For the most important people in the world Kids have a lot of work to do – like developing who they are, discovering the world and then starting their journey to independence. So having the right things at home can make it a little easier. From the day you bring them home until they’re almost all grown up, our children’s furniture will help you turn your home into the best possible playground. Changing tables & nursing, Children's desks & chairs 8-12 Action FiguresVideo GamesBikes & Ride-onsElectronicsBuilding SetsLearningGames & PuzzlesOutdoor PlayVehicles, Hobby & R/CPretend PlayArts & CraftsPreschoolMusical InstrumentsStuffed AnimalsCooking for Kids Hot WheelsMinecraftLEGOStar WarsTransformersTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles we got what's hot! Read more on PRF The price reflects selected options CA, East Palo Alto Go to Fabric ottomans Go to SPRIDD collectionAfter news leaked that they would be recalling up to 29 million chests and drawers in the wake of the third child death in three years, Ikea USA president Lars Petersson described the recall as "unprecedented" in the company's history.
But the massive recall wasn't just unprecedented for Ikea: It marks the largest furniture safety recall in American history, according to data provided to Co.Design by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC). In fact, looking at the top five furniture recalls in American history, it's not even close. The Ikea recall is three times bigger than the second largest recall in the CSPC's archives—and that recall was spread across an entire industry. Yet a look at the largest furniture recalls in U.S. history reveals that the last two decades have seen plenty of other large-scale recalls, if not quite as huge as Ikea's. Trigger alert: This list is likely to give new parents panic attacks. No doubt about it: Ikea's recall is the largest in U.S. history. Thanks to lightweight construction and low stability ratings, Ikea's dressers have killed at least six children since 1989, starting with a 20-month year old girl from Mt. Vernon, Virginia, who died after an unanchored Gute 4-drawer chest tipped over and pinned her against the footboard.
2014 was the deadliest year for Ikea-related deaths, when two kids were killed by Malm chests within a span of just four months, prompting Ikea to start distributing free anchoring kits. After the third child in two years was killed by a Malm dresser back in February, though, Ikea agreed to a " full recall, offering either full or partial refunds for every single three-plus drawer dresser or chest they have ever sold in America. This is the grand poombah of non-IKEA recalls. In 1995, 10 million beanbag chairs sold by nine separate companies dating all the way back to 1971 were recalled by the CSPC. At least five children died after unzipping these beanbag chairs and inhaling or ingesting the small pellets of foam filling, choking them to death. Twenty-seven other children were injured or hospitalized for similar incidents. At least this recall had a permanent market effect, though. These days, beanbag seats are either sold completely sealed, or with locked childproof zippers. 2005 was a bad year for furniture recalls.
In May, 2.1 million children's folding chairs distributed by Summit Marketing International were recalled after the CSPC noticed that the safety lock tended to fail, catching children's fingers in the hinges. The chairs—which were sold nationwide between September 2002 and May 2005—ended up amputating the finger tips of four children, as well as a string of lacerations and bruises. By the time the CSPC recalled the chairs, though, Summit Marketing International had disappeared, leading the agency to recommend that anyone unlucky enough to have bought one to "discard or destroy" it. Another line of folding chairs for children, another series of ghastly finger amputations. In April 2005, the CSPC recalled 1.5 million children's folding chairs distributed by Atico International. A design flaw in the safety locking mechanism had a tendency to catastrophically fail, lopping off or mutilating the fingers of the children unfortunate enough to get them caught when the chair snapped shut.
The chairs were sold in hardware, toy, grocery, and department stores before the CSPC finally got wind of the problem, at which point 11 children had been maimed by the chairs. Like Summit Marketing, though, Atico International had gone out of business by that time, leading the CSPC to recommend anyone who had such a chair to destroy it. Noticing a pattern yet? This line of folding chairs for children, manufactured in China and distributed by Idea Nuova out of New York, were sold at discount department stores nationwide from September 2004 through June 2005, with many colorful designs, including Spider-Man and Disney Princess varieties. Unfortunately, the chair's safety lock was prone to failure, resulting in two kids losing their finger tips, and one child breaking their finger when the chair spontaneously snapped shut on it. In late July 2005, 1.1 million of these chairs were ultimately recalled. What effect did these tragedies have on furniture design regulations? In the case of beanbag chairs, the CSPC issued a revised set of safety regulations a year after the recall, stating that any beanbag chair capable of being refilled must only be opened with a special tool.
But the safety standards for collapsible children's chairs, while proposed, are still being debated. But the Ikea recall might be too big to ignore. Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. (D., Pennsylvania) is calling for dresser manufacturers to meet mandatory stability requirements going forward, instead of the current voluntary standards that Ikea ignored to the peril of both the company and its customers' children. Never miss a story. I'd also like to receive special Fast Company offersPillow BlanketPillowsBed BlanketsPillow NapsBlanket It'SPillow CouchMoody CouchHuge Bean BagGiant Bean BagsForwardthis is awesome....a bean bag "bed" with built in blanket and pillow...whaat!Bold blooms over a black background make this ... It's the softest – and cutest! Although some parents might pay the full price of college tuition and some students might opt for high-cost, luxury student housing, the desire to save money on dorm room basics hasn’t changed much over the years. Students still need all the basics for living away from home for the first time, including affordable, quality items that hold up since Mom and Dad won’t be there to replace something that breaks.
