You’ve spent weeks picking out the perfect nursery dresser. Maybe it’s a hand-me-down from a relative that you lovingly restored, or a brand new piece you assembled while sipping your third cup of coffee. Either way, it holds all those tiny onesies, diapers, and blankets, and it looks great in the corner. But there’s one thing that often gets overlooked in the excitement of setting up a nursery: making sure that dresser stays exactly where you put it. Furniture tip-overs are a serious safety risk for toddlers and young children, and a dresser full of heavy baby gear can become a dangerous hazard if it’s not properly secured to the wall. The good news is that anchoring a dresser is one of the simplest and most effective DIY home safety projects you can tackle. It takes about fifteen minutes, requires only a few basic tools, and gives you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your little one is safe.

Before you start, you need to understand why anchoring is so important. A curious toddler who loves to pull themselves up or open drawers for fun can easily lean on an unsecured dresser. Even if the dresser feels solid, the weight of open drawers filled with clothes shifts the center of gravity forward, making it easier to tip. According to safety experts, a child can be injured or worse when a piece of furniture falls on them. Anchoring prevents that nightmare scenario by keeping the dresser connected to the wall studs, so no amount of climbing or pulling will bring it down. You’ll sleep better knowing you’ve done everything you can to keep your nursery safe.

Now let’s talk about what you need. Most home improvement stores sell furniture anchor kits that come with straps, screws, and wall anchors. You’ll also need a drill with a screwdriver bit, a stud finder, a pencil, a measuring tape, and possibly a level if you want to be extra precise. If you don’t have a stud finder, you can sometimes locate studs by tapping the wall and listening for a solid sound, or by looking for the baseboard nails. But for accuracy, a stud finder is well worth the small investment. Also, check the instructions that come with your anchor kit, because different brands have slightly different steps. The basic principle, however, remains the same: attach one side of the anchor to the dresser and the other side to the wall.

Start by pulling the dresser out from the wall enough to work behind it. Make sure the dresser is on a level floor and that all drawers are closed. Use the stud finder to locate at least one wall stud behind the dresser. Ideally, you want to anchor into a stud because that provides the strongest hold. If your dresser is positioned where no stud is available, you can use drywall anchors designed for heavy loads, but anchoring into a stud is always better. Mark the spot on the wall where the stud is located, keeping in mind that the anchor strap or bracket needs to line up with a solid part of the dresser frame, not just the back panel. Most dressers have a horizontal rail near the top that works well.

Next, attach the anchor bracket or strap to the dresser following the kit’s instructions. This usually involves screwing a metal bracket into the top back edge of the dresser, or threading a strap around a horizontal rail. If your dresser is an older model with a thin back panel, you might need to reinforce the connection by screwing into a solid wood frame member. Don’t worry if you have to get creative—just make sure the anchor is firmly attached to the dresser itself. Then, hold the strap or bracket against the wall at your marked stud location. Use a pencil to mark where the wall screw should go. Drill a pilot hole into the stud at that mark, then drive the screw into the stud using the screwdriver bit on your drill. Make sure the screw is tight but don’t overtighten and strip the hole.

Once everything is connected, test the anchor by gently pulling on the dresser. It shouldn’t budge. Slide the dresser back against the wall and admire your work. You’ve just made your nursery a whole lot safer. Remember that anchoring isn’t a one-time thing. As your child grows, they’ll become more mobile and curious, so check the anchor periodically to make sure it’s still secure. Also, if you ever rearrange the room or move the dresser, you’ll need to re-anchor it in the new location. It’s a quick job that becomes second nature after you do it once.

A few extra tips: never place heavy items like a television on top of a nursery dresser, even if you think it’s safe. And keep tempting items like toys or remote controls off the top of the dresser, because that encourages climbing. Anchor every tall piece of furniture in the nursery, including bookshelves and changing tables. You might also consider applying drawer locks to prevent little fingers from getting pinched, but that’s a separate project. For now, focus on anchoring. It’s a small effort that delivers huge peace of mind. So grab your drill, call a friend if you need a hand, and give that nursery dresser the stability it deserves. Your baby will thank you—by staying safe, happy, and right where they belong.