Cordless, Kid-Safe Window Coverings: A Guide for Utah Families
By Braxton Hatch, TruShade 5 min read
Utah has a lot of young families, and one of the most common things parents ask us is how to make their windows safe for babies and toddlers. It’s a good question: the long cords and looped chains on older blinds and shades are a known strangulation hazard for young children, and safety groups like the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend cordless window coverings in homes with kids.
The good news is that going cord-free no longer means giving anything up. Here are the best options for each room, how to spot a hidden risk, and what to ask before you buy.
Why cords are a problem
A small child can get caught in a dangling lift cord, a looped bead chain or the inner cords that run through the slats of a blind. It can happen quickly and quietly, often in a bedroom or nursery where a crib, bed or toy box sits near the window. Pets, especially cats and puppies, can get tangled too.
Older homes and homes that came with builder-grade blinds are the most likely to still have long cords. If your blinds have cords that hang down or loop, they’re worth replacing in any room where kids spend time.
The best cord-free options
- Cordless cellular (honeycomb) shades. Push up or pull down on the bottom rail and the shade stays where you leave it. They insulate, come in light-filtering and blackout fabrics, and are our most popular pick for kids’ rooms.
- Cordless roller and zebra shades. A clean, modern look with no cords at all, from sheer solar fabrics for living areas to blackout for bedrooms.
- Motorized shades. Nothing hangs down, and you can raise or lower them with a remote, phone or schedule. A great fit for tall windows and for nurseries, where you can lower the shade without walking back into the room.
- Plantation shutters. No lift cords at all. You open and close the louvers with a tilt rod or a hidden tilt, and shutters hold up well to little hands.
- Cordless wood and faux wood blinds. If you love the look of blinds, cordless versions raise and lower by hand, with no long pull cords.
Room by room
- Nursery and kids’ bedrooms. Cordless or motorized only. Pair it with a blackout fabric for naps on bright Utah afternoons, and keep the crib or bed away from the window.
- Playroom and family room. Cordless light-filtering shades or shutters keep the room bright and safe. Shutters are tough and easy to wipe clean.
- Tall and great-room windows. Motorized shades remove the long cords these windows used to need, and you can reach them without a ladder.
- Kitchen and bathrooms. Cordless faux wood blinds or composite shutters handle steam and are easy to clean.
What to ask before you buy
- Is it fully cordless? Check for inner cords, bead chains and wand tilts as well as lift cords.
- Is it certified for homes with kids? Some products carry a “Best for Kids” certification, which means they have no accessible cords. Ask which products in your quote qualify.
- How easy is it to lift? Try a sample at home. A good cordless shade should go up and down smoothly and stay put.
- Will it all match? You can mix cordless and motorized shades in the same fabric and color so the whole house still looks consistent.
During a consultation we can point out any cords on the windows you already have and show you cordless samples in your own rooms.
Already have a quote?
Send it to us before you sign. With our Price Beat Guarantee, we’ll beat a comparable written quote by $500 on 5+ windows or by $1,000 on 10+ windows. We’ll measure for free, confirm the product match, and give you our price in writing.
Common questions
Are cordless blinds and shades safer for kids?
Yes. With no cords or chains hanging down, there’s nothing for a child to get caught in. Safety groups recommend cordless window coverings in homes with young children.
What are the safest window coverings for a nursery?
Cordless or motorized shades, ideally in a blackout fabric for naps. Plantation shutters are another good cord-free option.
Do cordless shades work on large windows?
Yes, within size limits for each product. Very large or tall windows are often a better fit for motorized shades, which also have no cords.
Can I replace just the blinds in my kids’ rooms?
Yes. Many families start with nurseries and bedrooms and update the rest of the house later, in matching fabrics and colors.
