TEAKMARSHLY · AMERICAN HERITAGE

Children's Furniture Safety Guide

Thoughtful Spaces. Safer Homes. Peace of Mind.

A beautiful childhood begins with a thoughtfully prepared home.

At teakmarshly, we believe that furniture should contribute to a comfortable, organized, and welcoming home. When furniture is used by or around children, safety deserves special attention. This guide provides general recommendations for selecting, assembling, positioning, and maintaining children's furniture, helping families create a more considered living environment.

Important Safety Notice

This guide provides general household furniture safety information. It does not replace product-specific instructions, applicable safety standards, manufacturer warnings, or adult supervision. Always use furniture according to its intended purpose, age suitability, weight limits, and assembly instructions. Never assume that a product is suitable for infants or young children unless its product specifications expressly confirm this.

01. Choosing Age-Appropriate Furniture

Selecting furniture that matches a child's age, physical development, and intended use is an important first step in creating a safer environment.

• Check the recommended age range and intended use stated in the product description.
• Review product dimensions, weight limits, and structural specifications before purchasing.
• Choose furniture with appropriate dimensions for the child's age and physical abilities.
• Avoid furniture with exposed sharp edges, protruding hardware, or accessible pinch points.
• Consider the stability of the furniture and whether additional anti-tip protection is required.
• Check that drawers, doors, handles, and moving components can be used appropriately and safely.

A furniture item designed for general household use should not automatically be considered suitable for children. Always verify its specific intended use and safety information.

02. Preventing Furniture Tip-Over Accidents

Unsecured furniture, particularly tall or heavy pieces, can tip over if children climb, pull, or lean on them. Dressers, bookcases, cabinets, wardrobes, and shelving units deserve particular attention.

Furniture placement alone is not a substitute for appropriate anchoring. Use suitable anti-tip devices for applicable furniture and follow the product's installation instructions.

03. Assembly & Installation Safety

Correct assembly is essential to furniture stability and intended performance. Improper installation or missing hardware may increase the risk of damage or injury.

Do not use furniture if essential components are missing, connections are loose, or the finished structure appears unstable. Contact the appropriate customer service team for assistance.

04. Bedrooms, Dressers & Storage Furniture

Bedroom furniture can create convenient storage and comfortable living spaces, but drawers, cabinets, and tall storage units require careful use around children.

• Secure dressers, wardrobes, and applicable shelving units against tip-over hazards.
• Keep heavy objects in lower drawers or on lower shelves.
• Do not allow children to hang from open drawers or use them as steps.
• Keep small detachable handles, decorative pieces, and loose hardware away from young children.
• Ensure that cabinet doors and drawers operate properly and do not present unnecessary pinch or trapping hazards.
• Keep furniture positioned away from windows, cords, and other potential climbing hazards.

For infant sleep environments, use only products specifically designed and labeled for infant sleep. General furniture, sofas, decorative cushions, and adult beds are not substitutes for a compliant infant sleep product.

05. Tables, Chairs & Seating Safety

Tables, chairs, benches, and other seating furniture should be appropriate for the user's size, age, and intended activity.

• Check that chairs and tables are stable and placed on an even surface.
• Use seating only within the manufacturer's specified weight capacity.
• Avoid placing chairs or stools near windows, countertops, or tall furniture where they could become climbing aids.
• Check for loose legs, damaged joints, exposed screws, and unstable connections.
• Use age-appropriate seating products according to their intended design and safety instructions.
• Supervise children when they use elevated seating or furniture with moving components.

Do not use ordinary dining chairs, benches, or stools as infant feeding seats unless the product is specifically designed and approved for that purpose with the required safety equipment.

06. Cribs, Bassinets & Infant Sleep Furniture

Infant sleep products require special attention because babies cannot independently move away from certain hazards. Cribs, bassinets, and other infant sleep products must be specifically intended for infant sleep and meet applicable safety requirements.

Never use a regular bed, sofa, lounger, changing table, or general-purpose furniture item as an infant sleep surface. Always follow current safe-sleep guidance from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other relevant public health authorities.

07. Changing Tables & Diaper Stations

Changing tables and diaper stations require continuous adult attention. A baby should never be left unattended on an elevated surface, even for a brief moment.

