Strollerderby

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• Is Going Hard on Handmade Bad for Parents?

  After a year and a half of ominous warnings that toxins are lurking in our kids' toyboxes, you would think parents would be celebrating the feds' decision to move in and start busting heads.  So what's the problem here?  The over-generalized, blanket "reform" regulations of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) will be putting a lot of parents out of business. Read More... Posted Dec 24 2008, 08:36 AM by JeanneSager with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: dangerous, saving money, child safety, safety, cpsc, etsy, toxic toys, expensive, lead poisoning, Jeanne Sager, handmade, CPSIA, handcrafted

• Handmade; Organic; European Toy Producers at Risk

  I got tired of toxic toys even before it was cool.  One Thomas train full of lead is one too many as far as I'm concerned and two years ago I abandoned big-box sources for big-brand toys and found myself a few web sources for toys made in countries with stricter safety standards than China or the United States; organic toys; toys made by small mom-and-pop producers and other sources I trust not to poison my children in the name of a profit.  (Yes, natural, organic and artisan-produced toys cost more, thus my kids have fewer of them--a double blessing as far as I'm concerned!)Like many parents, I am thrilled to see the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) taking action on the problem of toxic toys, but was horrified to learn Read More... Posted Dec 10 2008, 04:00 PM by Shannon LC Cate with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: cpsc, toxic toys, made in China, handmade toys, Shannon LC Cate, made in europe, organic toys, natural toys

• Things Fall Apart: Two Infant Deaths Prompt Crib Recall

  1.6 million cribs were recalled yesterday by Delta Enterprises, a company that makes baby gear.  The largest recall of its type, ever, came after two 8 month old babies were strangled when a safety mechanism on the drop-down side of the crib failed, creating a dangerous gap. The AP reports that: Read More... Posted Oct 21 2008, 05:30 PM by Shannon LC Cate with | with no comments Filed under: cpsc, Shannon LC Cate, Delta Enterprise Crib Recall, infant strangulation, dangerous cribs

• Things Fall Apart: Simplicity Bassinets Recall Still Expanding, Awkwardly

  Amazing how complicated it can be to identify an unsafe bassinet and get kids out of them. It was late August when the Consumer Products Safety Commission first issued a safety alert warning caregivers not to use Simplicity 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 "close sleeper" bassinets, because when the fabric is detached to place it in "cosleeper" mode and not reattached properly, there is a gap under a metal bar that babies can slip under and strangle. This was a clear danger, directly responsible for two infant deaths (one of which ocurred nearly a year before the safety alert, which has also raised some eyebrows). So you get them off the market pronto, right? Enter the complications: Read More... Posted Oct 07 2008, 04:30 PM by Miriam Axel-Lute with | with no comments Filed under: Consumer Reports, cribs, recalls, cpsc, Consumer Product Safety Commission, things fall apart, bassinets, simplicity, cosleeping, SFCA, close sleeper, safety hazard, cosleepers

• Things Fall Apart: Time to Upgrade Baby's Toy Cell Phone

  Better go dig out all those toy cellphones your baby loves flipping open and shut. Because about a million of them are being recalled due to a choking hazard. The hinge cover on the toys, made in China, can become detached and be swallowed by a voracious toy-gummer. Read More... Posted May 28 2008, 06:01 PM by Madeline Holler with | with no comments Filed under: cpsc, Consumer Product Safety Commission, things fall apart, recalled products, little tikes chit 'n chat, recall instructions, little tikes, toy cellphones

• Beware of Dangerous Slings

  Once used mostly by hippies and crunchies, slings have become an extra trendy way of carrying babies and toddlers. But as convenient, cool and snuggly as slings are, they may not be the safest choice to carry a baby. According to the Consumer Reports safety blog, standards setting organization ASTM International is starting the process to create standards for sling carriers, at the request of manufacturers. Improper use or ring failure can result in bruises, fractures or other injuries when a baby falls out of the sling, and the Consumer Products Safety Commission has found a risk of "positional asphyxia" when a baby's head is too far forward in the sling and their airway is cut off. CPSC has recalled slings in the past, including, last year, the Infantino pictured. According to the blog, "Most of the sling carriers demonstrated at the ASTM meeting... Read More... Posted Apr 10 2008, 06:19 PM by Amy Kuras with | with 11 comment(s) Filed under: recalls, cpsc, babywearing, slings, Consumer Reoorts

