Window Blind Cords

Window blind and shade cords look harmless, but they are a hidden strangulation hazard for young children. A child can get a loop of cord around the neck in seconds, silently, even with a parent in the next room. Hundreds of children have been strangled or injured by window covering cords. The fix is simple: use cordless window coverings, or make cords inaccessible.

• Families
• Renters
• Landlords

How strangulation happens

• Pull cords and lift cords that hang freely can form loops a child can put their head through. Children can get caught when they climb, reach, play or even sleep nearby.
• Inner cords (the cords inside blinds that raise and lower the slats) can be pulled out into a loop when the blind is lowered.
• Continuous loop cords (a cord loop that hangs down to control the shade or blind) create a ready-made noose.
• Cord tangles can form where two cords meet.
• Strangulation is quick and silent. A child can lose consciousness within seconds and die within minutes. It can happen when the child is out of sight for a short time, for example during a nap, or while a parent is on the phone.
• The most at-risk children are under 5 years old, and especially toddlers who are climbing.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported hundreds of deaths and injuries from window covering cords over the years, and treats it as one of the hidden hazards in the home.

What the rules say

• Safety standards have limited cord hazards on window coverings for years. The industry standard is ANSI/WCMA A100.1 (for window covering products).
• The CPSC adopted a mandatory federal rule in 2022 that makes the voluntary standard’s cord requirements mandatory. Under the rule, stock window coverings sold in the U.S. must be cordless, or have no accessible cords, with some limits for operating cords in certain products. Custom window coverings have different options, but still must meet safety requirements, and the rule explains the details.
• Older blinds and shades, those made before the rules, and window coverings in some rentals, may still have dangerous cords. Check what you have.
• Landlords and property owners should consider replacing corded blinds in units where children live. See Landlord Safety Duties and Tenant Safety Rights.

Rules and product designs change, so check the CPSC website for the current requirements.

Safer choices

• Choose cordless window coverings when you buy new ones, especially in bedrooms, nurseries and playrooms. Cordless products operate by pushing up or down by hand, or have a wand. Look for products labeled “cordless” or “no cords.”
• Choose motorized options or tilt wands, which have no cords for a child to reach.
• Use shades and blinds with inaccessible cords, such as cords inside the headrail, and check the label for safety information.
• Consider other window treatments, such as top-down or bottom-up shades that don’t need cords, curtains with rods or wands, shutters and fixed coverings. Ask the store about the cord safety of each option.
• For custom orders, ask for cordless or inaccessible-cord designs.
• Look at product labels and warnings, and follow the instructions for installing safety devices.

Fixing blinds you already have

• Replace old corded blinds in rooms where children sleep or play, if possible. This is the safest solution.
• Get a free retrofit kit. The Window Covering Safety Council and the industry provide free repair kits for older products, with tassels to replace looped pull cords, tension devices to hold continuous cords tight, and cord stops. Ask the maker or search for the Window Covering Safety Council’s Best for Kids program. Follow the instructions carefully.
• Cut looped pull cords and add separate tassels or handles on each cord, as the maker or a retrofit kit directs, so that no loop is left.
• Use cord wraps or cleats to wind cords up and out of reach, mounted high on the wall (at least about 5 feet off the floor, or as directed). Don’t leave cords hanging, and don’t wrap them around the child’s reach.
• Tension devices anchor continuous loops tightly to the wall or window frame. They have to be installed correctly.
• Check inner cords: make sure they cannot be pulled out when the blind is lowered, and use inner cord stops where available.

Furniture and room setup

• Keep cribs, beds, playpens, high chairs and furniture away from windows with blinds, curtains or cords. Children climb onto furniture to reach them.
• Keep other cords away from children too: curtain pull cords, baby monitor cords, cords on lamps, and strings on toys. See Childproofing and Home Electrical Safety.
• Don’t hang anything with a cord or string, such as mobiles and pacifier cords, near a crib.
• Check windows in all areas the child goes, including grandparents’ and friends’ homes, child care and hotels.

Teach caregivers and others

• Tell relatives, babysitters, child care providers and neighbors about the hazard. Many people don’t know about it. Show them how to wind and secure cords.
• When visiting, look for cords and tie them up out of reach.
• Check rental properties and vacation homes. Ask landlords to fix hazards. See Tenant Safety Rights.
• Be careful with second-hand and hand-me-down blinds. Old blinds with cords often don’t meet current standards.

If a child is caught in a cord

• Act at once. Lift the child to take the weight off the cord, and cut or unwrap the cord, being careful not to injure the child.
• Call 911. If the child isn’t breathing, start CPR and send someone to get an AED. See CPR & AED and Home First Aid.
• Get medical care, even if the child seems fine, because neck injuries and breathing problems can appear later.
• Report injuries and hazards to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov or 1-800-638-2772, which helps make products safer.

Window cord safety checklist

• I looked at every window covering in rooms where children sleep or play
• Corded blinds were replaced with cordless products, or fixed with retrofit kits and cord wraps
• No looped cords are hanging; cords are out of reach or wound up high
• Cribs, beds and furniture are away from windows and cords
• Caregivers and relatives know about the hazard
• I know to cut the cord, call 911 and start CPR if a child is caught

Last updated: October 4, 2026