To not fix kallax to the wall?

[BrendaTheBlendeer]

Just got a new 4x2 kallax to go in the playroom. Fixing it to the wall is a bit annoying because the skirting gets in the way and you have to do it on a lean, so I'd prefer not to. Plus I don't have the tools/ability to do it so will have to pay someone.

AIBU to leave it unfixed? I know that there have been some terrible stories if wardrobes/chests of drawers failing on young kids but a kallax doesn't seem as much of a risk even if full of boxes.

DC are 3 and 6, never try to climb the one in the bedroom (which is fixed).

I don’t think it’s necessarily climbing it. It’s them trying to reach one of their toys in the top section and pulling it onto themselves. It’s not as big as a wardrobe but filled with boxes of toys it’s still going to hurt them.

You absolutely do need to fix it to the wall. It’s easy to do, you can totally do it yourself.

If the skirting board is in the way then I think a more flexible fixing like this would help. It really ought to be fixed with children that age I think.

Furniture Anti-Tip Straps - Steel Cables Furniture Anchor Kit for Baby Safety (Mounting Hardware Included) Pack of 2，for Bookshelf, Dresser, Cabinet, Earthquake Protection for Babies and Pets https://amzn.eu/d/euvI4Mf

4x2 in which direction? Is it 4 long and 2 high, or 2 long and 4 high?

If 4 long and 2 high, I’d leave it. I doubt that’s going to fall.

If not, we once fixed something to the wall with a short strap - like the kind that you get on a high chair. Few cm long, and was slack so the unit didn’t tilt towards the wall. But if it fell it would only fall a tiny bit forwards before the strap would be taut and stop it. It came with the furniture but you might be able to buy something separately.

If it is 2 ‘up’ (like a bench) no need IMO, but for a 4 ‘up’ you’ll get much more peace of mind in calling a handyman and paying a few quid.

If you've got it 2 high and 4 wide, I wouldn't bother. I never did 🤷‍♀️

Fixing it to the wall is a bit annoying because the skirting gets in the way and you have to do it on a lean, so I'd prefer not to.

That's not how you do it! You need a small bracket that attaches to the unit and the wall.

We hadn't bothered for the same reasons as you, OP. My 4yo and 2yo never climb furniture either but once 4yo almost pulled theirs on themself by reaching for something they'd put out of reach of their sibling, if I hadn't been sat there to push it back it would have toppled. So then we got furniture straps and peace of mind.

It's 4 up, definitely wouldn't bother on a 2 up.

Interesting, a handyman did the bedroom one and said leaning it was the only way. He used the fixings that came with the kallax.

You can consider putting feet on it (with a skirting frame)so it goes flush above the skirting board. or you could use a spacer behind the L bracket. You could also put a piece around it to go flush to the wall.

A webbed strap attached to the furniture and the wall gives enough ‘room’ to cover the skirting board whilst also preventing it from falling over.

Your handyman is an idiot.

Definitely need to fix it to the wall.
Also not sure about the skirting board thing. We’ve never had any issues and it certainly doesn’t lean. Most people have skirting boards. I’m sure you can get other fixings for peanuts anyway.

IKEA offer this type of bracket for this reason, they have adjustment in them (you slide them as close or as far from the wall as you need them)

https://amzn.eu/d/9Jn73cv

surprised your handyman didn’t know that, unless they came with a different type.
if you’re able to pop into an Ikea store they’ll give you these for free

You can just get some straps to fix it to the wall so it can't fall forwards rather than having it tilted back.... please please fix it though - it takes seconds for even an older kid to be reaching for something and pull it on themselves.

You must fix it to the wall OP. If it fell on one of you it could be disastrous. You can get brackets that are longer and reach even when there’s skirting in the way.

Completely insane. It has to be fixed to the wall.

You can cut out the skirting board.

Alternatively you can attach a length of wood to the wall the same depth as your skirting and attach the Kallax to that instead. The fact that your "handyman" has the bedroom one on a lean is worrying. There are so many ways to attach Ikea items to walls.

Please don't assume a child won't climb or pull them down on themselves. It happens.

It absolutely has to be attached, the risk is genuinely too high.

Does the kallax not have indents to make space for the skirting? If not you can cut them yourself with a small saw.

Definitely fix it, we have the same kallax and when it was vertical we fixed it to the wall, now it's horizontal it isn't necessary. I think we used a strap for ours because you're right, the skirting board gets in the way.

Oh I’ve never fixed a Kallax to the wall!

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/oct/02/leeglendinning

This is what could happen

Your suggestion is just as insane.
You can buy adjustable brackets or straps, I think Ikea will even give you them free.

@BrendaTheBlendeer surely you gave a friend who would do it for you if you really can't do it? It's a 2 minute job

EDIIT: and absolutely disgustingly neglectful not to!

The handyman put it on a lean, what the hell! So many ways of doing it

Every piece of furniture like this in our house is fixed to the wall, DD (2) has a 4x4 kallax unit in her bedroom and before DH let her back in there, he’d fixed it. It doesn’t lean and she has a skirting board too. You’d be mad not to, something that takes 10 minutes could save your kids life.

I'm pretty sure the fixings we had look very different.

As it's a short stage in their lives/I want the freedom to rearrange stuff I definitely don't want to do anything like cutting out the skirting or cutting into the kallax.

I'll look into the different fixings.

Just not really sure how it why it would tip the way they are structured though, it seems very different from a chest of drawers etc