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IKEA HAS TODAY issued a warning to parents who purchased a SMILA wall mounted lamp that the product may present a strangulation hazard to infants and young children.
The warning follows the tragic death in October of a toddler in Scotland who became tangled in the cord of the light fitting while in his cot.
All customers who purchased the SMILA lamp are being urged to check that the lamp and cord are out of the reach of children when in a cot or playpen.
“The cord must be securely fastened to the wall as loose lamp cords can present a strangulation hazard to infants and young children,” the company said in a statement.
IKEA asked customers to go to the exchanges and returns counters of their local stores or contact their customer service line to receive a repair kit free of charge. It contains a warning label, safety instructions and self adhesive fastners for fixing the lamp cord to the wall.
The company apologised for any inconvenience this may cause.
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Hard to blame IKEA. It’s a tragic accident.
Dreadful tragedy. However, in fairness, there needs to be an element of parental, rather than just corporate, responsibility here. It’s easy to be wise in hindsight, but I imagine most parents would try to be cognisant of trailing cables, lamp-pulls, curtain and blind cords, etc., and of the need to keep them out of reach of smallies. It’s an unfortunate oversight with horrific consequences, but I’m not sure IKEA are totally responsible here. :-(
“I’m not sure IKEA are totally responsible here.”
Or at all responsible, in fairness. It’s tragic – 100%; but there have been numerous “cord” deaths over the last few years, so this isn’t a first-off thing that parents need to be aware of.
They’re also selling the story as a “repair kit” which would lead you to believe that the product is faulty. All mains voltage lamps will have a power cord running to them, While I commend IKEA for giving out free cable ties and sticky mounts. I think their wording is very bad.
I have on of those lights, it has been over both my children’s cot.
The wire is tacked to the skirting and then goes under the carpet and it securely nailed there. Common sense will keep children safe.
“The company apologised for any inconvenience caused”
Jesus, nice of them: losing a child is a real “inconvenience” isn’t it.
A sticky pad bracket and a cable tie…you would imagine someone would surely have predicted the possibility of this happening, given the obvious design flaw?
I think the inconvenience might be the small repair you have to make and not the lose of a child as I’m sure you know.
It’s hardly a design flaw! How else do you suggest getting electricity from the wall socket to the lamp????? I’ve purchased three of these lights and none of my children have managed yo be entangled in them. Like any other cables in the house out if sight and out of reach to kids!! You may as well blame the electric company for not coming up with a contactless way of providing power!!
A tragic loss of life here where no one should be pointing out the blame!!
Some people just aren’t that practical and they dont see the dangers . A shop selling a product for children is obliged by law to ensure its fit for purpose. Had it been designed with adults in mind then fair enough its the parents choice to have installed it where a child can reach it . But this was nursery themed . So there is the perception of safety. Like if I buy a kettle I don’t expect the handle to fall off when I use it . I assume its been tested and fit for purpose. Poor patents
When you have a child you have to be practical and see dangers everywhere,that’s the reality of it.
Lorraine. It’s a lamp with a power cord. You have to ask why the power cord was run in such a way as the cable was inside the cot.? Apart from the obvious of baby’s putting anything they come into contact with in their mouth. A mains Cable. Seriously?
You get what you pay for. Sure look at Ryanair.
so sorry for your loss and for all the worthless comments from some users, please ignore them, thank u for bringing this to everyones attention and making people aware of the dangers of cords / blinds/ curtain tie backs etc, if your article has made even one person think twice or to go check there cords/ wires etc then your article has been worth highlighting and potentially could save another life as im sure many parents/carers have at some time or another had a cord close by that they have been possibly unaware of at the time, and that was just down to good luck as everyone is not perfect, please have some respect for the parents their world has been ripped apart, and yeah they were good parents, this was a tragic accident , and yeah hindsight is a great thing for all the users that have no good to say, R.I.P
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