Toy Box Safety

[dbsccp]

Hello, all!

My wife and I are expecting our first child and just ordered some Pali Dauphine furniture. We have some concerns about the toy box, becuase the floor model seemed to close fairly hard and fast, and could be dangerous for little fingers, necks, heads, etc. We thought it might just be a mis-adjusted floor model (other Pali boxes closed slowly), but wanted to check and see if anyone else had experienced this problem with their toy boxes.

Thanks!
- DAVID

[leah977]

While I don't have a Pali Dauphine toy box, I do have a toy box (purchased from an unfinished wood shop, which I then finished myself). I wasn't happy with the "looseness" of the hinge either. What you can do (if you're still not happy when you get it) is go to Lowe's or Home Depot and buy a safety hinge and replace the one that comes in the toybox. They're made for this very thing. It adds resistance so you have to push the lid to close it.

HTH!
~Leah

[bettyboop]

Are there any toyboxes made out of foam that would not close on a child. I have my own old wooded toybox that i was considering using but my DH was a little worried

[leah977]

I'm sure you could find an alternative to wooden toyboxes... Ikea makes some mesh things that might be fun (never posted a link here before but I'll give it a try):

Ikea: Children's Small Storage-
http://www.ikea-usa.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&categoryId=10195&langId=-1&parentCats=10106*10195&cattype=sub

The link doesn't work... just copy and paste the whole thing, the "*" throws it off. There are two pages. On the second page there are mesh storage baskets (tried to attach pictures below) as well as some hanging storage.

Personally, I like the wooden ones, and there is absolutely no reason you cannot use yours if you get a good safety hinge. It's very easy to install and they're made for this very purpose. In order to close the lid, pressure HAS to be applied from the top so there's no chance of a "runaway lid" smashing little body parts.

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/8857.jpg http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/8862.jpg

[cara1]

We received a wooden toy box as a gift, and I've been afraid to use it for the same reason. I tried Home Depot online and had no success. I've been trying to get DH to install this http://www.perfectlysafe.com/lidsupport.html
but he hasn't yet, so I don't know if it would be a good solution or not.

[leah977]

That hinge is VERY similar to the one I purchased... except mine attaches to the side of the toybox and the lid (I have one at each back corner of the lid), instead of in the center at the back like that. I wasn't able to find it at Home Depot or Lowe's online either, but when I went to Lowe's and asked they were able to direct me to what I was looking for.

[angusmom]

Here is a woodworking web site that sells hundreds of hinges. They have the toy box safety hinge. I dont know what it's listed under, but I saw it for sure in a printed catalog of theirs they sent me a while back:

http://www.woodworker.com