Consumer Reports: Dresser Tests Show New Tip-Over Standard Is Working, but Older, Riskier Dressers Are Still Sold by Major Retailers Like Amazon and Walmart

WASHINGTON, DC -Consumer Reports (CR) today releasedits furniture tip-over test results for a range of popular dressers. All 10 dressers that passed CR's tests were manufactured after September 1, 2023, when new furniture stability rules under the national law known as the STURDY Act-championed by parent and consumer advocates-went into effect. However, CR also found that dressers manufactured before the STURDY Act took effect continue to be sold and may pose furniture tip-over safety risks.

"It is encouraging to see that the law is working and that new dressers are meeting the tip-over standard," said Gabe Knight, safety policy analyst at Consumer Reports."But some retailers are still selling furniture that doesn't meet the new stability requirements. In the interest of child safety and to end the uncertainty in the marketplace, Consumer Reports calls on all retailers and online platforms to commit to a public timeline by which they will sell only those dressers that pass the new, rigorous tip-over tests required under the STURDY Act."

"The parents of PAT worked tirelessly, some for nearly two decades, to ensure strong, effective, and mandatory safety and stability tests became a reality," said Kimberly Amato, co-founder and vice chair of Parents Against Tip-Overs (PAT). "We extended the olive branch across the table to the manufacturers, and for all the stakeholders to come together, and ultimately got STURDY over the finish line. Now we are calling on retailers and manufacturers to ensure that all dressers on the market are safe."

CR conducted similar tests in 2021, when slightly more than half of the dressers failed the most rigorous evaluation. CR's current tests replicate a child pulling out drawers and climbing or hanging from them by hanging a 60-pound weight from the open, top drawer of an unanchored dresser for at least ten seconds. According to the new safety standard, dressers should stay upright despite the pull from this kind of weight.

Despite the effectiveness of the new standard, CR's tests revealed that dressers manufactured before September 2023 are still being sold by retailers, potentially posing safety risks. For instance, two dressers made before September 2023 failed CR's recent tip-over tests.

Major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Wayfair continue to sell dressers that may not meet the new standard or pass tip-over tests. CR found that product listings and labels often lacked clear manufacturing dates, making it difficult for consumers to determine whether a dresser complies with new stability requirements. While some companies provided manufacture dates to CR upon request, others did not respond to inquiries at the time of our testing.

IKEA announced in April 2024 that all dressers they sell meet the new stability standard. Target said in a statement to CR that they expect all dressers they sell to pass the new tip-over tests. Amazon, while stating compliance with the STURDY Act, did not confirm whether all dressers currently for sale were manufactured after the new regulations went into effect or if they would pass the new tip-over tests.

"Consumers shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get the information they need to make safe, informed decisions," said Knight. "Manufacturers should make it as simple as possible for families to protect their children and understand which dressers meet safety standards, and which could pose a threat to their children's safety."

Consumer Reports offers the following tips for consumers buying a dresser:

• Consider shopping in person. That way you can ask someone who works in the store when the dresser was made and whether it is compliant with the new STURDY Act requirements. Look for a manufacture date after September 1, 2023, on a label, box, or the dresser itself.

• Research online purchases carefully and read the listings for the date of manufacture or other indicators that the dresser you're looking at was made after September 1, 2023, or the retailer confirms that it passes the new tip-over tests. If you can't find it, try contacting the retailer or manufacturer.

• Make sure the dresser comes with an anchor kit. And use it. The STURDY Act requires that all dressers covered under the rule be sold with one. If you have an older dresser, make sure it's anchored as well. CR's video tutorialcan teach you how.

• Take care with other furniture, too. The new rules apply only to dressers and other clothing storage units, not to bookshelves, entertainment centers, televisions, or tables, all of which could potentially pose tip-over risks to kids. So, for anyone with small kids in the house, the good advice remains that when in doubt, anchor it.

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