Kids see their furniture as their jungle gym. When they're stuck inside their room, they're most likely to turn it into a playground. For this reason, safety should be your main priority when shopping around for kids furniture.

Each year, around 15,000 kids get injured due to furniture tipping over. Furniture like cabinets, desks, and bookshelves can tip over and hurt your children when they climb them. Furthermore, children's size is different from adults, and they are usually tougher on furniture. There's more to it than micro-sizing their mattress. There are various safety standards for design and safety applied to kid's furnishings.

Avoid Secondhand or Used Furniture as Much as Possible

We all love a good old bargain. However, when it comes to your child's furniture, purchasing brand new is worth the extra investment. Most of the time, you won't be able to see the wear and tear of most secondhand items have incurred, which could result in safety issues for your little ones. Moreover, products that have been recalled may take years to be totally excluded from the market.

If you're low on budget and have no choice but to buy used, make sure that it is not on the recall list of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission or ACCC. It is also essential that you inspect and clean any secondhand furniture thoroughly before letting your kids use them.

Safety Tips When Purchasing Kids Furniture

General Guidelines

• Read and check the label to ensure that it meets the ACCC standard for that particular furniture type and model.
• Look at the furniture's construction. Ensure that it is sturdy, durable, and can accommodate your kid's age, weight, and height.
• Kids have a poor balance, so it is crucial that the edges of their furniture are not sharp to prevent any possible injuries.
• The bed should be firm since children love to jump on it. It should also have side protection and have a specific height to prevent them from falling down.
• The doors of cabinets should be easy to open and safe enough to avoid your kids from scratching themselves.

Closets and Toy Chests. When purchasing a closet or toy chest, look for those like the KidKraft Austin Toy Box that has a hinge that locks into positions to prevent the lid from falling into your child's head when he's reaching for something inside. It also doubles as a bench for additional seating.

Go green. Choose pieces of furniture that are made from eco-friendly materials. The best material for any kid's furniture is natural solid wood since it produces less toxic chemicals compared to artificial boards like plywood, MDF, and particle wood among others. Also, ensure that the paints used are non-toxic and lead-free.

Choosing the Best Bedroom Furniture for your Children

Bed. When your child starts to climb out of his crib, it's time to switch to a bed. Choose a toddler bed that's low on the floor which can help ease the transition from a crib to the big-kid bed. A toddler bed is your basic twin bed that comes with safety rails. You can also opt for a captain's bed which features extra storage underneath its mattress.

Dressers. These are smaller version of adult dressers and usually features knobs and handles that are easy to grab. The drawers are also more shallow and shorter to accommodate your kid's cute little clothing and accessories. If you want to save space in the bedroom, consider getting a narrow dresser and make sure that it is anchored to the wall to prevent tipping.

Table and chair set. It is vital to provide your children with a dedicated space so that he can comfortably do his homework or arts and crafts and stay organized at the same time. Select thost with convenient storage like the Qtoys Kids Play and Work Desk and the Qtoys Rubberwood Square Table and Chairs. Your kids will love playing board games and puzzles, as well as do their artworks at these tables. And afterward, they can store their colour pencils and little treasures in the opening storage. 

Bookcase. Encouraging your children to read is very important in their development, and the best way to do this is to provide them with a dedicated space to display and store their favourite books. The KidKraft Sling Bookshelf is highly recommended for parents. It comes in a range of beautiful colours to suit the style of your child. It can hold books of any size, and its soft canvas shelves will ensure that the books will not be damaged.

Storage. Children tend to accumulate a lot of toys, games, and books, and having storage in their bedroom is of utmost importance. Toy boxes that double as a bench is a great way to store these items out of sight in one convenient furniture. It also provides your children with a playing surface and seating area. On the other hand, storage baskets and bins in different sizes can organize and hold all types of children's toys which your toddlers can easily access.