Ikea Dresssers Recalled after Several Toddler Deaths

After at least six children have been killed in tip-over accidents involving Ikea dressers for children and adults, the company has issued a recall of29 million dressers in the United States. The recall affects 8 million MALM dressers and 21 million additional dressers under varying model names.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), Ikea issued a repair kit last year after learning of two child deaths involving MALM chestsand dressers in 2014. In one incident, a 2-year-old boy was killed after a 6-drawer MALM dresser tipped, pinning him between the dresser and his bed.In the second incident, a 23-month-old boy died after becoming trapped under a fallen 3-drawer MALM dresser.

Following these fatalities, Ikea offered a wall-anchoring repair kit to securely attach the dressers to the wall to prevent tip-over.

But the repair-kit program did not stop the fatal accidents, and in February of this year, a 22-month-old boy in Minnesota died when a 6-drawer MALM dressertoppled over on him. This latest death prompted the 29-million unit recall.

However, MALM dressers weren't the only dressers involved in tip-over deaths, which include at least three other child deaths dating back to 1989. Accordingto the CPSC:

• In July 1989, a 20-month-old girl from Mt. Vernon, Va. died afteran unanchored GUTE 4-drawer chest tipped over and pinned her against the footboard of a youth bed.
• In March 2002, a 2�-year-old boy from Cranford, N.J. died after an unanchored RAKKE 5-drawer chest tipped over and fatally pinned him to the floor.
• In October 2007, a 3-year-old girl from Chula Vista, Calif. died after a KURS 3-drawer chest tipped over and fatally pinned her to the floor.It is unknown as to whether the dresser was anchored or not.

In addition to the fatalities, Ikea has received reports of 41 tip-over accidents involving MALM dressers, resulting in 17 injuries to children rangingin age from 19 months to 10 years. Non-MALM dressers have been involved in another 41 reports of tip-over accidents, resulting int the three aforementioneddeaths and an additional 19 injuries.

Ikea will give consumers with affected dressers two options involving the recall: either a wall-mounted anchor repair kit or a full or partial refund.The amount of refund is determined by the manufacture dateof the dresser:

• Full refund: If the chest of drawers was manufactured between January 1, 2002 and June 28, 2016.
  
• Store credit for 50% of original price: If the item was manufactured before January 2002.
  
• Store credit of $50: If the manufacturing date cannot be determined.

To learn more about the recall or to determine if you own a recalled Ikea dresser, visit the Ikea website here.