Building a dorm essentials shopping list is a balancing act. You have to choose the right items, find the right mix of quality and value, and then blend in a touch of affordable style. ,” — for ideas on how to outfit a dorm room for less at retailers like IKEA, Target and Walmart. Related: America’s 10 Best and Worst Retailers for Summer Savings Probably the smartest way to sort out the must-haves from the wish-list items is to talk with a recent resident of the dorm or student housing where you — or your child — will be moving into. Storage, furniture and lighting setups vary considerably among colleges and even dorms at the same college. You’ll be frustrated if you arrive to find a room with nowhere to sit after you’ve blown your whole budget on cute storage bins. Essentials include bedding — don’t forget the mattress pad — towels, a laundry basket that’s sturdy and light enough to haul to the laundry area and a shower tote if showers are down the hall.
You won’t be sorry to pack a few basic dishes, glasses and utensils as well. And of course, you’ll need storage bins or crates for stashing miscellaneous items. Even if you’re on a tight budget, don’t neglect items with a little style. There might not be room for many extras, so choose things with a bit of personality. IKEA and Target are better sources in this regard because their merchandise offers a fresher design aesthetic that appeals to college students, said Demer. Walmart, on the other hand, tends to have more basic and plain items. Demer recommends heading to Walmart for dorm room appliances, wastebaskets and plastic storage. While Target offers more stylish storage choices, you’ll find that there is usually more options to choose from at Walmart. “Walmart, in general, has better deals on supplies, and you can’t find college furniture for less anywhere else,” Sakraida said. And, you can avoid shipping costs for online orders of less than $35 by taking advantage of in-store pickup for many items.
Items to avoid purchasing at Walmart include bedding, bookshelves and towels. Demer calls their quality “way below Target and IKEA.” The best items to buy at IKEA, Demer said, are tables and chairs, bookshelves, rugs and dishes. Look for solid wood construction in furniture, and avoid particle board in items like the Malm bed at the store. IKEA is also a great place to pick up all manner of storage solutions, said Sakraida, although the store’s online shopping can be less convenient. And sometimes, IKEA will charge a hefty delivery fee. Finally, Demer recommended avoiding bedding from IKEA. “The low thread count and cotton/poly blend is downright itchy,” she said. Turn to Target for accessories, organization, baskets, bedding, towels and caddies, Demer said. She recommended avoiding buying dishes at Target simply because they’re often cheaper at IKEA. Bedding is always a good buy at Target. “Target is great for unified sets that will be cheap but trendy and stylish,” said Sakraida.
“Look for ‘bed in a bag’ sets, as well as desk sets and room accessories. You’ll likely find them in dynamic prints and colors.” Tap into this little-known secret about shopping at Target online from Sakraida: “Target has a very low minimum purchase for free shipping; you only need to spend $25 to get free shipping.” Read: 23 Savings Hacks for Target The best buys on dorm room essentials won’t be available until later in August, Sakraida advised. “Both Walmart and Target push the back-to-school season pretty heavily, which means that all of their promotions are likely to get stronger in mid- to late August,” she said. You can save even more during Labor Day weekend sales when stores start putting school items on clearance. IKEA seems to have fewer back-to-school promotions, Sakraida noted, but you should still keep an eye out for potential Labor Day weekend specials at the retailer. Other ways to save at IKEA, Target and Walmart include: Demer encourages shoppers to look beyond Target, IKEA and Walmart to snag the best deals on dorm essentials.
“Bed Bath & Beyond might be a better competitor, in my opinion,” she said. By signing up for its email list, you can get 20 percent off a single item in-store. Plus, Bed Bath & Beyond often has plenty of clearance items that can be used in dorm rooms. Other ideas from Demer for saving money on dorm basics include: Before buying all of the items that you might think a typical college student needs, wait and see what’s already in the dorm and what’s not allowed. Don’t commit to electronics, such as TVs, DVD players or stereos, until you see what the roommate might bring. The same goes for a desk lamp; you’ll almost certainly need one, but you won’t know if you’ll have room for something stylish or if you’ll need something that clips onto a desk or shelf. Also, a mini-fridge is a dorm classic, but check dorm regulations before buying a toaster oven, microwave or coffee maker. “In general, it’s difficult to wait, but you might be better off saving purchases — like extra storage options, lighting, seating, etc. — for after you and your student arrive at school, to make sure you don’t end up buying things that are unnecessary or won’t fit,” said Sakraida .