IKEA Issues Warning After Dressers Tip Over, Killing Two Children

IKEA is offering free anchoring kits in the United States for dressers after two children died after chests tipped over and killed them.

The type of dresser that can tip over and be fatal to children (Photo Credit: CPSC)

The wall anchoring kits are being offered in the United States as part of a repair program following the reports of the two deaths. The MALM three- and four-drawer dressers and two styles of the MALM six-drawer dressers are the focus of the tip-over hazard. The chests and dressers can pose a tip-over hazard if not securely anchored to the wall.

Consumers are being advised to stop using all IKEA children’s chests and dressers taller than 23 ½ inches and adult chests and dressers taller than 29 ½ inches, unless they are securely anchored to the wall. The free wall anchoring kit should be used to secure MALM and other IKEA chests and dressers to the wall.

The type of dresser that can tip over and be fatal to children (Photo Credit: CPSC)

About seven million MALM chests and 20 million other IKEA chests and dressers are part of the nationwide repair program. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the first death was reported in February 2014 when a two-year-old boy from West Chester, Pa. died after a six-drawer chest tipped over, fatally pinning him against his bed. The second report was received by CPSC in June 2014 when a 23-month-old-child from Snohomish, Wash. died after he became trapped beneath a three-drawer chest that tipped over.

The type of dresser that can tip over and be fatal to children (Photo Credit: CPSC)

Neither chest had been secured to the wall. IKEA and CPSC have also received 14 reports of tip-over incidents involving MALM chests, resulting in four injuries. Health Canada has not issued a warning regarding the tip-over hazard, but it is recommended that all chests and dressers are securely attached to a wall.