• Use changing furniture only for its intended purpose and within its specified limits.
• Keep one hand on the baby whenever the baby is on an elevated changing surface.
• Keep diapers, wipes, and necessary supplies within an adult's reach before beginning.
• Use safety straps where supplied and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Never rely on raised sides or safety straps as a substitute for direct adult supervision.
• Check the furniture regularly for stability, loose fasteners, and damage.

If the baby begins rolling, climbing, or moving beyond the product's intended use limits, discontinue use of the elevated changing surface and follow the manufacturer's transition guidance.

08. Preventing Pinching, Entrapment & Choking Hazards

Children may explore furniture through touching, pulling, opening, and climbing. Small parts, moving components, and accessible openings should be considered during furniture placement and use.

• Inspect furniture for loose knobs, decorative attachments, detachable hardware, and small components.
• Keep screws, bolts, tools, and assembly accessories out of children's reach.
• Check hinges, sliding mechanisms, folding components, and doors for possible pinch points.
• Keep children away from furniture mechanisms that may close unexpectedly.
• Avoid placing furniture near accessible cords, blind strings, or hanging accessories.
• Do not leave packaging materials, plastic bags, or protective films where young children can reach them.

If a component becomes loose, broken, or detached, remove it from children's access and stop using the affected furniture until the issue has been appropriately addressed.

09. Furniture Materials & Surface Safety

Furniture materials and finishes may have different care and handling requirements. Parents and caregivers should review product information before allowing children to use furniture.

10. Safe Furniture Placement at Home

A thoughtfully arranged room can help reduce everyday household hazards and make it easier for caregivers to supervise children.

11. Daily Supervision & Responsible Use

Even appropriately selected and assembled furniture requires responsible use and supervision. Children's abilities and behavior change as they grow.

• Supervise young children around furniture with elevated surfaces, drawers, doors, and moving parts.
• Teach children not to climb on cabinets, shelves, tables, or furniture that is not designed for climbing.
• Explain safe use of chairs, stools, drawers, and storage furniture.
• Keep heavy and potentially dangerous objects out of children's reach.
• Make sure children understand that furniture is not a toy unless specifically designed and marketed as one.
• Reassess furniture suitability as children grow and their physical abilities change.

Adult supervision is especially important for infants, toddlers, and children who may not yet understand household safety risks.

12. Regular Inspection & Maintenance

Regular checks can help identify signs of wear or damage before they become more serious safety concerns.

If furniture becomes unstable, damaged, or otherwise unsafe, stop using it until it has been appropriately repaired or replaced. Do not attempt structural modifications that are not approved by the manufacturer.

13. Product Recalls & Safety Notices

Parents and caregivers should stay informed about product recalls and relevant safety notices, particularly for children's furniture, infant sleep products, and products with moving or load-bearing components.

In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) publishes product recall information and consumer safety guidance.

You can review official recall information through the CPSC website:

Visit the CPSC Recalls Page

If a product is subject to a safety recall, stop using it as directed in the official recall notice and follow the manufacturer's or relevant authority's instructions.

14. Important Safety Standards & Compliance

Children's furniture and related products may be subject to different federal, state, and industry safety requirements depending on their design, intended use, materials, and product category.

For products sold in the United States, relevant requirements may include applicable CPSC regulations, mandatory product safety standards, and other requirements relating to children's products where applicable.

Not every general-purpose furniture product is classified as a children's product or subject to the same requirements. Customers should refer to the specific product description, age grading, warning labels, and manufacturer documentation.

This guide does not represent that every product offered by teakmarshly is certified for children, independently tested, or compliant with a particular children's product standard. Product-specific compliance information should be confirmed through the relevant product documentation.

15. Frequently Asked Questions

A THOUGHTFUL HOME FOR EVERY GENERATION

Good design considers not only how a home looks, but how safely it is lived in.

At teakmarshly, we believe thoughtful furniture choices, proper installation, regular maintenance, and attentive supervision all contribute to a more comfortable home environment for families.

Need Product Safety Assistance?

If you have questions about furniture dimensions, materials, assembly instructions, product specifications, or available safety information, please contact our customer service team. We will be happy to assist with the information available for your product.

THE ART OF THOUGHTFUL LIVING

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