US authorities investigating third toddler death involving Ikea furniture since 2014

The furniture company stressed the importance of fastening its dressers to the wall

Ikea offered free repairs for its 27 million dressers sold since 2002 Saul Loeb/Getty

US safety officials are investigating the death of a toddler after he was killed by an Ikea dresser, months after the company acknowledged the potential danger of some of its furniture if not fastened to the wall.

On 14 February, 22-month old Theodore “Ted” McGee was crushed by an Ikea Malm bureau in his Apple Valley, Minnesota, bedroom after the six-foot unit tipped over, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The toddler’s parents said he had been napping.

“The didn’t hear the dresser fally,” said the McGee family’s attorney, Alan Feldman. “They didn’t hear Ted scream.”

Ted’s mother, Janet McGee, said she found her son under the dresser after checking on him every 20 minutes while he was napping. He was not on his bed the final time she returned, but Mrs McGee had assumed the toddler was off hiding in his room - something he regularly did when he was meant to be napping.

Ikea is investigating the case alongside the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The Swedish-based company, which operates its American headquarters north of Philadelphia, acknowledged the safety concerns surrounding the brand’s dressers in July 2015. Ikea launched a nationwide repair program with the CPSC, calling for the repair of 27 million dressers sold by the retailer since 2002.

Two children - a two-year-old and a 23-month-old - were crushed by Malm bureaus in 2014, Ikea said in the July statement.

The CPSC could not comment on the McGee toddler case, as federal regulations prohibit agencies from disclosing information without company consent. Elliot Kaye, safety commission chairman, said that it is the company’s responsibility to resolve issues with dangerous products even if the information is made publicly available.

“Without commenting on any specific case,” Mr Kaye said, “companies are now on notice that even if there has been a public announcement about a remedy to address a dangerous product, the company must take every possible step to prevent further harm.”

“This is especially the case when a child dies. … I expect companies to truly put safety first.”

Ikea offered condolences in a statement from a spokesperson - but stressed the importance of fastening the six-foot dresser to the wall to avoid risk of potentially fatal accidents.

“We wish to emphasize that the best way to prevent tip-over of chests of drawers is to attach products to the wall with the included restraints and hardware per the assembly instructions.”

The McGee’s reportedly bought the dresser in 2012, two years before Ikea issued its safety notice.

According to CPSC figures, one US child dies every two weeks and one is injured every 24 minutes, in tip-over accidents involving furniture or televisions.