CPSC, Ridgewood Inc., And Charleswood Inc. Announce Warning On Cosco Youth Options Chifferobe, Four-Drawer Dresser

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), two furniture manufacturers are warning consumers that some of their children's bedroom furniture may pose a serious tipover hazard. Ridgewood Inc. of Ontario, Canada, and Charleswood Inc. of Wright City, Mo., sold approximately 585,000 chifferobes (combination dresser/wardrobes) and approximately 309,000 four-drawer dressers under the brand name "Cosco Youth Options."

These chifferobes and dressers may become unstable and tip over if heavy objects are placed in the top drawers, several drawers are open at the same time, or a child climbs on the unit. Consumers are urged to remove the feet/glides to greatly reduce the risk of tipover.

If the furniture tips over, it could fall on a child, causing serious injury such as fractures, internal injuries, or suffocation. Ridgewood and Charleswood have received reports of one chifferobe tipover and 11 dresser tipover incidents. The chifferobe incident and two of the dresser tipovers allegedly involved serious injuries to children.

This warning involves Ridgewood and Charleswood Chifferobe Model Numbers 80813 and 88813; and Four-Drawer Dresser Model Numbers 80413 and 88413. The furniture may have been marketed and sold under the name, "Cosco Youth Options."

The white laminated chifferobe, measuring approximately 51 inches high, 46 inches long, and 16 inches deep, consists of a closet along the left side of the unit, and two shelves and three drawers on the right side of the unit. The white laminated four-drawer dresser measures 38 inches high, 30 inches long, and 16 inches deep. Both units are sold with rounded, black, plastic feet/glides, measuring 1.5 inches high, which can be attached to the bottom of the furniture. Leading department stores and juvenile furniture stores, including Wal-Mart and Kmart, sold the furniture nationwide since 1991. The chifferobe costs approximately $89 to $109, and the four-drawer dresser costs approximately $79 to $89. The unassembled furniture was packaged in a box labeled in part, "Cosco Youth Options."

For more information, consumers should call the companies' hotline at (800) 314-9327.