LilSugar

Mommy Alert! EU Attempts to Make Toys Safer

babysugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:00:21 -0800

Since there were so many toy recalls last year, it's no surprise that actions are being taken to try and outlaw unsafe toys. And, The European Union is at the forefront of the mission.

According to a Reuter's report,

"The European Union's industry chief is proposing a crackdown on toys containing lead paint or carcinogens across the bloc and wants to stop toys being used as gifts in food items such as confectionary and cereals. . . While exact levels for each component have yet to be formally agreed, the source said the move would all but eliminate substances such as lead and nickel from toys, much to the annoyance of industry."

To see what the toy industry's reaction was, read more.

Toy Industries Europe (TIE), which represents toy manufacturers like Hasbro, Mattel, and Hornby, claimed that current standards are acceptable and that proposed changes to those standards need to be backed by scientific evidence.

The proposal also would place restrictions on toys found in foods. In addition to eliminating lead and nickel, the toys would have to be free of perfume and from substances that promote cancer.

The Enterprise Commissioner Guenther Verheugen is said to have his proposals ready for the European Union and their Parliament by January 25.

Do you think legislation like this could ever pass in the US?

2006 Toy Injuries Tally

babysugar — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:00:10 -0800

Consumer Reports recently came out with a 2006 summary report that provides enlightening information about toy injuries and deaths for 2006. While we often hear about lead toy recalls, sometimes we forget about the everyday hazards of regular toys that can be just as dangerous.

Reporting on the 22 toy related deaths that occurred in 2006, the summary states:

"Riding toys, including non-motorized scooters, and toy nails, pegs, and rubber balls were associated with most of the deaths. Incidents involving motor vehicles and airway obstruction from small toys were among the leading scenarios associated with these deaths."

Parents don't think much about tricycle safety since most of us had them, but kids lost their lives after peddling them into swimming pools.

While it's scary and sad to think about these statistics and stories, it's important to stay aware and alert of your child and their surroundings.
Source

Mommy Alert! New Toy Safety Standards Passed

babysugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:00:12 -0700

Last year, the 12 days of Christmas seemed more like the 12 days of recalls. Parents were up in arms over what products to deem "safe" for their wee ones. Consumers tired of playing the guessing game will be pleased to know that President Bush signed Senator Mark Prior's legislation, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, passing the law on Thursday morning. The Senator said:

With the stroke of a pen, President Bush today signed my legislation allowing for sweeping reforms to begin taking place that will keep toxic toys and other dangerous products out of our homes.

To see what revisions we can expect, read more.

A victory for parents, in the future moms will feel more confident knowing that the merchandise they are buying for their youngsters has been tested before making it to the shelves. Music to a mother's ear, the dreaded "p" word, phthalates and lead will both be banned from children's products. Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will receive an increased budget to better their resources and capabilities.

While we won't see these changes take place immediately, it's a relief to know that our government is finally taking the right steps to protect the littlest consumers of all - our children.

How Safe Are Your Tot's New Toys?

LilSugar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:00:39 -0800

You may pay careful attention to the toys you buy your lil one, but chances are they're going to be getting gifts from other folks who are not as vigilant when it comes to toy safety. Check out all gifts before handing them over to your tot. There are a few simple things you can do to quickly evaluate each item, so take the quiz to see how well you know the safety precautions.

Source

Take the quiz

Website lil Loves: HealthyToys

LilSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:58 -0800

Don't toy with your child's health. The site HealthyToys.org has tested more than 1,500 toys and children’s products for lead, cadmium, arsenic, PVC, and other harmful chemicals and posted the results. While lilsugar reader's voted the new lead testing laws for 2009 to be too extreme, the site found that one in three toys tested were found to contain "medium" or "high" levels of chemicals of concern. To see where your tot's toys fall, you can search items individually or just check out the site's best and worst toys for a more general list.

Source

Crib Toys to Keep Babies Busy in Bed

LilSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:05:00 -0700

Party in the baby's crib! Once an infant is alert enough to take in their surroundings, add some stimulation to keep them occupied during non-sleeping hours. By putting a safe accessory in the crib, mom may buy herself a few minutes after nap time.

