Strollerderby : shopping

WTF: KKK Selling Kids T-Shirts

JeanneSager — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:03:00 GMT

I'm vacillating between speechless and spitting with venom. How else do you respond to news that the Ku Klux Klan is selling t-shirts for kids?

T-shirts at a Website that actually trumpets itself as a go-to source for "Christian" purchases.

I'm not sure if I should be thanking my husband for pointing this one out to me (he found it while working on a paper about domestic terrorism, FYI), but I guess the news that the KKK is targeting kids is hardly new. Kids don't come out of the womb seething with hate, so it does have to come from adults peddling bigotry to little kids. Remember, kids learn by imitating.

But making the hard Aryan sell face-to-face is disgusting enough. Sharing with the world that "Klan Kids Kare" is absolutely terrifying.

I've got to wonder, honestly, what Klan Kids Kare about. I was thinking Lynching, but according to the t-shirt, they "kare" about loving Jesus, white power and their heritage. Note to the Klan: Jesus lived in the Middle East - it's highly unlikely that his skin was white. And he certainly wasn't Aryan.

My big question, of course, is where are these kids going to wear these shirts? Besides Klan rallies, of course. Is there anywhere in public that they wouldn't be told to leave? I'm all for free speech, but if a kid walks into a school wearing a shirt that says "white power," I'd hope they get sent home to change. It's a gang symbol (yes, similar to the red of the Bloods - albeit on the opposite end).

And perhaps even more shocking here (to some of you anyway), this t-shirt is being sold by a Christian bookstore, a site that proudly proclaims itself as the "exclusive distributor of the Knights Party designs" (yes those Knights - the white ones). This to go with their "wide variety of Christian oriented t-shirts and sweatshirts." And no, I didn't find a "turn the other cheek" tee - the kind you'd sort of expect out of a Christian t-shirt selling site (OK, maybe only I would?).

Honestly, I'm not going to provide you with a link to this site. But if you REALLY need to find it for yourself (for some voyeuristic pleasure, we hope, rather than to make your purchase), enter the words "Christian books and things" into Google. It's the fourth site in the list.

Image: Christian books and things

Mom Buys Nintendo, Gets a Box of Rocks Instead

JeanneSager — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:33:00 GMT

Somewhere in Florida, a kid is saying "aww, gee, Mom, you shouldn't have." No, really, we mean it. Because when a sixteen-year-old opened up his brand new Nintendo DS, all he found was a pile of rocks and some newspaper with Chinese lettering.

Someone was apparently watching Hotel For Dogs before they made their Wal-Mart return. There's a scene in the kiddie flick that features kids packaging up a box full of rocks and trying to sell it as high tech gear.

Wal-Mart said "don't look at us," and was reportedly refusing to give Mom her money back until a Florida TV station got involved. The store tracked the box . . . only to realize it had been returned to the store by another customer. Perhaps the one who grabbed the DS and ran?

The story comes with yet another reminder to always check boxes (this mom says she did - and nothing looked awry) and warns that if you're unsure you should always ask a store employee to open it in front of you to verify the contents. I understand caveat emptor, but how far do we have go to? Most kids products these days are so hard to get out of the box that having the store open 'em up and unpack them will mean never getting them back INTO the box . . . and all that protective packaging that's supposed to keep the item from breaking on the ride home is now gone. Plus the open box now makes it harder to keep all the pieces inside.

Of course, I'd hate to disappoint my kid by opening up her birthday present this June to find a box full of rocks. What about you readers, do you make the store open things before you check out?

Image: PBase

Don't Let Your Kids Grocery Shop With Grandma

JeanneSager — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:24:00 GMT

Are there any four words in the English language worse than, "But Grandma lets me?"

In our case, it's technically Oma, but you get the point.

Because now, when you repeat the words "No, you may not have the plastic egg filled with candy that the oh-so-ingenius grocery store designers have placed at eye level," you will sound like the heavy. The meanie. The grinchiest grinch from grinchville.

Because Grandma - or Oma, or Granny, or Nana - bought them an egg LAST week on the trip to the grocery store, filled with little bunnies whose ears loop together like an Easter version of the barrell of monkeys you weren't allowed to have twenty years ago (but asked for, on more than one occasion).

So you try explaining, "No, you already have an egg."

"But I want anoooother one," they tell you (insert exagerated eye roll).

"You don't need one."

"But I want one. Please, please, pretty please." Which, you all know, works when you're informing them they cannot have another cookie until they say "please," so why won't it work this time?

I could relate the entire conversation, complete with the fit at the tail end, right near the cash register where the older women who work part-time during the day while the teen cashiers are in high school stand, clucking and whispering, "Oh, but she asked so nicely, and isn't she a doll?"

No, she didn't get an egg. I'm the grinchiest grinch from grinchville, and as soon as I get ahold of Oma, I'm cancelling all future visits to the grocery store.

Image: Slashfood

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UPDATE: Bye Bye BPA: WHICH Bottles Will Go Bisphenol Free

JeanneSager — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:57:00 GMT

Checking for the BPA-free label when shopping for baby bottles may soon be a thing of the past. The six largest manufacturers of bottles in the United States have voluntarily agreed to go Bisphenol-A free.

We reported on this story over the weekend (see below), but thanks to our friends at SuperEco, we now have a list of who's involved in the manufacturer cave in.

Going toxin free are Gerber, Avent America (which stopped production back in December), Evenflo, Disney's First Years, Dr. Brown and Playtex.

Attorneys general in Connecticut and New Jersey put forward a request to the bottle makers, asking for the hormone-disrupting chemical to be removed from the manufacturing process. The request came on the heels of newer research that shows the affects of BPA are large even at low doses, doses lower than the FDA's current standards. Studies have linked BPA to everything from cancer and obesity to problems with brain function and mood disorders. They've also shown BPA is building up in the bloodstream. In a study of people age six and older, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found detectable levels of BPA in ninety-three percent of two thousand five hundred seventeen urine samples.

Of course, the big companies aren't exactly doing this all out of the goodness of their hearts. Babies R Us and a number of other retailers announced last year that they would phase out all sales of bottles with BPA in them. Canada has outright banned the substance.

