Green Treehouse

There’s talk lately about new Children’s Product Safety Laws, but what are they and what do they mean for parents and our children? If you want the full scoop, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) gives consumers the lowdown in this news release.

The short is that in beginning in February 10, 2009, new requirements kick in for manufacturers, importers and retailers of children’s products, which according to CPSC specify that:

children’s products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children’s products manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more than 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys.

The new legislation also imposes additional safety requirements, which can be read in summary form in this CPSC news release.

If you’re looking for another reason to buy eco-friendly toys, consider this news: a Michigan-based environmental research group has found that one-third of popular toys “contain medium or high levels of chemicals of concern.” That’s one in three!

Let’s make a project!  Without fail, that’s my preschooler’s predictable response to the question, ”so, what do you want to do today?”  Give her paper, scissors, glue, and crayons, and she’s one happy crafty camper.  She made the most adorable tissue art flower poster today, using green ric-rac for a flower stem, a button for the flower center, and scrunched up tissue paper for petals, thanks to ALEX art supplies.  If you aren’t familiar with ALEX products, you don’t know what you’re missing!  ALEX makes quality art supplies and kid pleasing games, like the cool and sturdy Jungle Bean Bag Toss.  I find it hard to resist buying ALEX.  I even gravitate to ALEX products when I need affordable, guaranteed to please gifts.

When it comes to art supplies for kids, safety is key, especially in this age of recalls.  Recently, I happened to stumble upon a blogger’s post about safe craft supplies for children.  Who knew that Wikki sticks are made in the U.S. and out of food grade wax?  Thanks for that tidbit Mamanista!

Knowing craft supplies are safe for my preschooler is important to me.  While I’m not so much worried about intentional consumption, like eating a crayon or licking glue, I am concerned about what she may touch and unintentionally ingest.  Remember the huge 2003 lead-laced sidewalk chalk recall, not to mention the wave of recent recalls? 

Children can ingest lead by coming into contact with products containing lead–i.e. touching the products.  The ingestion of lead is linked to behavioral problems, potentially dangerous blood levels, and learning disabilities, among other medical issues.  To learn more about product safety, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

Obviously, the use of safe art supplies is crucial for making project time safe.  Good hand washing as part of clean-up time is also part of the equation, if anything, as a just-in-case precaution–but, then again, if you want to rid those sticky hands of glue, you’re probably planning to hit the sink anyway!

Do you have a tip to share for making project time safer?  

The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of certain Toy Wooden Block and Train Sets sold by Christmas Tree Shops, of South Yarmouth, MA and made by First Learning Ltd., of Hong Kong.

According to CPSC, “Surface paint on some pieces of the toys contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.” 

No injuries have been reported. 

For more information or to see what style numbers have been recalled, check out the CPSC News Release.

The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of Cranium Cadoo Board Games, which are imported by Cranium Inc., of Seattle, WA.  The recall involves Board Games with lot numbers 2007195 through 2007244.  

According to CPSC, “The surface paint on the die contains excessive levels of lead.”

No injuries have been reported. 

For more information, check out the CPSC News Release.

The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a recall of metal red toy wagons (model number MH1250), which are imported by Tricam Industries of Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

The wagons were sold at Tractor Supply Company stores from September 2002 through November 2007. 

According to CPSC, “Surface paint on the wagon bucket contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.” 

No injuries have been reported.

For more information, check out the CPSC News Release. 

November 21, 2007:  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a recall of select models of Boppy Slipcovers, which are imported by The Boppy Company of Golden, Colorado.   

The recall involves particular Boppy Slipcovers (see CPSC for specifics), including certain velvet and boa slipcovers. 

According to CPSC,  “The zipper pull on the slipcovers can break, posing a choking hazard to young children. In addition, paint on the zippers contains excess levels of lead, which violates the federal lead paint standard.”

No injuries have been reported.

For more information, check out the CPSC news release. 

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Note:  If you own a Boppy Slipcover, keep in mind your slipcover may not necessarily be affected by this recall.  When I heard about the recall, I got a little jumpy when I saw a slipcover resembling mine on the CPSC site.  After checking the tag on my slipcover, I was relieved to learn it wasn’t recalled (the date code didn’t match the slipcover listed on the CPSC site).

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group has just released its 22nd Annual Toy Safety Report. 

Click here to see a summary of the 2007 Trouble in Toyland report.

Today, the Washington Post reports that ”the vast majority of toys are safe.”  This news couldn’t come at a better time for holiday shoppers.  For those who remain concerned about toy safety in light of recent recalls, the Washington Post suggests this option:  go shopping with a lead-test kit, choke-test cylinder, or sound meter in hand.   

A mom friend just asked me if I knew of a good place to buy “Made in USA” toys this holiday season. The best advice I could offer her was to look online.

After having ventured to two brick and mortar toy boutiques this past weekend looking specifically for American-made products, only to encounter disappointment, I’ve pretty much decided that online shopping is the only way to go–at least, if there’s any hope of efficiently crossing names off Santa’s shopping list.

I’m not the only one thinking that online retailers are the way to go this holiday season. Check out Regina Lewis’ recent blog entry on where to buy American-made toys. She suggests consumers kick off their shopping at:  How Americans Can Buy American  and Still Made in USA.com.

If your holiday shopping goal is simply to find manufacturers who seem attentive to toy safety, you may want to check out Melissa & Doug products.  Even though some of their products are (or have been) Made in China, Melissa & Doug appears attentive to consumer safety, at least according to the company’s Sept. 2007 email sent to concerned parents.