Child Safety & Blinds

Why it matters

Looped cords and chains on blinds can pose a strangulation risk to young children. Blinds sold in the UK must meet child-safety requirements (BS EN 13120), which include safety devices — but how they're installed and used matters too. It's something we take seriously, and we're always happy to talk it through.

Simple steps

A few everyday habits help keep children safe:

• Keep cots, beds and furniture away from windows, so children can't climb up to reach cords.
• Make sure cords and chains are secured with the safety devices supplied.
• Keep cords out of reach of small hands.
• Check older blinds for loose loops, and ask us if you're unsure about one.

Safer options

If you have young children, these are the options we'd usually suggest:

• Cordless and framed blinds: for example, Perfect Fit® blinds.
• Motorised blinds: there are no cords or chains at all — see motorised blinds.
• Tensioned chains: the chain is fixed to the wall or frame, so it can't hang loose.

Room-by-room checks

Children explore every room, so it's worth walking round the house and looking at each window from a child's height.

• Nurseries and children's bedrooms: these are the most important rooms to get right. Keep cots and beds well away from the window, and choose cordless or motorised blinds where you can. Our nursery blinds ideas show options that are safe and still keep the room dark for naps.
• Living rooms: sofas and armchairs under windows are easy for children to climb. Move them, or make sure any cords or chains are well out of reach.
• Kitchens and dining rooms: watch for chairs and stools near windows, and keep blind controls tidy and secured.
• Grandparents' homes and holiday lets: older blinds in houses children only visit sometimes are easy to forget, so they're worth checking too.

Older blinds and homes you've just moved into

Blinds have had to meet child-safety requirements for some time, but older blinds may have been made or fitted before these rules came in. If you've moved into a house with existing blinds, have a look for:

• Cords that hang in a loop, or two cords that can tangle together to form one.
• Chains that hang loose rather than being fixed to the wall or frame.
• Missing safety devices, such as chain tensioners (fittings that hold the chain taut) or cleats (hooks on the wall for winding cords out of the way).
• Cords that have become long or tangled over time.

RoSPA's advice is to tie up or cut looped cords so they can't form a loop, and to keep cords out of children's reach. If you're unsure about a particular blind, the safest choice is often to replace it with a cordless option.

What we do when we fit

How a blind is installed matters just as much as how it's made. When we fit blinds, we:

• Fit the safety devices supplied with each blind, and show you how they work.
• Position controls thoughtfully, away from beds and furniture where we can.
• Talk you through cord-free choices for rooms children use, such as shutters, which have no cords or chains at all.

You can read more about our approach on our safety first page.

Wherever you are in Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough or the surrounding area, we'll happily look at your windows with young children in mind.

Common questions

What is BS EN 13120?

It's the standard that internal blinds sold in the UK must meet. It includes requirements designed to reduce the risk from cords and chains, such as safety devices and limits on how cords can hang.

Are cordless blinds safer for children?

Blinds with no cords or chains remove the risk of a looped cord altogether, which is why we usually suggest cordless, framed or motorised blinds for children's rooms.

Can I make my existing blinds safer?

Often, yes. Securing chains with a tensioner, winding cords around a cleat fixed high on the wall and moving furniture away from windows all help. If a blind has loose loops you can't secure, consider replacing it.

Are blackout blinds safe for a nursery?

Yes, as long as they're cordless or the controls are properly secured. Many blackout options are available cord-free, so you don't need to choose between a dark room and a safe one.

Ask us

We'll recommend options for children's rooms at your free home appointment. For official guidance, see RoSPA.