But sometimes even the big companies make decisions that are good for parents.

Image: OhMyGov

Big Retailers That Offer Big Sales for Families

JeanneSager — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:01:00 GMT

We're continuing our good economic news for families (think of that) today with a look at places families can save a buck . . . or fifty.

Children's clothing and accessories are must-haves, even when we're still wearing the pilled sweater from our high school days. So where can you go for deals on name brands that stand up to everything your kids will put them through, plus the washing machine? We've got the answers:

Barney's Kids: Don't believe us? Their sales rack will suprise. Like the little Democrat outfit up right now that will cost you $11, reduced from $45. Now that's change we can believe in. What to Know: Like most clearance racks, it's hit and miss, but ground shipping within the U.S. is cheap ($5 if you're spending under $50, keeping that Little Democrat outfit under $20) and returns are always accepted with a pre-paid shipping label.

Old Navy: The prices are already vastly lower than their major competitors (including parent company The Gap), but it's the Old Navy sales rack that's worth a real look. Think tank tops for $0.97 and jeans for under $10. What to Know: You can now combine shipping with orders from The Gap, PiperLime and Banana Republic to save money, and the Old Navy Weekly offers online coupons for in-store deals.

Children's Wear Outlet: Although its big focus is school uniforms, the outlet is home to some great prices. A B.T. Kids set of jeans, tee and sunglasses for a little girl is $12; a newborn boy's set of overalls, tee and three toys is $8. What to Know: The prices are already cut rate, but a sales section of the site reduces things even more. Returns are permitted within thirty days.

Target: More of an in-store savings site than online, the discount store has a seventy-five percent off rack every day that knocks kids clothes down to almost nothing. Stock up on the sizes your kids have yet to grow into, because a lot of seasonal ware covers these shelves. What to Know: The site often offers free shipping deals that extends to its clearance section, and returns can be made at any Target store.

Pottery Barn Kids: Another surprise for some who give the place a wide berth, PBKids has a sale section that's worth looking into for the whole family. Think sailcloth curtains in basic blue that could work just as well in a living room as the nursery. Like Barney's, the clothing is still hit and miss, but look carefully, there are finds to be found. What to Know: Click on sale, but also check out the additional seventy-five percent off section for additional savings.Final sale items (anything ending in $0.99) cannot be returned.

A big thanks to my colleague Sunny Chanel for some of these tips - check out her great shopping finds over at Droolicious!

Image: AllShadow

A Bargain A Day Guaranteed For Families

JeanneSager — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:02:00 GMT

The economy, the economy, the economy. Sorry, we're not done talking about it.

But seeing as stopping shopping for kids is all but impossible (you can still wear your high school jeans with the threadbare butt, but your three-year-old's jeans are already starting to look like he's waiting for the flood), we have some good economy news.

There are spots around the internet that offer up bargains for just a day - with limited quantities like the close-out stores but with some deep discounts. There are also the bargain a week spots, and the plain old "have great sales" spots. So let's dig in:

Green Baby Bargains: At noon eastern Monday through Friday, a new "green" baby bargain hits the site, aimed at moms, dads and kids from infant to five years old. With prices starting at fifty percent off retail, there are some great sales. The sale lasts only as long as the stock. Once they've depleted the inventory, they're done. All sales are final - there are no returns. What to Know: Every product is eco-friendly, made by eco-conscious vendors, and they ship internationally.

Mama Bargains: Not always cheap, this is a site with a lot of high-end products . . . for cheapER. Think a $750 Scandinavian Child Monarch nursery chair that recently went for $350 with free shipping.This is another site that changes its product from day to day, with relatively frequent repeats in case you missed something. Quantities are limited to three per buyer, to limit the chance that people will try to open up their own store or sell mass quanitites on eBay. What to Know: They do allow phone orders for parents who want to talk to a real person, but that will cost you a $5 handling fee. They don't ship out of the United States.

BabySteals: One more daily deal site, new sales go up at 9 a.m. MST every weekday, with weekends bringing back one of the week's "steals" on second chance Saturday and second chance Sunday. Prices are anywhere from fifty to eighty percent below retail, with a big focus on clothing for kids at rock bottom prices. What to Know: Four times a year, they have a baby shower with a whole mess of savings on products in one day. You can sign up for their daily steal e-mail alert to get tipped off.

eBay: One word - lots. Buying one outfit or one pair of jeans often won't save you much, even if you're buying used, because of the shipping costs. Buy a twenty-six piece lot of size 2T clothes, however, and you just walked off with a deal. What to Know: All the standard eBay rules apply. Check the seller's feedback, ask them questions if you have any, and read the descriptions well before bidding.

True Cuddles: The home of the week-long sale that changes, well, weekly, True Cuddles is Canadian based but ships to the United States. Sales go live on Monday morning at 9 a.m. MST and last until the inventory is exhausted. What to Know: The site also does giveaways and product reviews.

UP NEXT: Big Retailers That Offer Big Sales for Families

Interview - Disney Princesses Toy Designer

Brett Singer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Disney Princesses are getting a makeover. But don't worry -- unlike the "tween" Dora that Nickelodeon recently introduced, these new dolls are only trying to improve on what's already there. (This is, shall we say, change we can believe in.) "The Disney Store doll design team studied the classic princess movies and fine-tuned each doll’s face design, hairstyle and dress to make them even more true to the original character," according to a Disney Store spokesperson. Plus, now each Princess has friends! We asked Senior Designer Jaime Tracht, a 9-year toy business veteran, about the new dolls:

Babble: What is different about these new princesses?
Jaime Tracht: Everything is new about the dolls. The faces, hair quality, dress designs and accessories are all new. Each dress was created to mimic the silhouette of the original films with the addition of every little girl's favorite ingredient, Glitter! We also lengthened the hair for maximum playability while keeping as true to the character as possible.

B: Which princess is the most popular?
JT: Since the release of the newly designed girls the top spot for popularity has jumped all over the place. We are seeing new favorites, which is very exciting! Our usually titleholder of top princess has been held by Cinderella for years. Since the new dolls have been introduced she has been outsold by Belle, Jasmine and Pocahontas. It’s great to see such excitement for the girls who were previously less popular.

