Looped cords and chains on blinds are a genuine hazard to babies and young children, who can become entangled in a hanging loop. It is the one part of buying a blind that is about safety rather than looks, so it is worth getting right - especially in any room a young child sleeps or plays in.

What the standard requires

Internal blinds sold in the UK and Europe must meet the safety standard BS EN 13120, which requires that a blind be "safe by design" or supplied with the devices needed to make it safe - so that, as installed, there is no hazardous loop within a child's reach. In practice that means a blind with a cord or chain should come with a safety device such as a cleat to wind the cord around, a tensioner that fixes a chain taut to the wall, or a breakaway connector that comes apart under load. The legal duty sits with the retailer to supply these; fitting and using them is down to you.

The safest choice: no cord at all

The surest way to remove the risk is to remove the cord. Several options have no hazardous loop by design:

  • Cordless and spring-operated blinds that you raise and lower by hand.
  • Motorised blinds worked by a remote, app or wall switch.
  • Perfect-fit blinds, which are framed and operated without a hanging cord.
  • Wand-operated verticals and some venetians, where a rigid wand replaces the chain.

In a child's bedroom or nursery, a cord-free blind is the recommendation worth paying a little extra for.

If a blind does have a cord or chain

  • Fit and use the supplied safety device - wind cords onto the cleat after every use, or fix the chain tensioner to the wall so the loop is held tight and cannot be pulled into a loop a child can reach.
  • Mount cords and chains high and out of reach, and keep them short.
  • Move cots, beds and furniture a child can climb on away from the window and any cord.
  • Check older blinds, which may pre-date the current rules and have no safety device at all.

Where to read more

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) runs a long-standing blind-cord safety campaign with detailed guidance for parents, and the requirements above come from the published standard BS EN 13120. We sell nothing and fit nothing - this page is general guidance, so for a specific product always follow the safety instructions supplied with it.

Frequently asked questions

Why are blind cords dangerous for young children?

A hanging looped cord or chain is a genuine hazard to babies and young children, who can become entangled in the loop. It matters most in any room where a young child sleeps or plays.

What does the UK safety standard require for blind cords?

Internal blinds sold in the UK and Europe must meet BS EN 13120, which requires a blind to be safe by design or supplied with the devices needed to make it safe, so that, as installed, there is no hazardous loop within a child's reach. The legal duty to supply devices such as a cleat, a chain tensioner or a breakaway connector sits with the retailer; fitting and using them is down to you.

What is the safest type of blind for a child's bedroom or nursery?

One with no cord at all: cordless and spring-operated blinds, motorised blinds worked by a remote, app or wall switch, perfect-fit blinds, or wand-operated designs where a rigid wand replaces the chain. In a child's bedroom or nursery, a cord-free blind is worth paying a little extra for.

How do I make a blind with a cord or chain safer?

Fit and use the supplied safety device: wind cords onto the cleat after every use, or fix the chain tensioner to the wall so the loop is held tight. Mount cords and chains high and out of reach, keep them short, and move cots, beds and any furniture a child can climb on away from the window.

Are older blinds safe for children?

Not necessarily: older blinds may pre-date the current rules and have no safety device at all, so check any you already have. For detailed guidance, RoSPA runs a long-standing blind-cord safety campaign, and you should always follow the safety instructions supplied with a specific product.