Cordless and Child-Safe Blinds: What to Know
Window-blind cords are one of the most under-appreciated hazards in a family home. Looped and long operating cords and chains can entangle a young child, and tragically they have caused deaths. The good news is that safer designs are now widely available and inexpensive retrofits exist for the blinds you already own. Here’s what every parent and carer should know.
Why cords are dangerous
Small children are naturally drawn to dangling cords, and a loop within reach — near a cot, a bed, a sofa, or the floor — can tighten around a neck in seconds, often silently. Toddlers are most at risk because they explore by pulling and climbing but can’t always free themselves. It’s precisely this risk that drove the industry toward cordless and child-safe designs and toward stricter safety standards.
The safer options
Three broad approaches remove or reduce the hazard:
- Cordless: you raise and lower the blind by pushing or pulling the bottom rail — there’s no operating cord at all. It’s the simplest way to eliminate the risk and gives a clean, uncluttered look. Cellular and roller shades are widely sold cordless.
- Motorised: a small motor moves the blind at the touch of a remote, switch, or app. Again there are no accessible cords, and it’s a boon for hard-to-reach or very large windows — at a higher price.
- Wand-operated: a rigid wand tilts and traverses the blind (common on venetians and verticals) in place of a looped cord, keeping controls short and out of reach.
Many retailers label these “best for kids” for good reason: in a home with young children, a design with no accessible cord is the safest choice, full stop.
Making existing corded blinds safer
You don’t always have to replace a blind to make it safer. Inexpensive retrofit kits bring older corded blinds closer to modern guidance:
- Cord cleats: a hook fixed high on the wall that you wind the cord around, keeping it well out of a child’s reach. Use it every time the blind is set.
- Tension devices: a fitting that anchors a chain loop taut to the wall so it can’t form a dangling loop.
- Breakaway connectors and tassels: parts designed to come apart under load rather than hold a loop closed.
Fit these correctly and use them consistently — a cleat only works when the cord is actually wound onto it.
How high should a cord be?
Safety standards such as the European EN 13120 call for accessible cords and chains to be kept well above the floor — commonly at least around 1.5 metres, or roughly 60 inches — or to be secured so no reachable loop hangs free. Our Blind Cord Safety Calculator takes your headrail height and cord length and tells you the cord’s lowest point, the longest length that still clears the safe line, and whether the window calls for a cordless blind instead.
Practical placement tips
Beyond the blind itself, a few habits reduce risk: keep cots, beds, and climbable furniture away from windows and their cords; never run a cord near where a child sleeps or plays; and tie off or wind up every cord after you adjust the blind, not just occasionally. Check older blinds around the house, not only in the nursery — children roam.
The bottom line
If you’re buying new for a home with young children, choose cordless or motorised and remove the hazard entirely. If you’re keeping corded blinds, fit cleats and tension devices and use them without fail. When in doubt, run the numbers through the cord safety calculator and follow the safety instructions supplied with your blind — a few minutes of attention is a small price for peace of mind.