Customer Reviews

Mommy's Helper Tip Resistant Furniture Safety Brackets

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Having seen multiple news-program coverage of children being injured by falling furniture and flat-panel televisions, I was amazed when I checked my local Home Depot and Lowe's, and nobody seemed to have any idea about whether they carried anti-tip kits, even after I described exactly what they do and how they work.

I ordered this kit hoping it would do the job, and it seemed like the best bang-for-the-buck. It arrived yesterday, and I installed it on one shelf last night. So, here's the deal. What you're really after is the brackets you attach to the wall and the shelf. This kit provides that. They also provide straps and screws for installation. However, other reviewers have said the straps become hard and crumble after a year or two - time will tell. I will check them every couple months and replace with zip ties if needed.

The screws...first, let me say I am a pretty handy person. Even with applying very good force, the first screw stripped out, and the second broke in half when screwed halfway in - and I pre-drilled holes!

So, here's the verdict: Not all the items provided in the kit are perfect. However, the little plastic brackets are something I have not found anywhere except with a couple pieces of new furniture. That's all I really care about, as I don't mind using my own screws or zip ties later if need be. So, I'm rating the product mainly on the brackets, as my experience with the secondary bits suggests they're not to hot. Good luck!

I would have rated this item 0 stars, if that were an option. We discovered approximately a year after installing these that the plastic strap had become so brittle that it snapped in two with little manipulation. Fortunately, we discovered this because we were moving, not because a piece of furniture fell. I shudder to think what might have happened if our furniture had tipped.

Overall, I am very happy with this product. I read the previous reviews as well. I never had a problem with the straps becoming brittle, I installed these on some large cabinets and removed them two years later with no problems. I do however agree that the screws do strip easily, and you have to be careful with that. I was able to get around it by putting a lot of pressure on the cordless drill and making sure to use a low torque setting.

However, I like the design of these brackets better than any I've seen, so I would still recommend them even if you buy better screws to install them with. Other anti-tip brackets need to be unscrewed to be able to move the furniture to get behind it, with this you can just undo the zip-tie and put it back when you are done.

We have owned these for 6+ years. Just moved a piece of furniture to paint and the straps were just fine. No brittle issue here at all.

The screws that come with the brackets are so soft they strip almost immediately --- was about to use my own, then read the review below and decided I'd be better off just screwing the furniture into the wall . . .

Unless they have started making the strap out of a different material, DON'T rely on this to keep your furniture from tipping!. I know that there is better plastic available, so I don't know why they don't use a another type that doesn't get brittle over a couple of years.
All I can think of is PROFITS. That's why it is made so cheaply. If you already have this product, try replacing the strap with the heavy-duty zip-ties that you buy at the hardware store -- they come in a package of 20-50 or so and you can cut them and replace them whenever you need to move the furniture.

I have to disagree with the previous 2 reviews...we've had these for 5 years now, and they are still holding strong. Just reading the bad reviews made me doublecheck them today, and I see no problem with them at all. I am now ordering another set for baby #2 on the way. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is that my son has never been a climber, so we have never had an emergency situation to see how they really would perform.

These straps are horrible. The screws are so cheap and crappy that they strip if you so much as think about them encountering any resistance while screwing them in, and twice when screws actually encountered resistance, the screwheads popped off! How's THAT safe? The screw heads are what holds the brackets to the wall or furniture!

I highly recommend that Furniture Wall Straps by Safety First instead. We have tried several brands and those are by FAR the best. They are easy to install, appear ot be sturdy, and also easy to remove temporarily if you need to move the furniture to reach behind it.

I have used this anti-tip device for over 4 years. My zip ties have not become brittle. I have moved to a different home and reinstalled the wall brackets. I very rarely move the furniture for cleaning or other issues, but I like the flexibility.

I researched all kind of furniture brackets before deciding on these. They work well and do the job. I can unhook them to vacuum behind the furniture, but they are secure and keep our daughter's dresser in place when installed. Nice product!