How to Babyproof Your Flat Screen TV
Over on Ohdeedoh today a reader posed an interesting question about how to babyproof your television. No, we’re not talking about protecting your boob tube from the accidental crayon mishap, but rather, how to keep your 42-inch behemoth from toppling over and squashing your 10 lbs. child… or your childlike husband.
While mounting your television on the wall is one way to avoid teasing your rock climbing tot from using your LCD or plasma as a jungle gym, what options do those who place their TVs on stands have?
As one Ohdeedoh reader suggested, Safety 1st makes a product that lets you “lock” your flat screen directly to the wall behind it. Similar to latches that help you secure bookshelves from toppling over during earthquakes, the ProGrade Flat Screen TV Lock is a bar that extends out from your TV’s existing VESA mount holes and attaches to the wall. A pivot lets you angle the TV so you’re not locked into being parallel to the wall. This option will run you $30 from Baby R Us.
You can also use earthquake straps to secure your TV to the wall, but if your flat screen isn’t near a wall, you can secure your TV to the actual stand using anti-top straps. Just be sure that your stand is heavy enough not to come toppling over with the TV.
Do you guys have any more suggestions for parents with overly curious kids
More on Securing TVs:
How to Choose the Right TV Mount
How To: Mount a Flat Panel TV in the Corner
Image: Sonia Zjawinski (photographer) Bruce McMoran (uninhibited model)