B: Do you have a favorite?
JT: It’s impossible for me to pick. I love Ariel, Jasmine, Pocahontas and Belle but Aurora and Mulan are so pretty and Snow is so cute and colorful. It’s very hard to decide.

B: Who are the "friends" that now come with the various princesses?
JT: In every movie our princesses have magical friends or sweet little animals helping them along in their journey. They play a special part in each story so they should naturally be a part of the doll. Jasmine has her loyal tiger Rajah and Belle has her enchanted friends Mrs. Potts, Chip and Lumiere. Aurora is accompanied by her 3 magical fairy friends and you can’t imagine Ariel without her mischievous friend Flounder and the musically gifted Sebastian. Each princess comes with these types of friends to complete their stories.

B: What are some of the details you added to the new dolls?
JT: They all capture the true essence of each individual character down to the most minute details. We did a constant comparison to the films throughout the entire process of design with special attention to the faces and dresses. Each character has such specific and identifiable characteristics, whether it be the swirl in the center of Aurora’s bangs, Jasmine’s larger more upturned eyes or the perfect pale yellow of Belles dress, we got it.

The dolls are now available at Disney Stores nationwide. Visit DisneyShopping.com to find a location near you.

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Kid's Videogame Nothing but "Redneck S---"

JeanneSager — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:29:00 GMT

Disclaimer: This post is not racist and has no gripe against men with mullets (because who doesn't want a party in the back) or farmer's tans.

Now that that's done. How would you like it if your kid spent his hard-earned (from Gram) Christmas money at the store, and all he ended up with was redneck you-know-what?

That's what happened to a Consumerist reader, whose son went to Wal-Mart and bought what he thought was the new Electronic Arts game, Madden 09.

Only instead of a disc he could slip into his shiny white XBox, inside there was a CDR with the words "Redneck S--t" (see, the disclaimer stands). The letter writer says he called the store, and they're supposed to make good on the screw-up.

My question - what would you do? Grab the thing and run horrified away from your kid? Do you use this as a teaching moment (stealing's wrong m'kay) or simply get indignant and let 'em see you really pissed?

Source/Image: Consumerist

Baby Center Store Closing - FINAL DAY

Brett Singer — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:15:00 GMT

Pretty soon, parents won't be able to buy binkies, booster seats or bottles at the BabyCenter Store. Actually, they won't be able to buy anything at all – BabyCenter is closing their online store for good on January 6, 2009.

In other parenting-business news, a company called The Parent Company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Parent Company trades on the NASDAQ under the cute-as-a-button symbol KIDS – or at least they will until January 7, 2009, when they will be de-listed. Among the companies owned by The Parent Company are eToys, BabyUniverse and ePregnancy. From their website: "The Parent Company provides comprehensive eCommerce and eContent resources to help families plan, play and grow." Because if there's one thing families need, it's more eContent resources.

What does all of this mean? Economically, I have no idea. (I managed to avoid Econ 101 in college.) But it is interesting that even Internet retailers are having trouble staying afloat. When brick and mortar stores (aka, "places you actually have to go to in order to buy stuff") go belly up, it's less surprising, since they have to pay, like, rent and stuff. The Interwebs were supposed to be a place where any nudnik with a dream and/or a nightmare could slap up a digital shingle and make millions in mere minutes.

It's not that simple, of course; just ask the web site that lost their shirts offering free shipping of pet food during the dotcom boom. Still, you would think that a site as popular as BabyCenter would want to keep their store alive in some form. Over on DaddyTips.com, I created an Amazon store in about five minutes. There's not a lot there, it's more of a storelet, but it works and I don't have to do anything. Granted, I'm not exactly rolling in dough from my efforts. But if I spent some time designing it, adding products, I might make a few bucks. I know BabyCenter probably liked offering their own eCommerce outlet for their users. But all that inventory, staff, shipping, it's all overhead even if there's no actual store to deal with.

Does this mean the business of parenting and/or the business of selling stuff to parents is on the decline? I doubt it. Parenting is big business. No matter what the state of the economy, if you have kids, they're going to need diapers. And food. And, if they're lucky, the occasional toy. Somebody has to sell it to us, right? Ah, but there are other places to get it. Amazon, of course, will sell you just about anything. (I believe that they will one day sell body parts. You heard it here first.) And The Parent Company isn't gone; they're just taking a little Chapter 11 break. And I'm not mentioning the hundreds of other places that want your money. So maybe BabyCenter wasn't making enough scratch with the store and got tired of competing. Who knows.

One good thing about BabyCenter going bye-bye: everything is on sale, big time. Like, it was $60 and now it's $17.99. That kind of sale. A real, honest to goodness "everything must go, we're selling to the bare, virtual walls" sale. You've got a couple more days, check it out here.

Sources: BabyCenter (also image), NY Times

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Gifts I Want That I Can Pretend Are For The Kids

Brett Singer — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

One of the things I like about being a parent is the fact that it allows me to regress with impunity. For example, a childless man who plays with Legos? Creepy. A father who plays with Legos? Aw, that's so sweet. He's such a good dad. With that in mind, here are a few gifts that I want this holiday season that I can pretend are really for the children. If they're lucky, I might even let the kids play with them.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – when we got a Wii, one of the first things I thought of was, "I want a game that lets me use the WiiMote like a sword." When I heard about a new Star Wars game that would allow you to use the WiiMore like a LIGHTSABER, I realized that this was potentially a dream come true. A dream I didn't even know I had. Namely, that I could use the WiiMote like a lightsaber. Hello? How many times did I imagine that I was Luke Skywalker, battling Darth Vader, denying he was my father as I swung my lightsaber in defiance? (Yes, Han Solo was cooler but Luke was a Jedi and was a more attainable goal – you weren't going to be as cool as Han, but you could definitely be like Luke. OK, I was a kid with self-esteem issues.) The idea that I can do this as an adult and get away with it because I have a son is almost too cool to imagine. Reviews of the game on Amazon are mixed, ranging from "pretty good" to "Worst. Game. Ever." There are a few "all my childhood dreams realized" comments on there. Until I actually play the game, I'll stick with those.

