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J T wrote:
Tue, Jan 31, 2006, 9:52am (EST-3) doth advise us
all:
I know everyone here knows how important it is to use hydrolic hinges on
the lids of chests snip

I certainly don't know that. What I DO know is that it seems like
there's quite a bit that's not been said.

Why was a 2 yo unsupervised?

Why was the top open? And, why did it fall? Why wasn't the chest
locked in the first place? Why wasn't an adult around in the first
place? I'd never have let my grandkid out of my sight at that age.

I've long stated that I don't believe in tops for toy boxes/chests
for little kids. Actually, untill they get to maybe 9 or 10 - old
enough to not climb in one. I also believe they should NOT have a latch
on them. In any event, with a top on any toy box, there should be an
air gap, or holes. You got one kid, with a top, kid climbs in, shuts
the lid, no prob - IF the lid dos not have a latch, and the box can
allow air in. Kids do that, no biggie. However, there is always the
chance the kid is gonna drop the top on their head, or hands - if it's a
light top, no big deal, the kid probably will only do that once. You
got two kids, one is gonna bang the other's head, and/or hands, with the
top, and if one climbs in, the other is gonna sit on the lid. And, if
it's got a latchl, the kid outside is as apt as not to walk away. Whan
the kid gets old enough to get over all that, "then" you can put a lid
on, so it can be used as a seat.

I've got a military footlocker. The kind with the metal reinforced
corners, and a heavy lid. I've had it since long before my sons were
born. They were not allowed to play with it - not that it was kept
around where they played. I sincerely doubt they would have been able
to get it open anyway, but it they could have, it certainly had a lid
heavy enough to seriously hurt them.

I've found out that if you talk to a kid, and tell them they'll get
hurt by playing with something, they'll usually listen; not just tell
them "no".

So, again, why was a kid so young unsupervised enough that
something like that would happen?

The child was supposedly taking a nap. It was not her own bedroom. She was being taken care of by an aunt. An accident like this would only take minutes. I understand what you are saying. I've lived on a lake and now have an indoor swimming pool. Needless to say, I'm a paranoid freak about watching kids but no one has eyes in the back of their head. Even tho I taught my kids to swim and explained what drowning is, I still had extra locks on the doors, fences, alarms, and padlocks for their life jackets. A two year old doesn't understand what death is so they can't understand the severity your warnings. As for you, I've seen your website. Are all of the locks out of the doors and trunks of the junkers in your back yard?
JOAT
Shhh... that's the sound of nobody caring what you think.