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Guide

How to anchor furniture and TVs to prevent tip-overs (2026)

Short answer: anchor every dresser, bookcase, TV and piece of furniture with drawers, doors or shelves to the wall, and mount or strap TVs. The AAP says anti-tip devices cost about $5 to $25 and take minutes; it suggests metal anchors into a stud. A newer dresser that meets the 2023 federal stability rule still needs anchoring.

By PickedBaby Editorial TeamLast updated

Recalls checked November 10, 2026 on CPSC. We searched CPSC recalls with “dresser” in the title announced since November 1, 2025: 41 were for tip-over hazards, most for violating the federal clothing storage unit standard, the latest on November 5, 2026 (HAUOMS eight-drawer dressers). A Timechee changing table dresser was recalled for tip-over in June 2026. Our recall-check policy.

How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from official safety guidance (AAP/HealthyChildren.org, CPSC, NHTSA, FDA), federal safety standards and recall records, linked at the bottom of the page. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t give scores. Our methodology.

Not medical advice. This page explains product safety guidance. For questions about your child’s health, feeding or development, ask your pediatrician.

Quick answer

Short answer: anchor every dresser, bookcase, TV and piece of furniture with drawers, doors or shelves to the wall, and mount or strap TVs. The AAP says anti-tip devices cost about $5 to $25 and take minutes; it suggests metal anchors into a stud.

Last updated Recalls checked 2026-11-10

The AAP[1][4] says a child goes to the emergency department at least once every hour with a furniture or TV tip-over injury, and 77% of tip-over deaths from 2000 to 2019 involved children under 6. About half of fatal incidents happen in bedrooms. Anchoring is cheap and fast; here is how to do it right.

What should I anchor?

Anchoring checklist (AAP[1][4]; CPSC[2][5][6] Anchor It!; checked November 10, 2026)
ItemWhat to do
Dressers and chestsAnchor to the wall; heavy items in low drawers; add drawer stops or straps (AAP)
Changing table dressersAnchor like any dresser (a tip-over recall hit one in 2026)
Bookcases, shelves, cabinetsAnchor anything with drawers, doors or shelves (CPSC)
Flat-screen TVsWall-mount, or strap to the furniture and the wall (AAP)
Old tube TVsRecycle rather than move to another room (AAP)
MirrorsSecure with anti-tip devices (AAP)

How do I install an anchor?

CPSC’s[2][5][6] Anchor It! steps: attach a bracket to the wall, move the furniture close, attach the other bracket to the furniture or TV, connect the strap, tighten it, then tug to check. The AAP[1][4] adds:

  • Place wall anchors into a stud; you may need to move the furniture.
  • Consider metal anchors such as L-brackets, since plastic can become brittle and break.
  • Buy known brands; counterfeit anchors are a problem on some sites.
  • Use more anchors on heavier furniture.
  • Never put a TV on a dresser, and keep toys and remotes off high surfaces so kids aren’t tempted to climb.

Doesn’t the new dresser rule make anchoring unnecessary?

No. The federal Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units (16 CFR part 1261) requires dressers and similar bedroom storage to meet ASTM F2057-23 and aims to protect children up to 72 months from tip-overs; CPSC[2][5][6] says it took effect September 1, 2023. It doesn’t cover TVs, bookcases or older dressers, and CPSC keeps recalling dressers that fail it. Anchor regardless.

I rent. Can I still anchor?

The AAP[1][4] suggests talking to your landlord and explaining why anchors matter, and CPSC’s[2][5][6] Anchor It! notes anchor holes are easy to fill when you move. If a child has furniture fall on them, the AAP says to see a pediatrician or go to the emergency room right away, even if they seem fine, and to report the incident at SaferProducts.gov.

Who should skip this, and what to skip

There is no family with young children for whom anchoring is optional. If you have no tall furniture or TV stand in reach of a child, there is simply nothing to anchor.

  • Plastic-only anchors on heavy furniture: The AAP[1][4] says plastic can become brittle and fail; it suggests metal.
  • Unbranded anchor kits from unknown sellers: The AAP[1][4] warns about counterfeit anchors.
  • A TV on top of a dresser: The AAP[1][4] says never place a TV on a dresser, especially in a child’s room.
  • Unknown-brand dressers sold online without checking recalls: CPSC[2][5][6] announced 41 dresser tip-over recalls in the past year, mostly for failing the federal stability standard.

Everything we tell parents to skip

The free or budget option

The AAP[1][4] puts anti-tip devices at about $5 to $25 each. A stud finder, a drill and a branded metal kit for each dresser and TV is the whole job; drawer stops are optional extras.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should I anchor furniture?
Before your baby starts pulling up and climbing. The AAP[1][4] says 77% of tip-over deaths involved children under 6.
Do wall-mounted TVs need anything else?
A properly installed mount is the anchor. For TVs on stands, the AAP[1][4] says use an anti-tip strap.
Is a short dresser safe without anchors?
The AAP[1][4] says you can’t tell by looking whether furniture will tip; anchor it.
How do I check if my dresser was recalled?
Search the brand and model at SaferProducts.gov or CPSC’s[2][5][6] recall list.

Sources

Safety guidance, standards and recall records come only from the official pages below, which we opened and read for this page. Retailer pages, if any, are used for price and specs only. This page lists no prices.

  1. AAP (HealthyChildren.org): Preventing Furniture and TV Tip-Overs, fetched Nov 10, 2026 (healthychildren.org)
  2. CPSC Anchor It! campaign (AnchorIt.gov), fetched Nov 10, 2026 (anchorit.gov)
  3. eCFR: 16 CFR part 1261, Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units, fetched Nov 10, 2026 (ecfr.gov)
  4. AAP (HealthyChildren.org): Home Safety: Tips for Families With Young Children, fetched Nov 10, 2026 (healthychildren.org)
  5. CPSC: Recalls & Product Safety Warnings, fetched Nov 10, 2026 (cpsc.gov)
  6. CPSC recall database query (SaferProducts.gov API): “dresser” recalls since 2025-11-01, run Nov 10, 2026 (saferproducts.gov)
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