IKEA recalling 27 million dressers after 3rd child dies

PHILADELPHIA -- Store shelves at IKEA were prepped Monday night for the expected announcement Tuesday that more than 27 million dressers will be recalled due to concerns about their tip-over safety.

The recall of the MALM chests follows the deaths of three toddlers in three years, including a 2-year-old Curren Collas.

He died in 2014 after an IKEA MALM six-drawer chest tipped over and pinned him against his bed.

"I couldn't tell if there was a heartbeat, you know I was so afraid," Jaquelyn Collas, Curren's mother recalled to ABC News on Monday.

Despite her attempt at CPR, the toddler was pronounced dead a few hours later, she said.

Collas is suing IKEA, claiming the company failed to warn consumers that the "front-heavy" dressers were potentially dangerous, according to the amended complaint, filed in May 2015.

"I didn't know to anchor my furniture and, in my mind, I feel that we really shouldn't have to," Collas told ABC News. "Get rid of it, it's dangerous, it's a really dangerous product."

In 2015, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of the MALM chests, but customers at that time were asked to install a wall anchoring repair kit, and were told not to return the drawers.

On Monday night, IKEA released a statement saying it distributed 300,000 of the repair kits, but said, "We are announcing this recall today given the recent tragic death of a third child. It is clear there are still unsecured products in customers' homes, and we believe taking further action is the right thing to do."

The third child was a 22-month-old Minnesota boy who was crushed under a falling dresser.

Some IKEA stores had already removed the in-store displays for the MALM chests.

Notices were posted on other models, warning the furniture should be secured to the wall.

IKEA was expected to offer customers full refunds in most cases, or a store credit for older products.

The manufacturer said they planned to work with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on tip-over protection and innovations to enhance product safety of all of their drawers and dressers.

The Consumer Safety Product Commission said it has been working with IKEA to ensure the safety of the products. A full joint announcement is expected to be released on Tuesday.

ABC News contributed to this report.