Durable kids' train / activity table with storage?

December 12, 2014 9:13 AM

I want to find my son a durable play table that he can set up his wooden railway toys on, and that we can store some of them in - do you own one you can recommend?

There's a good chance that our toddler daughter is going to climb on it, so it needs to be able to support 20-30 lbs without starting to go to pieces. Also, part of my goal here is to consolidate the Thomas clutter that's starting to take over our lives, so a decent amount of built-in storage (or at least room underneath for bins) is a requirement.

Searching on my own has yielded no clear solution here, so thanks in advance!

posted by ryanshepard to Shopping (3 answers total)

We have the standard Thomas branded table with 4 spindle-y legs, a drawer and a two-sided reversible top. It's fine as tables go, but I have had to change the drawer glides as the originals did not stand up to normal use (by a 3yr old). My son is now just over 40lbs and he does lean heavily on it - as in both hands and a knee up on top- and it sort of quakes under the load.

Given your requirements, I'd avoid the spindle legs and go for something with solid sides. Even if it doesn't have storage included, there are a billion Thomas branded storage bins out there. We got our train table 3 yrs ago when my son was about 18mos old and he still plays with/on it. If I had known it would have such longevity, I would have bought a nicer table/bigger table.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 9:36 AM on December 12, 2014

Best answer: We have a KidKraft one with a giant trundle drawer at the bottom. Ours has a reversible flat, train top and Lego top. This is the closest to what we have now.

Pottery Barn has a nicer one, but it's super expensive (IMO).
posted by wildeepdotorg at 11:08 AM on December 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

We had this one: Thomas table. I see it has been discontinued by the supplier! That is unfortunate because it lasted 6 years, with LOTS of wear & tear. In fact it is destined for the garbage this weekend, only because he's too tall for it now. It also made a great Lego sorting table.

We had three rolling bins from IKEA that fit perfectly underneath. Four would have fit but we didn't have four.

Ours is covered in stickers, and it needs a couple of nails to stay sturdy much longer, but if you're in NJ you can have it! But if you see one on eBay I highly recommend it.
posted by lyssabee at 11:42 AM on December 12, 2014