29 million Ikea dressers recalled after deadly tip-overs

WASHINGTON — In one of the most comprehensive safety recalls in American history, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Tuesday a recall of 29 million IKEA chests and dressers from the MALM series that can tip over.

The recall comes after a third toddler's death was linked to a MALM IKEA dresser tipping over.

Two other young children were killed in 2014 in other incidents.

“They're just inherently unstable in the way they were built," CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye said.

Alan Feldman is the attorney representing all three families whose children died after MALM dresser tip-overs.

“These are families that bought furniture from a prominent and respected furniture manufacturer that they had every reason to believe could be used safely,” Feldman said.

While families are pleased IKEA has responded to the dangers, they are disappointed it has taken this long, he said.

People affected by the recall can return the dresser to an IKEA store or have it picked up free of charge and receive a refund. Consumers who want to keep their furniture can request a free wall-anchoring kit to secure the furniture to the wall

“Please do it now and you can save a child’s life,” Kaye said.

The CPSC says it will continue monitoring other furniture brands and seek recalls for those that pose unreasonable tip-over risks to children.

“I am calling on the furniture industry to accelerate bringing safer designs to market,” Kaye said. “I know we can have a thriving furniture industry and safer children at the same time.”

The CPSC says there are over 25,000 furniture, TV and appliance tip-overs every year.

Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit group that aims to protect children from preventable injuries, provides simple steps parents can take to protect their families from tip-overs:

• Mount flat screen TVs and heavy furniture to the wall
• Recycle old box-style television sets rather than storing them on a dresser
• Avoid placing remote controls, food or toys on top of furniture that kids could be tempted to climb

Cox Media Group