To make the nerdy experience truly complete, there is the Thrustmaster Glow Saber Duo Pack, which sounds like the name of a sex toy from a Woody Allen movie but is actually a Wii accessory where you insert the WiiMote into a glowing piece of plastic and wave it around like a lightsaber.

Peanuts Holiday Collection (It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / A Charlie Brown Christmas): This one isn't as embarrassing as the other two. The various Peanuts holiday specials have, in my opinion, stood the test of time better than any others. The animation is pleasantly low-key, the voice acting isn't obnoxiously loud and the kids actually sound like kids, and there are no stupid adults around. It's sentimental without being saccharine, funny without resorting to lowbrow comedy (nothing wrong with that but it's nice to see something different everyone now and then), and its great when you can enjoy something from your childhood with your kids without being forced to explain to them why you like it.

Marvel Transformers: It's unclear how I managed to not hear about these amazing new toys. It could be because I'm an adult. But I don't like that explanation. How can something as unbelievably cool as an Iron Man Transformer action figure not have been on my geeky radar? I might have to turn in my Platinum Nerd Card. In all seriousness – well, not ALL seriousness, this isn't a very serious topic – these look cool, appear to be in stock at Amazon, and would provide hours of fun for me, I mean MY CHILDREN. So come on. Fill my stocking with superheroes!

They Say – Lots of Toys Are Sold Out – Or Are They?

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Are these toys sold out?

Brett Singer — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:00:00 GMT

According to Gareb Shamus of Toy Wishes Magazine, these toys are what all the kids want. But, says Shamus, you can't get them, because they're sold out. I'm not sure that he's correct about that. We checked on seven toys here, now let's try eight more.

8. Clone Wars Voice Changing Helmet: Again, Amazon's got it, not even from a third-party shipper. But it's not Darth Vader. So what's the point? According to the product description, "Kids want to be clone troopers." (That's actually listed as a product feature. Odd.) I hope that this statement is not true. If it is, that is sad. Wanting to be Han Solo, I get. Wanting to be a Clone Trooper? Say it ain't so, Bo(ba).

9. Wall-E - U-Command, i-Dance and Transforming: i-Dance they have. Same with U-Command. (Couldn't find Transforming for some reason.) However, both are from third-party folks, and U-Command is over $150.00. That seems like a bad idea unless one of the commands is "rob a bank."

10. Club Penguin Plush and trading cards: Bingo! Club Penguin Plush, not in stock as of this writing. Available from a random person. Looks kind of ugly to me but what do I know. Trading cards they have from third party folks.

11. Webkinz – Plush: It might be tough to find the specific one your kid wants (Webkinz Platypus, anyone? I just made that up) but these are out there.

12. Imaginext – Superfriends: Amazon has it! At least, they have some of them, like this Batmobile. If these are from the same series of toys that my younger son has, I highly recommend them. It's like Batman-lite – more BatMite than Dark Knight. (If you get that reference, you earn points towards your Geek Gold Card.) Fun for kids and also dads. At least this dad.

13. Nerf - all the Nerf Blasters: Well, not ALL, since Amazon has this ominously named Nerf N-Strike Recon CS-6 Dart Blaster. Weapon of kiddie mass destruction, anyone? Also not for the under 3 set.

14. Eyeclops night vision goggles: These look kinda cool, and are in stock. My problem with toys like these is that in my experience kids get bored with them pretty quickly. But perhaps your children are different.

15. Girl Gourmet cupcake maker: I'm not a fan of children making "real" food with dopey fake playsets like these. Why is that? Because I can't imagine that the ingredients of the "special cupcake mixes" are substances that occur in nature. This comment from Amazon, titled "What's that smell??" is telling and quite helpful: "At the end of the day, it was fun for them, stinky for all of us and too darn messy. You are better off with supervised baking then this junky mix." The commenter goes on to say that the product is a good idea but the "flavoring needs tweaking." I beg to differ, but hey, to each his or her own. I'm not against my children eating crap, but they should eat good old American pre-packaged crap that doesn't require further preparation.

So no offense to Mr. Shamus, but this stuff doesn't appear to be as sold out as he said. I'm thinking bad economy = easier to find popular toys. To be fair, many of the items were unavailable except through third-party sellers. But it seems like, with a little digging, you can get most of what your kids want. Not that the holidays are all about toys. But sometimes they are.

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They Say – Lots of Toys Are Sold Out – Or Are They?

Brett Singer — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:30:00 GMT

According to Gareb Shamus of Toy Wishes Magazine, these toys are what all the kids want. But, says Shamus, you can't get them, because they're sold out. I'm not sure that he's correct about that. Let's see what we can find in stock.

1.      Bakugan: My son actually got this as an early Chanukah present. Not bad but a little over-rated in my opinion. Basically you throw little balls into a plastic arena, and if the balls hit a particular magnetic card, they pop open. It's neat but only for the first hundred times. There are also rules that seem too complex for my taste, but I’m old and sometimes these games confuse me. Available at Amazon.
2.      Lego Star Wars and Lego Batman: Lego Star Wars is great. Lego Batman, feh. Don't bother. I'm talking about the video games, though, not the Legos themselves. In general I believe that any Legos are good Legos, so if you can't find Star Wars or Batman versions, just go with regular ones. If the kids complain, tell them they should be glad they're getting any presents at all in this economy. (OK, telling them that would be mean. But it's fun to think about, right?) Lots of options at Amazon, but it does appear that most are sold out.
3.      Star Wars Action Figures - All, particularly Clone Commander Cody and Ahsoka Tano: This reveals me to be a tremendous nerd, but I think I've outed myself as Dorky Dad a long time ago. Commander Cody action figures are sold out??? That just doesn't seem right. I mean, I remember when Boba Fett was hard to find. That I can understand. But Commander Cody? C'mon. Available at Amazon for a whopping $44.99. Crazy.
4.      Dora Magical Figures: I found these on Craig's List, although they're probably gone by now. (Note: I am not suggesting you buy something from Craig's List. Also not suggesting that you DON'T buy from Craig's List. That is what is known as a "covering my butt disclaimer". That's a legal term.)
5.      Ben 10 Alien Creation Chamber: Amazon has it from a third-party retailer. Sadly, it does not appear to create life-size "Island of Doctor Moreau" creatures.
6.      Hasbro - Marvel Transformers: I was unaware of the existence of these action figures, but now that I am, I must have them. I mean, my son must have them. Iron Man meets Transformers? Are you kidding me??? Amazon seems to have them in stock from third-party retailers. I… I mean, my SON, really wants these. All of them.
7.      Yo Gabba Gabba Dance Mat: Amazon's got it. It looks fun, but noisy. Also: "CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs." Which seems odd because that's an age I would think this product appeals to. But I guess not.