• Things Fall Apart: The Longest List Yet

  See what happens when I take a week off from this feature? Aqua-Dots. That's what happens. I could have had fun with that one. But that's not all. No, there's Curious Gearge. Again. And ducks, LOTS of ducks. And cars. And tops. And sunglasses. And folding chairs (just go with it). And wagons. And robots. And cribs. Something for everyone! And here's the gory details: Read More... Posted Nov 13 2007, 02:32 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: toys, cribs, recalls, cpsc, robots, things fall apart, Curious George, winnie-the-pooh, wagons, aqua dots

• Crib Bumpers: Just Say No

  I hate crib bumpers. Oh, I get what they're good for. They're good for keeping precious babies from bumping their precious heads babies to use to amuse themselves, either by untying them and sucking on the strings so they're all spitty or by untying them and piling them up in the crib in order to use to effect an escape. I've always said that crib bumpers were bad news and now I've managed to make the New York Times listen. The power I have, it's incredible.   Read More... Posted Oct 10 2007, 07:26 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: babies, safety, cribs, cpsc, crib bumpers, the new York Times

• CPSC Says Home Lead Tests May Not Be Accurate for Toys

  Understandably, sales of home lead tests have increased lately, with concerned parents looking to test the contents of the toy-box rather than rely on the continuous parade of recalls that's been alternating from trickle to deluge to trickle again. But the Consumers Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is dubious about the results of these home tests. Read More... Posted Sep 09 2007, 08:22 AM by Karen Murphy with | with no comments Filed under: toys, cpsc, lead, toy recalls, lead testing, home lead tests

• Things Fall Apart: Killer Jacket Edition

  Nordstrom is recalling around 1900 jackets sold between November 2006 through April 2007 and made by Pine Peak Blues because the zipper pull can detach and lodge itself in a small child's windpipe. Not really but the small piece can become a choking hazard when detached from the jacket. The jackets were sold in infant, toddler and youth sizes in navy with long sleeves. They have an embroidered flag of England on the front and an "England" patch on the chest. All of this isn't dangerous, England's a lovely place, but there are two zippers in addition to the front zipper....three ways for your baby to choke to death. Return the coat to Nordstrom for a full refund or call Nordstrom toll-free at (800) 933-3365 anytime for more information. Posted Jun 17 2007, 04:01 PM by Melissa Summers with | with no comments Filed under: safety, product recall, cpsc, product

• Heely's says, "Nuh-Uh, We Are Too Safe."

  Heely's has responded to a recent study claiming Heelys WILL KILL YOUR CHILD. They now say, "Okay, they can hurt people but other stuff is way worse." The company which makes Heelys hired Heiden Authorities, a risk assessment company, to analyze the CPSC's numbers. The data confirms that wheeled shoes are still the safest among "popular wheeled sports" and also points out accidents involving wheeled shoes have actually decreased in the last 15 months. Heelys are, according to Heiden's analysis of the CPSC numbers, 39 times safer than bicycles, 24 times safer than skateboards, 9 times safer than scooters and 7 times safer than inline skates. My own personal analysis of the data found that Heelys are 53 times more annoying than any other wheeled activity, except unicycling which is around 57 times more annoying. Use at your own risk. Posted Jun 14 2007, 07:07 AM by Melissa Summers with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: safety, cpsc, product, heelys

• Rules For Playground Safety Every Kid Should Know

  The Consumer Product Safety Commission, the folks who bring us our never-ending Things Fall Apart series on product recalls, have published a list of things to know when it comes to playground safety. Things like, Never Attach Ropes to the Equipment, and Always Supervise Young Children. But clearly, the CPSC, while well-meaning, left a few items out. The Strollerderby crew has come up with some extra tips to make your playground time this year the best ever: 1. Stay away from men in trenchcoats. 2. Those hyperdermic needles in the sand do not make good guns. 3.  If the other "kids" playing at the playground have beards and are as tall as your dad, it's time to go home. 4. Don't eat the gum stuck to the underside of the slide. 5.  No, you don't know where anybody's lost puppy went. 6. Think of the grass around fire hydrants as the same as "yellow snow".  [photo credit: Adobe.com]  Posted Apr 26 2007, 03:26 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: kids, cpsc, summer, playground safety

