Strollerderby : choking hazard

Infantino Toys Recalled

Amy Kuras — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:27:00 GMT

I’m a bit late in getting to this, but better late than never: Infantino has issued a voluntary recall of some of its baby toys because of a choking hazard.

The toys are the Infantino Little Chef Set, the Activity Stacker, and the Tag-Along Chime Trio. Around 172,000 of them were sold from June 2007 through February of 2009 in the US and about 12,000 were sold in Canada. US retailers include Babies R Us, Target, Wal-Mart, and Meijer stores.

Metallic fabric on the toys can detach, posing a choking hazard, although no injuries have been reported. If you have the toys in your house, take them away from your kids and contact Infantino at (888) 808-3111 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pacific time Monday through Friday, or visit www.infantino.com. They are offering a free replacement toy.

Check out the press release from the US Consumer Product and Safety Commission and Health Canada here. The press release also has photos of all three recalled toys.

Would You Let the Kid Eat Dog Food?

JeanneSager — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:32:00 GMT

Inspired by National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day (yup, it's real), I have got to ask - what kind of parent lets their kid eat dog food?

Don't think people do this? Guess again. I know parents who think it's absolutely hilarious. Others think it's a little weird, but eh, so is drinking bath water, or eating dirt.

Turns out it's not all that funny or just plain weird. According to the experts over at Kids Health, it's also dangerous. They list a series of pretty serious reasons to put your kid in the doghouse for chewing on dog chow:

It's not nutritious - meaning they're filling up on something not exactly good for them.
The dog bowl isn't sanitary (OK, true, but neither is bath water!)
Small dry pieces of dog food pose a choking hazard (and what of chopped up, wet pieces?)
Dogs can be territorial about their food - they might bite your tot for sticking his or her snout in the doggie dish.

Now who's in the doghouse?

Image: DailyHaha

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Boy Still Recovering After Grape Nearly Kills Him

Jen Chaney — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:32:00 GMT

We've all heard that certain foods, including grapes, can be potentially hazardous to feed to young children. Sadly, a California family found out the hard way just how unsafe they can be.

This story in the San Jose Mercury-News explores the difficult recovery still facing Judea Farrow, a 22-month-old who was clinically dead for more than 15 minutes after a grape, fed to him by a daycare center employee, got lodged in his throat. An emergency worker eventually was able to pull out the grape, saving the young boy's life. But he has since suffered some brain damage: He is unable to walk, swallow, smile or speak, but his parents remain hopeful that he'll slowly get closer to normal functioning.

It's a sobering reminder that certain foods present particular choking hazards, especially if they aren't served in appropriately small portions. The Mercury News mentions hot dogs, popcorn and bay leaves, in addition to grapes. This 2007 article from Consumer Reports lists others to look out for, as well as guidelines to follow to make sure your kids swallow safely.

We tend to pay close attention every time a toy gets recalled for being a choking hazard, and for good reason. But the truth is that our kids are more likely to choke on a piece of food, something we sometimes tend to forget. Here's hoping we all remember, and that Judea Farrow's story eventually has a happy ending.

Toy Recalls Not Successful

Madeline Holler — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:47:00 GMT

Every time I read about yet another product recall, I picture this: customer service lines at Target stretching out the automatic doors, angry hordes of parents holding recalled items aloft while they chant slogans and demand better quality and attention to toy safety.

“The children,” they scream with passion. “What about the children!”

In reality, retailers poised to deal with the onslaught are watching tumble weeds roll by. Most parents are just throwing the lead-covered/choking hazard/impaling risk/finger-severing crap away and moving on.

For example, when Target issued a recall in May of 5,000 000 Anima Bamboo Collection Games because of lead, no units were returned. During a recall of 190,000 Kool Toyz last year due to lead and sharp points, less than 1 percent were returned.

This lack of returns presents a problem for manufacturers in that they can’t actually figure out how effective their recalls are. Did people not get word (how could they not this year?), or did they just not bother sending it back?

Frankly, I think there’s a lack of information about what to do. Do I have to bring back an intact Polly Pocket set (an oxymoron since at least six of the microscopic boots go missing the minute the blister pack is opened) or will Polly herself do? Do I need a receipt? Do I have to remember where it came from? What if it was a gift?

On the bigger items, where there’s a repair kit or a full recall, do you just show up and describe the piece or do you have to break down the crib/play yard/swing set/bunk bed and show proof of ownership?

And for those recalls that require shipment? Forget it. No amount of refund is worth the search for a box, packing and sealing, and standing in line at the post office while your kid’s screaming for you to let her play with it one more time. No amount.

Finally, all those damn serial numbers. Which infant car seat? We’re off by one number … does that matter? And it’s not just any Polly Pocket that was recalled, right? It was a very specific one. How the hell should I know which one? Plus, it’s Polly Pocket? Really, I’m just interested in never seeing her again, so, the trash solution works best for us. Sorry, Mattel.

What about you? During this Summer of Recalls, did you take anything back? Was it easy? Was it worth it?

Photo: New York Times

Worse Than Toys Painted With Lead? Plenty.

Madeline Holler — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:17:00 GMT

That's it! We're getting a bubble. I mean, what more can I do to keep my kids from turning stupid with all that lead just waiting to enter their bloodstream? They are just one Cookie Monster saxophone and some bad decisions away from succumbing to a toy on a recalls list.

For weeks, I have been throwing out toy after toy, especially anything painted -- we only own cheap stuff so I was sure none of it was safe. All the kiddie jewelry is gone. I've practically memorized model numbers on the big stuff in preparation for the next recall, which should come any day now.