Before attaching any toy to the crib rails, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends checking to ensure that the ties are no longer than seven inches and that no loops have a perimeter greater than 14 inches. To see some entertainment options, check out the selection.

To see more crib toys to entertain babies, read more.

View 7 Photos ›

Source: Flickr User valentinapowers

When Should Babyproofing Begin?

LilSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:30 -0700

Try as we might, we can't put our children in a bubble. Parents do try their best to protect their tots by babyproofing their homes with products designed to keep them safe. While 95 percent of moms and dads take safety measures after a baby's arrival, a new study reveals that half wait until their kids are mobile to do so. According to the Home Safety Council, a national nonprofit organization that works to prevent injuries in the home, "50 percent [of parents] waited until their children were already crawling and able to get into dangerous situations on their own." The Home Safety Council has teamed up with Toys 'R' Us to create a brochure with tips for creating a safe environment for lil ones from the day they are born. Did you start babyproofing your home before or after your wee one was crawling? Or did you skip the process all together?

Toy Box: Eco-Friendly Musical Toys

LilSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:00:00 -0700

It's becoming easier than ever to turn your little drummer boy into an Eco-friendly musician with all of the wooden instruments currently on the market. Revving up to celebrate Earth Day, we noticed that there are several toy manufacturers taking the lead in creating products for a variety of skill levels. Plan Toys, the makers of this great percussion set that encourages lil ones to compare and differentiate sounds, specializes in brightly colored wooden toys for kids up through preschool age. Their sturdy products are made from rubber wood, non-formaldehyde glue and water-based dyes and inks. French company, Boikido, designs wooden toys featuring their own characters for kids up to four-years-old that meet the highest European safety standards. Check out other fun picks below!

Eco Solid Drum - $26.00	Boikido Wooden Musical Play Table - $34.99
Plan Toys music band - $55.00	Boikido Wooden Musical Set - $31.99
Eco Concertina - $24.00	Eco Melody Xylophone - $29.00
Banjo - $28.00	Boikido Wooden Giraffe Xylophone - $21.99
Xylophone - $36.00

Ecotot: Wonderworld Smart Gear Toys

LilSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:00:49 -0800

Filling your home with Eco-friendly toys does not mean that you will deprive your lil ones of the fun their plastic counterparts promise. Green toy manufacturers, like Smart Gear, offer enough variety to grow with your tot as they move from stacking toys to push toys to doll houses and play kitchens. Founded by brothers, Jason and Sam Cohen, the company introduced its first products a little more than a year ago and quickly found a space for their beautifully made toys on store shelves. All of their wooden goodies are made from replenishable sources and coated in non-toxic paints and finishes, ensuring that they meet EU safety standards, which are stricter than those in the US.

Their products aren't only environmentally friendly, many of them help tots learn about the world around them and how they can help improve it. From the Little Green World Activity Toy ($30) that teaches about renewable energy sources to the company's Eco Doll House ($130) that educates tots about recycling and ways to reduce carbon emissions through the inclusion of a windmill, solar panels, barrels for collecting rain water, trees for planting and a scooter for doll transportation.

Toy Box: Fisher Price Little People Celebrate 50th Birthday

LilSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:00:16 -0700

Fisher Price Little People have certainly evolved over the years. When we were tots, the people were simple pegs with a round head attached to them. No arms, no legs and definite choking hazards by today's standards.

Later this week, Little People will celebrate their 50th anniversary (just like a certain doll that we know) and Fisher Price is celebrating by releasing four limited-edition anniversary playsets. The Little People 50th Birthday Play 'n' Go School, Play 'n' Go Farm, Play 'n' Go Home and Play 'n' Go Fire Station ($18 each) look just like their original models from the peg-shaped people to the handles located on top of each set, but meet current safety laws. Toys R Us locations throughout the country will also be hosting birthday parties for the Little People on Saturday, March 21, so be sure to check with your local store about their planned festivities.