Mumsnet Talk

Another ghastly accident involving a blind cord: Poole toddler died in blind cord accident.

Making blind cords safe should be on the list with all the other child-proofing. Ideally, don't have blinds. More realistically, they can be made safer by:

1) splitting the end of the cord and not having a pull, so there are no loops, OR
2) screwing a little cleat (or pair of cleats) to the window frame and religiously coiling the cord on it, so there are never dangling ends.

Sorry to make a fuss about this. I lost my nephew in a stupid, stupid household accident, so I tend to be quite aware of this stuff.

Sorry for your loss Tianc and thanks for the reminder. I am going to sort out our one roman blind pull tonight.

And if anyone can't do either of those - you can get a thing to wind them up which doesn't do any damage. You could even take it on holiday or when visiting family!

Also as well as blind cords, collapsed rotary airers in the garden are a potential strangling hazard. This winter either leave it up, or buy a rotary airer cover for a few quid.

My nephew very nearly did this, was awful.
Dh always cuts our blind pulls very short and reattaches the ends.

Thankfully we only have one blind left in the house after replacing them all with curtains last year. Must go and check the cords. Poor little chap And sorry for your loss Tianc.

So sad, poor wee boy.

I read a similar story when pg with my DS1 so have always just had curtains in my DS's room. I bought one of those blackout blinds that stick on with sucker things to use in the lighter months.

AMumInScotland that device is brilliant! I shall add it to my Regular Rant!

Yep, agree Sidge I have a cover for my airer for this reason (and I'm only worried about neighbouring/visiting kids).

Nephew choked on a small object. He was well past the typical age for that, but we think he was showing off to his little sister, who worshipped her schoolboy bro.

Tianc sorry for your loss but agree- we have blinds and am absolutely paranoid about putting them out of reach or using those baby Dan things

"Also as well as blind cords, collapsed rotary airers in the garden are a potential strangling hazard. This winter either leave it up, or buy a rotary airer cover for a few quid."

Or put them away when not in use. The lines get mucky if you leave them out anyway and then you end up with dirty washing. I always fold my rotary dryer up and put it in the garage after I have taken my washing in.

Just remembered, you can get covers to put over them if you haven't anywhere to keep your dryer.

I have wide windows with 3 blinds across them (rented) the cords are not looped but because I can't really go drilling holes in the wall and the middle blind isn't near a wall I tuck the cords behind the top slats, so they hang down next to the window rather then on the side where my son can reach them.

i remember watching an oprah type programme about the dangers of cords years ago and it's awful that nothing has changed and they're still being made like that.

realise this is an old(er) thread