Hmmm... so far lots of stuff is in stock, although sometimes from third-party sellers. For eight more, check out part 2 here.

When Holiday Toys Attack

Half Price Toys at Target

Last Day For Free Holiday Shipping

Indiana Planned Parenthood Sells Gift Certificates

Miss Piggy Wants a Bailout For Christmas

Babble Podcast for December 15, 2008

When Holiday Toys Attack

Brett Singer — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:15:00 GMT

Remember the Cabbage Patch Riots of 1983? How about the Tickle Me Elmo Fiasco of 1996?

MentalFloss has helpfully provided a round-up of "5 Dangerously Popular Holiday Toys," complete with video.

At various times in our nation's history, there have been toys that capture the public's imagination. The desire for said toy becomes so intense that folks will do anything – ANYTHING – to get it for their children. They become blinded by desire, and sometimes that desire can turn to rage. Or, if not rage, the spending of far too much money on eBay.

I don't think that there is a toy out there this season that has achieved this level of frenzied consumerism, but it's possible that there is and my kids aren't into whatever it is. Anyone looking for something that they haven't been able to find? Let us know in the comments.

Anyway, here are The Toys That Once Made Parents Hearts Pound:

1. Cabbage Patch Kids (1983)
I personally never got into these dolls at all, and never understood their appeal. But I was in the minority. Stories of people spending hundreds of dollars for one of these odd-looking mushy dolls that did nothing except come with adoption papers were rampant. What I never knew was that Coleco, the company that made the dolls, created fake hospitals where the Patch Dolls were "born" in order to entice toy buyers. It worked, but a little too well – check out this video of people literally attacking store managers and other customers just to get one of what the anchorwoman calls "dumpy little dolls." Ah, good times. Bonus: 80's hairstyles.

2. Tickle Me Elmo (1996)
I've never liked Elmo. To me, he took over one third of Sesame Street and relegated show business veteran Grover to a supporting role, something I will never forgive him for. (For more about Elmo's creulty to Grover, check out this site.) Clearly little kids love the little red monster (who himself loves only his crayon and his goldfish), so toys were inevitable. But who could have predicted the craziness that ensued when Tickle Me Elmo showed up? Luckily, I didn't have kids yet or I might have been trampled trying to obtain an Elmo for my kids to tickle. Hm. Something about that sentence seems wrong.

The others are the Furby, which was an early interactive toy that I personally just found irritating; Beanie Babies, which were as much a grown-up collector thing as they were a toy for tots; and the Wii and PS3. This last one I think MentalFloss missed the boat on. Yes, the PS3 was briefly a hard to get item, but a high price, a limited amount of games and the availability of the much cheaper but still fun PS2 combined to throw a wet blanket onto consumer desire. The Wii is still tough to find; I know of two parents who are trying to get one right now. And the Wii Balance Board, or Wii Fit, is sold out everywhere. Of course, parents aren't trampling each other in an attempt to get one, they're just overpaying on eBay. That, my friends, is progress.

For some less stressful and more current gift choices, check out Babble's Ultimate Gift Guide.

Source: MentalFloss

Are these toys sold out? (Part 2)

Last Day For Free Holiday Shipping

Miss Piggy Wants a Bailout For Christmas

Half Price Toys at Target

Indiana Planned Parenthood Sells Gift Certificates

They Say – Most Toys Are Toxic

Girly Gift Guide

White House Sends Chanukah Card With Christmas Tree On It

Last Day For Free Holiday Shipping

Brett Singer — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:15:00 GMT

With the economy in shambles (even the wealthy are losing big money) I wanted to do my part to tell people how to save a little cash this holiday season. We began with Please Buy Stuff Part 1 – Cheap Toys, which featured a half-off toy sale at Target. Now here is Please Buy Stuff Part 2 – Free Shipping.

If you put off your holiday shopping because you were (a) busy, (b) waiting until the last possible second in an attempt to secure the best price, or (c) all of the above, more than 100 merchants are in your corner. On Thursday, December 18, web retailers from 1800Mustang (specializing in Mustang parts – the cars, not the horses) to Zappos.com (shoes) will ship your stuff for free AND guarantee delivery by Christmas. On the list are Babies R Us, Apple, Big Toe Soccer, OhToy.com – a huge list, and it keeps growing, according to FreeShippingDay.com.

Once again, procrastinators are rewarded. In fact, the web site even says, "Free Shipping Day is the last chance for many procrastinators."

As one who celebrates Chanukah, I wish the same deal applied for the festival of lights. That said, The First Night of Jewy Christmas coincides nicely with Actual Christmas this year – the evening of December 21, with the final night occurring on December 28. So you can pick up some chachkis to give the kids on the first few days (thereby supporting your local merchants), then give them the good stuff later in the week.

That actually works well for the way we do Chanukah in our house. We do eight gifts, but most are of the smaller variety, with a big one on or about the final night. So although FreeShippingDay unsurprisingly focuses on Christmas, it also works for Chanukah, as well as Kwanzaa, which begins on December 26.

It's as if merchants everywhere are saying, "Please – please buy something! The toys are half price, you get free shipping with guaranteed holiday delivery even if you wait until the last minute – wouldja just buy something already? Please? No, really. Buy something. Anything. What's that? My watch? Um, it's not for sale… oh, you'll take a Barbie Dream Car Set if I throw in my watch? And my shoes? Uh… sure! It's the holidays. Why not? Merry New Year!"

