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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

not to worry about bookcases tipping.

71 replies

RedHotPokers · 14/01/2012 18:49

We have quite an uneven floor in our living room and a tall bookcase. When we bought the bookcase I persuaded DH to 'tie' it to the wall using the strap supplied with it by IKEA. DH thought it was a bit pointless, but I insisted because we were ttc and I thought it made sense in case we had DCs and they tried to climb it or something.

Fast forward 6 years and my parents have recently moved and put two big bookcases in the room our DCs stay in occasionally. One of the bookcases had been in the DCs room in their previous house. DH informed my DM that she should tie the bookcases to the wall just in case the DCs managed to tip them over.

My DM asked about the ties in a few DIY shops (which apparently didn't do them) and a furniture shop (which apparently also didn't sell them). DM has now decided that its probably not worth bothering,as the bookcases are fairly wide at the base and not on an uneven surface, so unlikely to tip.

DH has now got a bee in his bonnet about this, and thinks DM is being irresponsible. I can see both sides, but am a bit Hmm that DH is making such a big thing about it seeing as he well-known for his lack of health and safety, and as he hadn't wanted to tie our bookcases to the wall initially either. I can't help but think he's just trying to have a dig at DM, who he does get exasperated with fairly easily.

So, DH wants me to ask MN whether IABU to just go with the flow and leave my DM to do what she thinks is best in her own house (we had a HUGE bookcase in the living room as kids and I'm 100% sure that wasn't fixed to the wall in any way)?

(sorry long!)

OP posts:
McHappyPants2012 · 14/01/2012 18:51

I have never tied them to the wall

Maryz · 14/01/2012 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
RedHotPokers · 14/01/2012 18:54

DD definitely wouldn;t climb them. Pretty sure DS wouldn't, but he does have his funny moments, so couldn't rule it out!

Funny thing is DM is a worrier normally, and DH is notoriously lax re, child safety!

OP posts:
Seona1973 · 14/01/2012 18:55

none of our units/bookcases, etc are fastened to the wall (apart from 2 very narrow and tall CD cases which looked very precarious standing by themselves)

Magneto · 14/01/2012 18:58

Is there anything she could put in front of them without losing the use of them (as in the bookcase is in the corner and a chest of draws on the next wall if you seewhat I mean?).

That's what we've done with all ours so if they do tip they would land on another piece of furniture rather than hitting the floor.

SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 14/01/2012 19:00

I would do it just to be on the safe side. There is a bookcase full of books in my old bedroom at my mums and my neice and nephew often stay over in there (3 and 4.9yo) and I was at my mums a while ago and nipped upstairs to grab some books out of the bookcase and spotted some small finger prints in the dust, too high up for either child to have been standing on the floor. Luckily the bookcase is on an uneven floor but tips back towards the wall.

squeakytoy · 14/01/2012 19:04

I am normally one of the first on here to be quite laid back, but having seen how easy it is for a bookcase to topple over, and know how much weight they carry, I would err with caution too and fix it to the wall.

thepeoplesprincess · 14/01/2012 19:06

You don't need to tie them to the wall. Just tip them back slightly and wedge folded cardboard under the front legs. It'll take 2 mins max.

lagrandissima · 14/01/2012 19:10

Depends on the age of your children. If they are old enough to be informed of the risks of climbing up the cases, and trusted not to do it, then for occasional visit I wouldn't be too stressed. Perhaps ask your DMIL to make sure that anything they might want access to is left within their reach.

twooter · 14/01/2012 19:14

We've got furniture infront of our tall ones, so that would stop them falling to thecground. (although I guess they could still squash a child between the furniture, so may not make that much difference.

ggirl · 14/01/2012 19:17

sounds like a mil/dh power battle

I would just warn children not to ever ever climb them

BandOMothers · 14/01/2012 19:17

We fasten all our things like that....never used ties...DH screws them into the wall somhow. It is FAR too risky especially in bedrooms.

OhDeeeeeryMe · 14/01/2012 19:20

I never used to bother about the wall ties either, two days ago one of the kids knocked off a large, heavy radiator cover I have, it came flying down and missed the 3mth old's head by millimetres...!!

shouldabeenwashedinajug · 14/01/2012 19:23

Ours it tied to the wall.

DD2 (18mo) climbed it for the first time this morning.

OriginalJamie · 14/01/2012 19:24

I would do it, assuming they are going to be well-anchored. A friends toddler tried to climb up a chest of drawers by pulling each drawer out like a step, and could have been killed but for the fact that a bed stopped it falling all the way down and left a small gap. I have never bee more scared when I ran into the room.

The tie was pulled out of the wall, so a more secure fixing/more than 1 fixing would be a good idea.

OriginalJamie · 14/01/2012 19:26

P.S - I am also not a worrier

CokeFan · 14/01/2012 19:30

Dd managed to pull a chest of drawers over by pulling out the drawers together. It trapped her leg but fortunately she wasn't hurt badly because of the way the drawers landed. It had been tied to the wall up until a few days before but wasn't at the time because we'd just decorated and were waiting for the gloss on the skirting board to dry properly.

I'd say bookcases and drawers are heavy - better to be safe than sorry.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 14/01/2012 19:32

I would say it depends on how old/big your children are, and how big/heavy the bookcase is.

But although I have never so far heard of a child being hurt by tipped-over furniture, I have heard (in the news) of at least 3 different incidents where small children were killed by televisions that fell or were pulled onto them Sad So I would definitely be v. careful about that.

Original poster
RedHotPokers · 14/01/2012 19:46

I've just realised that the wardrobe in DDs room is not tied to the wall either. Neither are the tall drawers in our room! Now I am beginning to worry......

OP posts:
Original poster
RedHotPokers · 14/01/2012 19:47

DCs are 5.5yo and 2.9yo.

OP posts:
MamaLeMay · 14/01/2012 19:57

My mums work colleague was at a friends house just after Xmas and the kids where playing in the other room... The 5yr old climbed up the book case/shelving to reach an item ( had never done it before) and the book case came down on top of the 18th month old sibling.... Safely the baby died in hospital a few days later :-(
I know you can never protect your children from everything, but I got my DP to secure the book shelf in my boys playroom....
Sorry to tell such a sad tale but I don't ever think you can say for sure that your child wouldn't do something.

MamaLeMay · 14/01/2012 19:57

sadly damn iphone

Whatmeworry · 14/01/2012 20:29

You don't need to tie them to the wall. Just tip them back slightly and wedge folded cardboard under the front legs. It'll take 2 mins max.

What she said. And put the biggest heaviest books at the bottom. Unless you live in an earthquake zone.

SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 14/01/2012 20:30

Mama that's so sad :(

LondonMumsie · 14/01/2012 20:32

Have lived in too many earthquake zones to not do this! It just feels wrong without now, even though I now London is not wobbly...