Any Toy chest recommendations?

[newmominaugust]

Hi, I am in search of a toy chest. I was looking at the Little Tikes Mission wood one. Does anyone have any experience with this or can you recommend something else? It will probably go in our living room. Plastic would be ok but I think wood would be better.

TIA

Zynnia
Anthony Joseph 8/14/04

http://lilypie.com/baby1/050814/3/15/0/-5/.png (http://lilypie.com)

[sadie427]

We have a wood one from IKEA that we really like--I think it might be birch and was around $60

[amyek]

We also have the wood one from IKEA and it is very sturdy. You can sit on it when it is closed and it holds a ton of stuff!

[Emmas Mom]

Is it this one?

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=13816

It looks really nice. We're approaching the "need a toy box" stage as well so I'm glad someone posted this. :D

ETA: It says the back is "fiberboard"? Do you find this sturdy enough? Will it hold up to childplay?

[amyek]

That is the one! I think it is sturdy. I have a 2.5 year old boy who is pretty rough with it. I have not had problems with the back of it. We have had this for 10 months. When it is closed, we sit on it....as a matter of fact, we have a friend who is over 300 lbs and he has sat on it before. So I think it is sturdy!
When you put it together, make sure you read the directions all the way through and check for all pieces.

Hope this helps!

[newmominaugust]

Thanks for the reco. Do you find that it is safe? Does the slow closing mechanism really work? The Little Tikes one has a large gap to minimize fingers getting caught and a safety hinge. So I am trying to compare the two.

Also, does it look as solid IRL as it does on the website?

Thanks again!!!

Zynnia
Anthony Joseph 8/14/04

http://lilypie.com/baby1/050814/3/15/0/-5/.png (http://lilypie.com)

[amyek]

I think that it is safe and the slow closing mechanisim is great for children. You would have to really force it to slam shut. My son can't slam it but if I try really hard, it will shut. (I just tested this!) I think it would be better if there was more of a gap but my son has not smashed his fingers yet. Is there an IKEA near you to check it out for your own pc. of mind? I really do think that it is a good toy chest and it is solid IRL...I even sit on it and I am not a little dainty thing! :D

[newmominaugust]

Thanks. Unfortunately there isn't an Ikea near me, but with your recommendation and description and for the price I may just order it.

Zynnia
Anthony Joseph 8/14/04

http://lilypie.com/baby1/050814/3/15/0/-5/.png (http://lilypie.com)

[janeybwild]

On the TV show "The Apprentice" last week, teams had to figure out a Home Depot DIY clinic. The winning team chose a toy chest idea, and Home Depot liked it so much they launched a national campaign around it. All this to say, that although I don't know price, I would think it would be on the less expensive end since you build it your self during the free clinic, and you decorate it to personalize or just jazz it up. We have the Ikea chest mentioned by pp above and love it (although we replaced teh hinge with a locking kind), but this would actually be something to keep and hand on down to you kids. Just a thought.

[amyek]

Cute idea! Thanks for sharing!

[justlearning]

I also saw this on the Apprentice and thought it was a fun idea to use chalkboard paint on the box or to put the kids' handprints on it, etc. My guess is that you won't actually build the box yourself during the workshop but can see them give you the info. you need there to do it yourself. You can find out more about the workshop at www.homedepot.com as well as detailed instructions for making the toy box. (It looks more complicated than I could do and requires way more tools than we have as well.)