Anyone else feel like retailers are desperate? And while it's nice to be the beneficiary of some of this stuff-based holiday cheer, doesn’t it feel a teeny bit weird?

Oh well. Get it while the getting's good. Nothing distracts a kid from the world's problems like a shiny new toy. And seeing them open it is still one of the best freebies around.

Are You Cutting Back This Holiday Season?

Indiana Planned Parenthood Sells Gift Certificates

What NOT to Tell Your Child After You've Been Laid Off

White House Sends Chanukah Card With Christmas Tree On It

It's Hip Hop . . . for Babies

They Say – Most Toys Are Toxic

Parents Make Son Hold 'I Will Never Shoplift Again' Signs

Mini Baby Sculptures Not Edible, Selling Like Hotcakes

Toy Libraries: An Idea in Need of a Comeback?

Girly Gift Guide

Vonage Offers Free Calls To Santa

Make Your Own Religious Doll

Half Price Toys at Target

Brett Singer — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

With the economy in shambles (even the wealthy are losing big money) I wanted to do my part to tell people how to save a little cash this holiday season. So here is Please Buy Stuff Part 1 – Cheap Toys.

* * *

Has anyone else noticed how cheap toys are right now?

I get at least one email per day from Toys R Us practically begging me to buy something… anything… just buy a toy! Please! 50% off is not uncommon. It seems like the closer it gets to Christmas, the cheaper everything becomes.

Now Target is joining the party with a 50% off sale. The cheapest item is the game Monopoly Town, now priced at $7.99 (down from $15.99). On the high end, you can now get a Kota My Triceratops for $99.99 (was $199.99). Click the image below to see all 50% off items in all their glory, and also visit Target.com.

What's interesting, to me at least, is the fact that I don't seem to care much. Let me explain. I'm a cheapskate and I like bargains. Sometime in the past few years, however, I became less and less interested in shopping. It's not that I don't buy things when we need them. But it's less fun than it used to be. I would attribute this feeling to the economy, but it started before our financial system did its imitation of David Caruso's pre-CSI career. Part of it could be perspective – with two kids, stuff seems less important than it once did. But I'm not buying that (no pun intended). I think it has more to do with being tired (see: two kids), and also slightly overwhelmed by the array of choices out there. As an example, our toaster oven has been broken for several weeks. This thing owes us nothing – I believe we've had it for well over ten years. But it SORT OF works. And when I go online looking for new ones, I quickly get bored and decide to just deal with the old one for a little bit longer.

Some of my merchant-based malaise does have to do with the economy, of course. It seems…unseemly to lust after hi-tech stuff when people are being laid off all over the country.

That said, the kids don't need to suffer for my mishegos. (Except for the toaster oven. That they'll just have to deal with.) And if the toys they want are this cheap, go for it. Besides, isn't it our patriotic duty to go shopping?

Next: how to get free shipping and still get your stuff in time for Christmas (or Chanukah, or Kwanzaa).

Are You Cutting Back This Holiday Season?

Vonage Offers Free Calls To Santa

Make Your Own Religious Doll

Would You Give Gifts Bought At Wal-Mart Where Man Died?

JeanneSager — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:01:00 GMT

Even the most die hard Black Friday shopper had the good grace to stop talking deals when the news of a man trampled to death by shoppers at a Long Island Wal-Mart started hitting the airwaves.

What about those shoppers? Are they in their attics right now, wrapping the results of consumer greed gone horribly wrong? Do people actually feel good giving their kids ill-gotten gifts?

Maybe I'm just not one to ask. I have never been the "up at three a.m., out the door by four" shopper. I have taken extremely well to the push toward Cyber Monday over Black Friday, even if my mega-deal is swallowed in part by a shipping charge. I like to think I can be savvy without being swallowed whole by commercialism. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a good deal as much as the next mother trying to make ends meet.

But isn't there a time when a deal is just too good? Must have fallen off the truck good? I mean, it's one thing to buy the kids a fleece with a ripped tag . . . another to buy them a box of "Tunka" trucks from the vendor on the street corner. Some people say what the kids don't know won't hurt them. But as parents, you know. Whether it's a game console purchased the day a man died or a pile of games picked up from a shady street dealer, there gift that's supposed to bring kids such happiness has already been marked by incredible sadness. I couldn't do it.

Could you?

The Ten Best Christmas Songs For the Kid in You

They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

XBox Writes Santa Letter for Your Kids

Santa Claus Can Call Them For You

They Say – Most Toys Are Toxic

Brett Singer — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:30:00 GMT

NYPIRG, which is an acronym for "New York Public Interest Research Group" and not an ancient Hebrew word meaning "bummer", tested a bunch of toys for toxic materials. And they found nothing wrong! Right?

WRONG.

A third of the 1,500 toys NYPIRG tested contained "'medium' to 'high' concentrations of toxic chemicals." Oh, but they didn't test any cool toys that you might actually want to buy. Right?

WRONG!

The Disney Fairies Fold Out Chair and Sleeping Pad had "dangerous levels of mercury and bromine," according to published reports.

Well I’m fine because I stick with more traditional wooden toys from brands like Melissa & Doug. Those are OK.

WRONG!

NYPIRG tested Melissa & Doug's Beginner Band Set, whose label declares that the toy wooden instruments "are handmade, non-toxic and exceed U.S. standards." Those Grinches at NYPIRG found "high levels of lead and arsenic." This toy, as well as the Disney Chair/Pad, were found on the shelves at a Toys R Us in Manhattan. Fun!

Now, I'm not trying to make light of this situation. But it really feels like the only way to fully avoid nasty substances to do is not buy anything. I mean, if you can't trust Melissa & Doug, who can you trust? (This may not be an issue, since, as Madeline put it, nobody's buying anything this year anyway.)

I should also state clearly that I am only reporting what NYPIRG found. I have no direct knowledge of the levels of toxins in any toy made by Disney, Melissa & Doug, Irving & Wendy, or any other manufacturer or individual, known or unknown, on planet Earth or planets yet to be discovered.

NYPIRG suggests that parents visit HealthyToys.org before they shop. Of course, that won't help if no one has tested the toy that you want to buy. But I suppose it's a start.

