stud finder to locate a wall stud behind the furniture. Anchoring into a stud is far stronger than drywall alone.
2. Attach the bracket or strap to the furniture. Fasten it to a solid part of the frame near the top, following the kit instructions.
3. Attach the wall bracket. Screw it into the stud with the screws provided or as instructed for your wall type.
4. Connect and tighten. Link the furniture and wall pieces so there is minimal slack.
5. Test. Gently pull the top of the furniture forward. It should not tip.

For masonry, plaster or metal studs, use the hardware recommended by the kit maker or a hardware store for your wall type. If you are unsure, a handyman can install anchors quickly.

How to Secure Televisions

CPSC guidance on TVs comes down to a few rules:

• Mount flat screens to the wall using a mount rated for the TV’s size and weight, installed into studs.
• If you use a stand, choose sturdy, low furniture designed for the TV’s size, and anchor both the furniture and the TV.
• Use TV anti-tip straps that connect the back of the TV to the wall or stand.
• Push the TV back on the stand so it does not overhang the front edge.
• Route cords out of reach so children cannot pull them.
• Move old tube TVs off dressers and high shelves. If you no longer use them, recycle them through a local electronics program.

Room-by-Room Checklist

Children’s bedrooms and nurseries

• Anchor dressers, changing tables, bookcases and wardrobes.
• Keep TVs out of young children’s rooms, or mount them.
• Do not store toys or favorite items on top of dressers.
• Install drawer stops so drawers cannot be pulled all the way out.

Living room

• Anchor bookcases, entertainment centers and display cabinets.
• Secure the TV to the wall or stand.
• Keep remote controls and toys off high shelves to reduce climbing.

Primary bedroom

• Anchor dressers and armoires, especially if toddlers visit.
• Secure any TV on a dresser.

Playroom

• Anchor toy shelves and cubbies. Our tips on organizing a playroom cover low, stable storage ideas.
• Keep heavier items on lower shelves.

Kitchen and dining

• Ranges can tip if a child stands on an open oven door. Many ranges include an anti-tip bracket; check that it is installed.
• Anchor tall storage cabinets and hutches.

Habits That Reduce Tip-Over Risk

Anchoring is the main step, and daily habits add another layer:

• Close drawers after use.
• Put heavier items in lower drawers.
• Avoid placing TVs on dressers not designed for them.
• Teach children not to climb furniture, while remembering that toddlers cannot be relied on to follow rules.
• Check anchors periodically and after moving furniture.

Anchoring on Different Wall Types

Most homes have wood studs behind drywall, which hold anchor screws well. Older homes may have plaster and lath, which can crack if you drill carelessly, so drill slowly and aim for the framing behind it. Masonry and concrete walls call for masonry anchors and a suitable drill bit. Metal studs, common in some apartments and newer construction, need hardware made for them. When a kit’s instructions do not cover your wall type, a hardware store can usually match the right fastener, and a handyman can handle a whole house of anchors in a short visit.

Straps should be fastened to a solid part of the furniture, such as the top rail or side panels, not a thin back panel. Back panels on many inexpensive pieces are made of thin fiberboard that can pull loose under load.

When You Move or Rearrange

Anchors are easy to forget when you move. Make removing and reinstalling anti-tip hardware part of your moving checklist, and keep the hardware in a labeled bag taped to the furniture. When you rearrange a room, check that each tall piece is still anchored in its new spot before children use the room again. The same goes for new furniture: install the anchor kit the day it arrives, before clothes and toys go in.

Renters: Anchoring Without Losing Your Deposit

Many renters worry about putting holes in walls. Options to consider:

• Ask your landlord. Many landlords allow anchors for child safety, and some may install them. Put the request in writing.
• Use small screw holes. Anchor screws leave small holes that are typically easy to patch when you move out.
• Choose furniture placement carefully. Put tall pieces where anchoring is permitted, or choose lower furniture.
• Use wall-mounted TV alternatives. If wall mounting is not allowed, choose a sturdy, low stand and use straps to secure the TV to the stand.

Check your lease and local rules. Some areas have rules that allow tenants to make child safety modifications.

Buying Safer Furniture

When you shop for new furniture:

• Look for clothing storage units with labels showing compliance with the federal standard.
• Choose wider, lower pieces for children’s rooms.
• Check that an anti-tip kit is included.
• Test drawers for stops that prevent full extension.
• Be careful with secondhand dressers made before September 2023. Anchor them, and check the CPSC recall list before buying, since some models have been recalled for tip-over risk.

Checking for Recalls

The CPSC has announced recalls of dressers and other furniture because of tip-over hazards. Search the brand and model at CPSC.gov/Recalls, and register new furniture with the manufacturer so you receive recall notices. If you have a recalled item, stop using it in a child’s room, anchor it immediately if the recall instructions say to and follow the remedy offered.

Making It a Family Project

Older children can help with anchoring, which turns a chore into a safety lesson. A school-age child can hold the level, hand over screws or help find studs with the stud finder while you explain why the dresser needs to be attached to the wall. Kids who understand the reason behind a rule are often more willing to follow it and to remind younger siblings. Once the work is done, walk through each room together and test each piece with a gentle pull, so everyone sees that the anchors hold.

Teach Caregivers and Visitors

Grandparents, babysitters and friends may not have anchored furniture in their own homes. Ask about it before a child visits, and share a simple safety plan. Our babysitter checklist includes home safety items to review before you leave.

Pair Tip-Over Safety With Other Home Checks

Anchoring furniture fits naturally with other seasonal safety checks, such as testing smoke alarms and checking heaters. Our family home fire safety checklist and winter home safety tips are good companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What furniture should be anchored to the wall?

Dressers, chests, armoires, bookcases, tall shelves, entertainment centers and TVs. Anything a child could climb or pull on and that could fall forward is worth anchoring.

What is the STURDY Act?

A 2022 federal law that required the CPSC to set a mandatory stability standard for clothing storage units. The standard, 16 CFR part 1261, took effect September 1, 2023.

Do new dressers still need to be anchored?

Yes. CPSC guidance recommends anchoring furniture even when it meets stability requirements.

How do I secure a TV without a wall mount?

Place it on low, sturdy furniture designed for its size, push it back from the edge and use anti-tip straps to attach it to the stand or wall. Anchor the stand too.

Can renters anchor furniture?

Usually yes, with landlord permission. Anchor screws leave small holes that are typically easy to patch.

The Bottom Line

Furniture and TV tip-overs are preventable. Anchor dressers, bookcases and TVs, keep heavy items low and toys off high surfaces, and check recalls on older pieces. The federal STURDY Act standard makes new dressers more stable, but anchoring remains the most reliable protection for children.