Motorized Shades Can Eliminate A Hidden
Safety Hazard In Your Tempe, AZ Home

Corded Window Treatments Are One Of The
Top Strangulation Hazards For Children

If you have children, it’s time to consider motorized shades for your Tempe windows. The classic blinds your windows might have right now can be a serious safety hazard.

Choosing the right window treatments before tragedy strikes is essential for parents of young children.

Everyday Dangers In Your South Phoenix Home

Window treatments are often overlooked when child-proofing a home. Parents focus on cupboards, electrical outlets, and stairs without realizing that there are dangers hidden in plain sight.

It may seem like nothing will go wrong. After all, you’re always watching out for your child. But parents are human, too, and even short periods of distraction can spell disaster.

The Window Treatments To Watch Out For

There are several window treatments that can cause hazards for young children. While corded window treatments are the primary danger for children, others can lead to injury, as well.

Corded Shades And Blinds

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists corded window treatments as one of the top hidden hazards in the home.

Many parents don’t realize how easy it is for children to access and pull on the cords. The weights at the end of the cord, often called “tassels” or “acorns,” can be particularly attractive for young children.

While some people make an effort to move the cords out of reach, these quick fixes are generally easy to knock loose while a parent isn’t paying attention,

Once a child is able to reach these cords, they pose a serious strangulation hazard. Hundreds of children have died from these hidden hazards. Since 1973, at least 440 deaths have been recorded in children under the age of eight.

Roman Shades

Roman shades are a gorgeous and underrated option for windows, but they’re not a good choice for homes with young children.

There are many small sections of cord within these shades that can easily catch little hands and fingers. When pulled, they may cut off circulation or cause the shades to come loose from the window.

Heavy Curtains

Heavy curtains are another surprising danger for young children. Curtains, especially ones that reach the floor, are a favorite place for many children to play.

Heavy fabrics or rods can be a problem. Long curtains are frequently pulled on by children. This is especially true for babies learning to walk, who are often used to pulling themselves upright using a parent’s clothes.

While good installers hang window treatments as securely as possible, repeated pulling from children can pull even the sturdiest hardware from your wall.

When this happens, children may find themselves trapped under heavy layers of fabric – a suffocation risk. Additionally, the falling curtain rod and hardware may hit your child on the way down, causing further injury.

Shutters

Shutters are an absolutely gorgeous addition to any home and are far safer than corded blinds or curtains.

However, they aren’t without risks. If you have low windows in easy reach of your children, they may not be your best choice.

Children can pinch their fingers in these shutters, and they pose a serious risk to little climbers. If your toddler attempts to climb everything in sight, give plantation shutters a pass.

Their ladder-like structure looks appealing to climb for some children, but the slats can break when pulled or stood on, causing injury.

Motorized Window Shades: The Safest Solution

With so many risks associated with window treatments, it can be tempting to forgo them altogether in children’s rooms. But sacrificing your young child’s privacy isn’t exactly a safe option, either.

Luckily, there are safe solutions out there!

Our favorite are motorized roller shades. They’re completely cord-free, and can be operated easily from your phone or with the press of a button. Kids may find this fascinating, but sleek, sturdy shades aren’t particularly interesting to children.

They don’t extend beyond the window, either, making them far harder to reach.

With a variety of beautiful shade options that cover different styles, energy efficiencies, and opacities, there’s a safe window treatment for every family.

Interested in exploring our motorized shade collection? Call Southwest Blind And Shutters at 602-638-1925 to book a free consultation and find the right style for your Tempe home!