• Things Fall Apart: Life is Good (until you strangle) Sweatshirts

  Oh the irony is stifling. Children's sweatshirts from Independent Trading Co. are being recalled because the drawstring through the hood is a strangulation hazard. The shirts were sold at RedEnvelope from March 2006 through March 2007 for about $35. In February 1996 the consumer product safety commission issued guidelines to help prevent children from being strangled. The sweatshirts have "Life Is Good" sewn on the front and come in blue or light blue. If you have one of these sweatshirts remove the drawstring from the hood immediately and contact Red Envelope for a retrofit kit which includes additional letters to be sewn onto the sweatshirt making it read: "Life Is Good Unless You're Wearing A Sweatshirt Which Could Kill You." Or, you know, you could just get a full refund by calling Red Envelope at (877) 733-3683 or via their website. Posted Apr 18 2007, 02:31 PM by Melissa Summers with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: recall, cpsc, things fall apart

• Things Fall Apart: Disney Princess Easter Baskets

  Were you at Wal-Mart recently? Did your kid spy the Disney Princess Easter basket on an end cap and demand to have it? Did you buy it even though it was $10 just so they'd shut the hell up?  Well, now you have a reason to burn that mofo: It's a choking hazard and is being recalled. The ribbons and silver bells can come off and pose a potential choking hazard. About 8,500 of these suckers were sold so I know there are going to be quite a few pissed off kids come Easter. Oh, well! That's life!  Posted Apr 06 2007, 11:04 AM by Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: recalls, cpsc, things fall apart, easter basket

• Things Fall Apart: Four Million Children's Bracelets Recalled

  The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the paint on four million "Groovy Grabber" bracelets sold in vending machine poses a risk of lead poisoning. The bracelets come in various colors and designs, including smiley faces, Chinese symbols, dogs, cats, aliens, checker boards and flames. The products were sold in vending machines located in malls and discount stores nationwide, priced at 25 cents each. But what you need to know is: LEAD BAD! TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOUR KID NOW!!!  Posted Apr 04 2007, 10:32 AM by Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: recalls, cpsc, groovy grabber bracelet, things fall apart

• New Recalls: Children's Rings and Jewelry

  Why, oh why, do manufacturers insist on making jewelry for children that's chock-full of lead?  Here's a new lineup of recalls issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission:  children's "birthstone" necklace and earring sets, sold exclusively at Kmart (known for its fine jewelry) and ugly Vegas-style children's "pinkie" rings, sold at Big Lots (another fine jewelry purveyor), each bearing toxic amounts of lead.  Yummy!  If you own these, the CPSC advises taking the item away from your children immediately!  Or sooner!  And then take it to the store for a refund.  Check the links for more information. Posted Feb 28 2007, 11:03 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: recall, safety, cpsc, toxic, children's jewelry, lead

• Lead Lunch Boxes Safe Again? Only for Brunch

  The Associated Press story yesterday about lead-tainted lunch boxes has left the government agency in charge of lead testing in a furor. "We are not evil-doers!" the agency shrieked. OK, maybe not. Still, they're pissed. The story said the agency, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, tested lunch boxes, found high levels of lead in some but then gave the go ahead to fill them up with Twinkies and Suzie-Qs (mmmm Suzie-Qs). The Food and Drug Administration got into the act, telling manufacturers to stop killing children and baby seals. Even Wal-Mart banned some boxes. Plain Jane Mom pointed out the agency's response to the uproar. The CPSC said its testing showed all was well with the lunch boxes and that it wasn't covering up anything for political or nefarious purposes. The agency backed up its record for getting medieval on lead in toys, clothes, etc. -- a well-documented fact -- but I'm still not going to buy any vinyl lunch boxes for my kid. They may not have found lead at "hazardous levels" -- but limiting lead at any level is my concern. Posted Feb 21 2007, 02:56 PM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: health, news, health and well-being of children., child safety, safety, FDA, cpsc, health risks, children's health

• Hasbro Recalls Easy-Bake Ovens

  Eek! I'm betting a number of us have one of these injury-making machines in our houses. If you do, better lock it up until you can give the manufacturer a ring. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Hasbro have announced that the company is recalling its pink and blue Easy-Bake Ovens due to 29 reports of kids getting their fingers caught and burned in the devices. The models in question have model number 65805, and were manufactured on or after May 2006. Owners of this malfunctioning device can call Hasbro Customer Service at (800) 601-8418, and get a "retro-fit" kit that will make the toy a little more friendly and a lot less dangerous. Posted Feb 06 2007, 04:09 PM by thezeroboss with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: toys, hasbro, recalls, cpsc, easy-bake oven