BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

CPSC Issues Warning on Dangers of Tip-Over Furniture Amid IKEA Lawsuit

While these deaths are devastating, experts say they are 100% preventable.
save article
profile picture of Nehal Aggarwal
By Nehal Aggarwal, Editor
Published January 9, 2020
ikea's malm dresser causes death of two year old
Image: Courtesy Ikea

Furniture that may tip over has been a danger to children for quite some time, and, unfortunately, it continues to be so. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a warning regarding Hodedah HI4DR four-drawer dressers, which are sold by large retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Sears and Home Depot. In the warning, they recommend parents anchor down furniture to prevent any potential injuries to kids, as, according to their tests, the dresser weighs approximately 75 pounds on its own.

While the CPSC continues to press for a recall on the product, it’s important to note that there are other products that pose similar dangers to kids that are still on the market. A few days ago, IKEA paid a $46 million settlement to a California couple, Joleen and Craig Dudek, The New York Times reports. The Dudeks devastatingly lost their toddler in 2017, after a 70-pound Malm dresser from IKEA fell on him. In the lawsuit, the couple argues that IKEA, aware of the design flaw, had not warned its customers.

In 2015, IKEA offered free wall-anchoring kits amidst reports of MALM-related injuries. In June 2016, The New York Times reports, the retailer issued a recall on the product—one which the couple was never notified of. Plus, this isn’t the only settlement IKEA has reached in the last few years. In 2016, they paid $50 million to three families who had lost children due to similar furniture tip-over incidents.

“We miss him so much,” the couple said in a statement issued by their lawyer earlier this week. “He would be turning 5 years old this April. We never thought that a 2-year-old could cause a dresser just 30-inches high to topple over and suffocate him. It was only later that we learned that this dresser was unstable by design and did not meet safety standards, and that this had happened to other little boys.”

On a lighter note, some of these alarming stories do have happy endings (remember the toddler who saved his twin?). But, unfortunately, furniture-related injuries are not rare among small children. According to the CPSC, from 2015 through 2018, there were approximately 20,900 emergency room visits each year due to furniture tip-over incidents. In this same time frame, these tip-overs caused at least 89 deaths, many of which sadly involved small kids.

At any given moment, parents usually have countless things to do. But, if you have a small child at home, it’s important to babyproof your living spaces—and that includes anchoring any furniture that baby might come into contact with. Luckily, there are several things you can do both before baby comes home and after baby starts to move around. For more information on babyproofing your home, check out these tips.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

comfi baby infant walkers recall
The CPSC Asks Parents to Stop Using Comfi Baby Infant Walkers
By Wyndi Kappes
Fisher Price Little People Mickey and Friends Figures recall due to choking hazard
Fisher-Price Recalls Little People Mickey and Friends Figures
By Wyndi Kappes
young child holding gummies
Study Finds 420% Uptick in Child ER Visits Due to Melatonin Poisoning
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
jool baby nova infant swing recall 2024
Why Jool Baby Is Recalling Its Nova Baby Swings
By Wyndi Kappes
happy mom holding baby during winter in the snow
11 Essential Winter Safety Tips for Baby
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
lovevery slide and seek ball runs recall
Lovevery Recalls 47,000 Slide & Seek Ball Runs Due to Choking Hazard
By Wyndi Kappes
laundry detergent pods poison risk for children
Detergent Pods Remain Significant Threat to Kids, Study Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Baby Walkers-hero
Are Baby Walkers Safe? Here’s the Deal
By Christin Perry
toddler climbing up stairs in home
8 Baby Safety Myths Busted by Pediatricians
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
toddler opening christmas gifts on christmas morning
Doctor's Viral Video Reveals Top 5 Gifts That Land Kids in the ER
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Bugaboo Dragonfly Seat Strollers recall
Bugaboo Recalls Dragonfly Seat Strollers Due to Injury Risk
By Wyndi Kappes
mother kissing baby's face while sitting on grass outside
When Can Newborns Go Outside?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
baby wearing a santa hat playing with christmas tree ornaments
14 Need-to-Know Holiday Safety Tips
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
family opening christmas presents
This Toy Was Responsible for the Most ER Visits Last Year
By Wyndi Kappes
father buckling baby into car seat in the car
Can You Uber With Baby? What to Know When Ridesharing With Little Ones
Fact Checked by Denise Porretto
little sleepies loveys and bandana recall 2023
Little Sleepies Recalls 450,000 Sleepyhead Loveys and Bandana Bibs
By Wyndi Kappes
Best Kids Sunglasses Hero
14 Kids’ Sunglasses They’ll Wear Everywhere This Summer
By Megan Cahn
ADVERTISEMENT
chuckle and roar water bead activity kits recall 2023
Popular Water Bead Activity Kit Sold at Target Has Been Recalled
By Wyndi Kappes
mother and baby crawling on floor at home
It’s Baby Safety Month: Here Are All the Sales You Don’t Wanna Miss
By Wyndi Kappes
dad strapping baby into rocker
CPSC Members Propose New Safety Rules for Baby Rockers After Deaths
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.