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What safety features should I look for in a toy chest?

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A poorly designed or makeshift toy chest can pose an entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation hazard—particularly for children under the age of two. Since the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) began collecting data in 1975, at least 45 reported fatalities and three incidents of brain damage have resulted from toy box (or chests used for toy storage) lids falling on children’s heads or necks. Child-safety advocates such as the CPSC recommend toy chests or containers without lids, or those with lightweight, removable lids that can be lifted easily from within.

Here are some tips to help you purchase a safe toy box or to ensure that the one you plan to use makes the grade:

If you plan to purchase a new toy box with a lid, make sure that it has air holes that will not be blocked if the box is placed against the wall or some other ventilation feature to prevent suffocation should a child climb in and become trapped. Some toy chests have lids that leave a gap between the lid and the sides of the chest when closed.
Make sure toy boxes with hinged lids do not slam shut on your child's head or hands. Test the spring-loaded support device; it should support the lid in any position when open. Check to see that the hinges themselves will not pinch tiny fingers.
Avoid any toy chest with an exterior latch on the lid.
Look for toy chests with smooth surfaces and rounded corners or edges.

Here are two other important pointers for safe toy storage:

Do not store older children’s toys with those of your younger children. Toddlers can easily swallow and choke on small, removable toy pieces.
Do not store art supplies (e.g., paint, glue) and toys with chemicals (e.g., chemistry sets) with the rest of your children’s toys. Keep these items in an out-of-reach location and retrieve them only when an adult is available to supervise.

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