Still, I'll ask the parent gallery – when you shop for toys, do you think about whether or not they contain potentially harmful substances? For some reason I think most parents (and this is just off the top of my head, I haven't asked anyone other than me) are more inclined to avoid potentially nasty stuff in food or food receptacles, such as BPA-free baby bottles. Will BPA-free toys be next?

Source: Metro

Image: Amazon.com

Are You Cutting Back This Holiday Season?

Morning News: Congresswoman Slams Down the Phone on Obama ... Twice! (also some toy news)

Babble's Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

Mini Baby Sculptures Not Edible, Selling Like Hotcakes

Make Your Own Religious Doll (maybe these are non-toxic)

Denis Leary Puts Autism Comments In Context

Autistic Girl Kicked Out Of Girl Scouts

Brain Wave Study Sheds Light On Autism

Girly Gift Guide

Brett Singer — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Not sure what to buy for the precious little girl in your life? Princess Loves Pink feels your pain. Well, maybe they don't feel your pain, but they want to help. (They may, in fact, feel your pain. But let's not jump to conclusions.)

This new site offers "gifts, reviews and ideas for all things princess", and it basically delivers. Browsing options include Shop by Princess (Ariel, Barbie, etc.), By Item (Books, Clothes), or By Price – very helpful in the current economy. Start with Gifts under $5 and, if the wallet allows, move all the way up to Princess Splurge.

There are even some "I never thought of that" ideas, such as this box of all-pink crayons.

Although one could take issue with the notion that "girls like pink princessy things", in my experience, many of them do. As a father of boys, I am flummoxed when the time comes to shop for a little girl that is into more traditionally girly items. So PLP could be useful for parents of girls, or anyone else who can't tell Cinderella from Sleeping Beauty.

Source: Princess Loves Pink

Daughter's Homework Assignment Leads to Presidential Pardon for Dad

They Say: Black Friday Will Be Gray

Deck the Halls With Boughs of Lead

Jen Chaney — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:58:00 GMT

Christmas lights have always been one of my go-to decorations. I don't just hang them on the tree, I wrap them around banisters, drape them on mantels and wind them around window frames until almost every room in the house is bathed in a comforting yuletide glow.

This year that has to change. Why? Because almost every string of Christmas lights contains lead, and if you have a small, mobile child in the house, that's just not safe.

According to this report on physorg.com, a recent Cornell University study found that the levels of lead in several sets of Christmas lights exceeds the regulatory limits for window sills and floors set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Translation: It's not a good idea to have these things strung up around the house where hands, especially little ones, can access them.

The problem comes back to that pesky PVC plastic that coats most strings of holiday lights. That's the stuff that makes them durable and heat-resistant, but it also contains lead. Miriam recently wrote about how common PVC plastic is and helpfully pointed readers to this Pass Up the Poison Plastic guide. The guide lists a number of products that are PVC-free, ranging from clothing to pacifiers to (no joke) adult sex toys. After scanning the guide, however, I saw some PVC-free artificial Christmas tree options, but nothing about lights that lack lead.

This is an issue that comes up every holiday season but one that seemingly no one has resolved. Companies need to use the PVC in the lights, allegedly anyway, so they won't cause fires or other electrical problems. But many consumers, understandably, want lights that can be handled without having to wash one's hands every two seconds. So what can we do?

Well, we could spend hours trying to track down a set of lead-free lights. But based on my initial research, that might not get us anywhere.

Personally, my plan is to restrict the lights to the tree, keep my son away from the tree and find new ways to decorate the house that don't involve so many of those lead-ridden hazards. Truth be told, that's probably a much more energy-sound approach anyway, as this Seattle Times story suggests.But it still makes me sad. I love seeing all that festive twinkle-twinkling. But if it's a choice between that and keeping my son away from potentially dangerous material, there is only one decision to make.

I just don't understand why some enterprising person or company can't come up with a way to make Christmas lights lead-free, durable and safe on all levels. If someone ever does, I suspect he or she could make some serious cash from parents who would be more than happy to buy a few sets.

Image: Consumerist.com

Cutting Back for Kids' Sake

Amy Kuras — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:02:00 GMT

What with the economy tanking and all, Christmas shopping is a different ballgame this year than maybe it has been in the past. After all, we’ve all done the “one for me, one for you” thing when shopping, or found something when we’re out shopping for others that is just too good a deal to pass up. (The words “too good a deal to pass up” are exactly why I limit shopping trips as much as possible).

This New York Times story profiles a few moms who are cutting their spending on themselves in order to buy more for their children. I think this isn’t exactly news – I mean, how many moms think “forget my kids, mama needs some pretty shoes”? Not any of the ones I know.

That holds for the mom profiled, although it would be a lot easier to work up some sympathy if the mom in question’s big cutback wasn’t “the designer jeans she covets,” like, cry me a river, lady.

Even a few years ago when my husband was told he’d be losing his job right before Christmas and I almost simultaneously found out my main client was dropping the feature I did for them, we managed to give our then one-year-old gifts at Christmastime although it was a mighty thin year under the tree for us.

Are you cutting back on gifts for yourself, or your partner or other adults, in favor of gifts for your kids? Are you cutting back overall this year?

How to Avoid #3 Plastic (That's PVC) in Everything

Miriam Axel-Lute — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

There are lots of reasons to dislike PVC, also known as #3 plastic or just "vinyl." Its production uses more mercury than nearly any other industry. When it's made or incinerated it creates dioxins, some of the nastiest of the nasty toxics. It's full of icky, bad-for-you additives like phthalates (that's "thay-lates" if you want to sound knowledgable when arguing with retail clerks) that can leach out. The list goes on...

The creepy thing is, it's everywhere. It's the covering on most waterproof "chewable" baby books. It's in some pacifiers. It's the frame of most new windows and all new "linoleum" floors. It covers three-ring binders and shows up in raingear and shower curtains and some disposable silverware and dozens of other common items. Not to mention tons of packaging.

Frankly, this sounds to me like a stellar case of why sometimes a little regulation is good. You could spend a full time job (and the pay from a part time one) seeking out and getting rid of all the PVC in your life. Not an efficient allocation of resources, in my book. Much better that we collectively decide this is something we don't want in our air, homes, landfills, or kid's bodies.