But lead-paint toys or even poorly designed cribs aren't the worst of parents' worries. What is? In our case, it's the walls of the aging bungalow we rent, a god-damn rubber ball, of which we own probably 40, and other everyday amusements.

According to the article, the lead we live with in our homes is far worse than any lead in kids toys. Most older homes post a risk, since the walls were likely painted with lead-paint. And if you're remodeling, amp up that risk doubly or triply so. But the biggest threats to kids isn't lead in any case. It's the simple toys you have probably been pushing since the fancy ones now seem tainted.

The real dangers are balloons, marbles, and those colorful rubber balls -- all choking hazards of the simplest design. In 2005, 20 children under 15 years old died of toy-related injuries, nine of them from choking on toys -- six choked on balls, one on a broken balloon (vindicated! I hate balloons!), one on a bead from a toy horse and one on a toy dart.

Also, you wouldn't know it but there have been fewer toy recalls this year than there were for the same period last year. I couldn't name a single recall from last year without doing research, but I think we'll all remember the sudden demise of Thomas and his friends for quite some time.

Actually, if you look at the chart and the statistics in the story, what stands out is how few children have actually died from unsafe toys in the last decade. Huh. That's good, right?

I guess I'll rethink the bubble. It is likely made in China anyway, coated with a lead-based sealant and probably being recalled right now.

More Payless "Croc-Offs" Being Recalled

Kelly Mills — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:26:00 GMT

Yes, fake crocs are still choking kids. Payless has expanded the recall of the shoes designed to look like the shoes that many people love to hate. This time it's the character-themed croc-offs: "Dora the Explorer, Spongebob Squarepants, Hello Kitty, Coasters® Lighted Car Compel, and Cambridge Mary-Jane." Hey, I'd recall Dora anything just for making me sing, "I'm a map, I'm a map..." all damn day.

The rivet on these shoes is a choking hazard, so take 'em back or toss 'em. By the way, I'm still bitter at the real crocs folks for messing up my kid's order for shoes three times and having completely unresponsive customer service. But maybe they've fixed that by now. I dunno: my kid had moved on to flip-flops.

Things Fall Apart: Magic Choking Castle of Doom!

Karen Murphy — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 13:33:00 GMT

Yes, it's time for another exciting game of "Guess Where This Cheap Toy Was Made"! Today's entry: The Shape Sorting Castle by Infantino! Yes folks, this lovely item, 68,000 of them, was sold at Target and Wal-Mart and some other stores for the princely sum of $12, but despite that, the darn things just fall apart to reveal tiny chokable parts. Four children have nearly choked as a result, and lest yours be next, do take the darn things away and contact Infantino for a replacement, free!

Thought I could have told you just by looking at this thing that it was evil and destined for recall: just have a look at the face of that front figure. An evil grin if ever I saw one! And the little guy in the back is winking. I'll bet he knows what it says when you play "Revolution #9" backwards.

Things Fall Apart: Cheap Plastic Toys Disintegrate and Become Choking Hazards. What a Surprise.

Karen Murphy — Sat, 26 May 2007 13:49:00 GMT

Is it me, or are cheap toys getting even cheaper? These little gems cost about $1, and look! They contain small parts and they fall apart! And become chokable! What a surprise.

Who knows, all these cheap shoddy toys from China that are constantly being recalled may be part of some nefarious plot.

On the off-chance that you or someone you know lives in California and shops exclusively at dollar stores, and if you indeed own one of these (is that giraffe scary or what?), feel free to go back to the dollar store and get your, uh dollar back. And then throw this crap away. Please.

Things Fall Apart: Magnetix Toy Recall Expanded

Karen Murphy — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 12:09:00 GMT

As far as I'm concerned, these things are just an accident waiting to happen. Tiny pieces! Magnets! Chokeable! Creates intestinal perforations when swallowed! And now the Consumer Product Safety Commission thinks so too: the recall of Magnetix Magnetic Building Toys has been expanded to include all sets sold before March 31, 2007. That's over four million toy sets.

The new sets, not included in the recall, contain this warning: "CAUTION: Do not ingest or inhale magnets. Attraction of magnets in the body may cause serious injury and require immediate medical care." Like kids who are likely to swallow tiny magnets are going to read the box.

If you own a Magnetix set, you can contact the manufacturer, Mega Brands, to receive a comparable replacement toy. And then you can make a huge communal bonfire along with your neighbors and all their Magnetix too.

It's Just A Flesh Wound: The Most Dangerous Toys Ever

Dad Gone Mad — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:03:00 GMT

I recently threw away one of my son's toys -- and let me tell you: he was none too thrilled. It was a set of colored plastic triangles that connected to each other magnetically. It also came with six shiny metal balls, about twice the size of a pea, which my son saw fit to put into his mouth and let them crash against his teeth. I trashed it because my cooking is enough of a choking hazard and I frankly don't need the competition. ("I know it looks like white Jello, honey, but trust me: it's chicken.")

The modern class of dangerous toys pales in comparison to the stuff we had when I was little. Choking hazards were a dime a dozen back then, but what really got kids of the 70s excited were the toys that shot stuff and hurt people. In particular, I remember having a bitchin' Battlestar Galactica space ship that fired red plastic missiles out of its wings. My sister might still have welts from when I fired those missiles at her.

Radar Magazine has published a list of the 10 Most Dangerous Toys Of All-Time, and I think I had about half of them. Shockingly, the list does not include M-80s. These were quarter-sticks of dynamite that my friend Mark got from his dad, who was a cop. We used to light them and drop them into the manhole covers in the street outside my house.

Mark is in prison now.