Real Wood Toybox

[RooRach0906]

We are looking to buy our 18 month old DD a real wood toybox for christmas! Hardwood no fake stuff, we really want it to last for years to come. Have any of you purchased one, did you online and so forth??? Would really like some input we did find one online we liked but I still would like to explorer my options first. Any input would be wonderful! TIA!

 

[scrapquitler]

http://www.kloterfarms.com/page.cfm?p=29974

My parents have purchased a lot of items from this store. They aren't cheap, but their stuff is real wood and very good quality.

Another option would be to google "Amish Furniture" or "Unfinished wood furniture" + the name of your city.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are a lot of dangers with toy boxes, especially with small children. Entrapment, falling lids, etc.

Here is a link to one site.

http://www.homefurnish.com/kidsroom/kidsfurniture/toyboxsafety.aspx

 

[Jey12]

I would look for local wood workers in your area. Often they can make one special for your child. DD's grandparents had one made for her for her 1st birthday. It's beautiful and has the imagine of ballet shoes burned into the wood on the top part. It's like a toy box/ bench and it's held up very well to 5 years of play. The lid has a safety hinge so it doesn't slam down and the corners were rounded. I think they paid $200 for it and it was worth every dime. Plus it supported a local small business and that always makes me happy. You can look on your local craigslist and this time of year there are people that can do these kinds of crafts advertising their services. Or a google search too.

 

[zoemurr]

I would re-think it.
Toys piled in a toybox will not get played with as often as ones they can see.

After much experimentation we found it was better to get each toy a plastic bin of its own and stack them on shelves. Digging through a toybox (we use one for some dress-up clothes) is not easy. They will dump everything out and find what they wanted and then not put any of it back.

I do like the idea of a bench style seat. I have one in my spare room but it's used for extra blankets.

Good luck!

 

[RooRach0906]

http://www.kloterfarms.com/page.cfm?p=29974

My parents have purchased a lot of items from this store. They aren't cheap, but their stuff is real wood and very good quality.

Another option would be to google "Amish Furniture" or "Unfinished wood furniture" + the name of your city.

Thank you for the link to this site... everything was beautiful! Just a little more than the budget at this time esp since we want her name on it.

There are a lot of dangers with toy boxes, especially with small children. Entrapment, falling lids, etc.

Here is a link to one site.

http://www.homefurnish.com/kidsroom/kidsfurniture/toyboxsafety.aspx

Thank you for this. I would definately make sure there was no way for her to get trapped. Plus, it would be in her room, which she doesnt play in.

We want this toybox mainly for her room for her stuffed animals which rarely get played with and our just laying around.
This is the site we were looking at http://www.woodtoybox.com/

I should also mention we are in the process of selling our house and so the toybox was also going to be used to throw her toys in for showings as well as a keepsake for later.

Eventually it will be used to store her blankets, it will not always be a toybox.

Thank you so far for all your suggestions, concerns, and links so far, I hope to read more before we make our decision.

 

[iheartdisney]

Are you crafty enough to do the decoration yourself?
If so, Michael's sells big wooden chests, and you can decorate it yourself, or even have her help.
One of the BEST ideas i ever saw was buying a wooden toybox, and then painting it with chalkboard paint- two toys in one!

 

[SandrA9810]

There's many safety hinges that can be purchased to be added to older toy boxes, to prevent them from slamming.

I'd also look at hope chests or cedar chests instead of just toy box. It'll help hold it up for years to come, and help protect later in life storage, such as blankets and quilts.

Don't forget to look at thrift stores for one. There's a thrift store nearby that's part of a senior retirement home. So a lot of the items donated are from those families, often times what the parent's can't keep and no one else wants.

 

[RooRach0906]

Bump

 

[Anthony1971]

I built my own with NO lid. It is an easy project if you have the tools and want 2x4 bottom (heavy so it can not be tipped over) and frame 1/4 plywood for the walls. Mine is about 3 feet high so it was very hard for him to get in when he was little... now he climbs in takes out what he wants and plays with it... to much work to take evrything out
no matter what you buy or put toys in they will come out and will not go back in without the help of a parent.

 

[Mrs D]

On the building your own note: DH built this one for DNiece when she was born. http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?603.

He left the "edge" off the top and didn't paint the checker board.

Thee are many other plans to the New Yankee site to choose from.