But in the meantime if you want to find PVC-free alternatives in at least some areas of your life (say, the stuff entering your baby's mouth or your own), or at least not add any more during the holiday season, the good folks at Center for Environmental Health and Justice are here to help with their Pass Up the Poison Plastic guide. The guide explains how to identify PVC and where it often shows up and offers a list of manufacturers of PVC-free versions of key items.

You may not be up for suggestions like "Call the manufacturer's 800 number if you can't tell from the labeling whether the packaging on a product has PVC or not" (though kudos to you if you are. I'm sure it will help get the stuff phased out), but surely anyone with a baby at least wants the list of safe pacifiers.

Picture of PVC pipes by Groupe Aménagement Numérique des Territoires, via Flickr.

They Say: Black Friday Will Be Gray

Brett Singer — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:00:00 GMT

So, like, will there be good deals this year or not? Inquiring minds want to know.

CNET talked to some experts in the field of bargain-hunting who offered a few tips for consumers. For example, Daniel de Grandpre of Dealnews suggests patronizing regional outlets such as MicroCenter and Fry's Electronics rather than Best Buy or Circuit City.

While there is definitely money to be saved by savvy shoppers who like to get up at 5am and hit the mall, it may also be possible to get the same deals by staying home and shopping online. Even brick and mortar stores are offering "web only specials". Kmart's "Early Black Friday" deals started on November 2, and CNET says that "some retailers are doing Black Friday month specials." Online-only outlets like Amazon.com have been pushing their Black Friday specials for several days now. So you might not even have to wait until Friday to get the stuff that you want.

One thing I've noticed is a certain desperate feeling among retailers. For example, I got this email from CompUSA a couple of days ago. Then I got it again. And again. They want to make damn sure I know what they've got on sale. Toys R Us has been sending at least one sale-trumpeting email per day for the past two weeks. And Amazon let users vote on which products they wanted discounted.

If polls are to be believed, retailer's feelings of potential doom may be justified: CNET cites a Consumer Electronics Association polls that says "consumers...plan to spend $200 less on the holidays" this year.

One bit of good news, I guess. If you do plan on shopping, whether on Black Friday or some other time, you'll probably get more for your money than you would if the economy were more robust. That's something I suppose.

Source: CNET

Babble's Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

Will Black Friday Deals Be Good This Year?

Maybe The 80s Are Retro

Save Money with A Holiday Game Plan

Cole Gamble — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:31:00 GMT

I don't want to sound Pollyanna-ish, but this week you're gonna find one heck of a silver lining to the economic downturn. Retailers are slashing prices to historical lows to stave off an anemic holiday shopping season. That mean's your shopping dollars just multiplied in value many fold.

Before you get carried away with your new found richness, you should map out a strategy to maximize your spending this Friday. Actually, you don't have to map anything out. I've already done it for you. Here are a few tips for making the most of your holiday shopping (and not go broke).

Scout deals online. Go online to check out the most up-to-date Black Friday deals on websites such as www.black-friday.net, www.theblackfriday.com and www.blackfriday.info. This will save you the time and gas from driving store to store for comparison shopping.

Make a list. Know ahead of time what you want to buy for each friend and relative. Trying to guess while you're at a crowded mall is not only time consuming and frustrating, but could also lead to a hasty and more expensive decision.

Know how much you want to spend on each person before you go. Kind of goes along with the tip above.

Avoid gift cards. You can actually save a lot by finding something thoughtful and on sale rather than having to set out a certain amount on a card so you don't look cheap.

Hopefully with these tips, you'll save some money and hair pulling this holiday season.

More by this author:

10 WORST. BABY. PRODUCTS. EVER! (Part 1)

The 26 Most Disturbing Kids Movies Ever

10 Things You May Not Know About Pregnancy (and might shock you)

Cute Overload: White Tiger Kitten and Monkey are Friends (PICS!)

Men with Baby Heads

Are You Cutting Back This Holiday Season?

Brett Singer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

In case you haven't heard, the economy has been doing its imitation of David Caruso's career before he got a part on CSI: Miami (and if anyone can tell me what show that line is from, I will be impressed because it's pretty random). Which begs the question: are you going to spend less this year than you have in the past?

TodaysMama.com released the results of their survey, which says that a whopping "85 percent of moms plan to cut holiday spending due to economic conditions." (I guess all of the dads were too busy playing fantasy football and visiting strip clubs to participate in the survey. I kid.)

From the press release:

SALT LAKE CITY.– November 24, 2008 – TodaysMama.com today announced the results of their 2008 Holiday Economic Survey, revealing that 85% of Moms across the United States are trimming their holiday budgets due to concern about the long-term economic outlook. Of those, 14% plan to cut holiday spending by an astounding 75%, and 32% will cut holiday spending by 50%. The survey, which included 1050 respondents, also found that 62% of Moms do not plan to shop on Black Friday, and 66% believe it will take two to three years for the economy to recover.

So – moms, dads, and everyone else – how about you? Will gifts be closer to "a package of socks" rather than "a flat-screen television"? (Nothing wrong with that, by the way. I could use some new socks.) Are you planning to cut back on your spending this year?

source: TodaysMama.com

image: CCTV Blog

Will Black Friday Deals Be Good This Year?

Maybe The 80s Are Retro

Babble's Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

Brett Singer — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Thanksgiving may not have happened yet, but that doesn't mean you can't start your holiday shopping. Babble has an extensive Holiday Gift Guide that could be a huge help.

If you're picking up something for a person who loves them some handcrafted gifts, go handmade with these adorable $12 Sheep Mittens (they're only shaped like sheep, they don't smell like them) or a non-Disney Mermaid Doll ($30).

Entertainment suggestions include the Peanuts Holiday DVD Collection (Audio Visual), and the still cool even though it's old school View-Master (see Stocking Stuffers). And with the economy doing its best Tom Petty imitation ("Free fallin', yes I'm, Free fallin'…"), check out the helpful Gifts Under 20 Dollars section.

There are tons of categories to check out, each with lots of ideas for everyone from babies to babysitters. Check it out here.