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About toy boxes
Toy boxes are used to keep play areas tidy. Serious injury can occur if children trap themselves inside the box or if the toy box lid falls on them.
Risks and injuries from the product
Injuries and deaths have occurred from toy box lids falling on children’s heads or necks. There have also been cases where children were trapped inside toy boxes and suffocated.
Children up to the age of 2 are most at risk from toy boxes. They may have the strength to lift the lid, but it can still fall on their head, neck, hands or fingers.
Things to look for when buying the product
Some serious injuries have happened to people playing with toy boxes. There isn’t a mandatory safety standard for toy boxes, but the following is a guide.
- The toy box comes without a lid or has a removable, lightweight lid to prevent injury or entrapment inside the box.
- It has stoppers on the inside of the lid that make a gap of 1.5 cm or more when the lid is closed. This stops the lid from crushing fingers and allows a trapped child to breathe.
- If it has a lock, it can be opened from the inside by a child.
- It has ventilation holes to stop suffocation if a child becomes trapped inside.
- Consider buying a lightweight plastic crate, as it's safer than a heavy toy box with a lid.
How to use the product safely
- If the toy box has a lock or a heavy lid, consider removing it to avoid the risk of injuries.