MIL vent/ WWYD

[GreenGranolaMama]

Ok so don't get me wrong, I really enjoy DHs family and get along pretty well with my MIL... we don't see them often but were just there for Thanksgiving. My MIL offered to watch DS so DH and I could go out and have a little bit of a date, which was pretty fabulous. When we got back my DS was happily teething on a toy of DHs that my MIL found while she was cleaning out the closet...It was a plastic type happy meal toy from like 1989...mind you I am VERY particular about toys/plastics/what goes into DS's mouth. So I very casually took it from DS...and she went to give it back to him!

Normally I would pull DH aside and ask him to speak to his mother, but this was WAY too much for me, so I kindly told her that I would prefer he chew on one of the toys I brought for him...she looked super hurt, but DH explained that many China made toys contain lead, to which she replied "Well there are regulations in 1989, just like there are now!" So I explained that many companies violate these regulations then and now.

My MIL is a very smart women (she is a PA) but believes for the most part, that if no direct harm is done (i/e "well he chewed on the toy and look at him, he's fine!!") then there is no harm at all being done... So should I now have DS tested for lead? WWYHD?

[mamazee]

I don't think you need to have him tested for lead because he chewed on a toy you aren't 100% sure didn't contain lead during one visit with MIL. But I would do in the future exactly what you did this time, should the issue come up again. Politely take the toy away, and if she says something politely explain why you took it away. If she doesn't get it after that, she'll get it if you are consistent. Also, I might put off having her babysit until after he's past his "put everything in the mouth" stage. Also, many of those McD toys have parts teething babies can choke on.

[ASusan]

Plastics also degrade over time, so eewww.

But, no, I would not have him tested for lead, unless you have other reasons to suspect that he has/will have problems with lead levels (old house, live near highway, don't remove dirty shoes at the door, low levels of iron, high lead levels in yourself...). I doubt that a potential, single, low-level exposure would turn up anything in a blood test. Do the typical test at 1 year, earlier if you suspect problems.

[GreenGranolaMama]

Originally Posted by ASusan

Plastics also degrade over time, so eewww.

I know, pretty nasty... she kept so many of DH's childhood things , which is kind of cool because we have his nice wooden high chair, some books, and a few nice toys...but there is a lot of junk too...and I can control for it in my home, but there it's pretty hard!

[Cherry Alive]

Is it definitely age appropriate? If yes, I'd ask her to at least find out whether or not it has lead in it before giving to him the next time. If all seems okay, I don't think it's a hill worth dying on. That toy probably has a lot of history behind it (especially if your DH loved it as a little one), and your MIL may not see it as a threat given her own son played with it and didn't appear to be harmed by it.

[GreenGranolaMama]

Originally Posted by Cherry Alive

Is it definitely age appropriate? If yes, I'd ask her to at least find out whether or not it has lead in it before giving to him the next time. If all seems okay, I don't think it's a hill worth dying on. That toy probably has a lot of history behind it (especially if your DH loved it as a little one), and your MIL may not see it as a threat given her own son played with it and didn't appear to be harmed by it.

It's a plastic Land of the Lost (the first one, before they made like 15 sequels lol) hand puppet, so I am guessing it was probably not made for babies to play with, and I am pretty sure it was from McDonalds/Pizza Hut.

[Ruthla]

I would approach it with MIL on two levels:

1) He's still a baby, and many of these toys are simply not age appropriate yet. He needs "baby safe" toys, toys intended for infants- not toys meant for kids ages 3+, for DS' safety. There could be chemicals that shouldn't be sucked on, or he could break off a small piece and cut himself on the sharp edge, or choke on a small piece.

2) DS is going to be too rough with some of these toys, and might break them. If he ruins the toys now, because he's too young to play with them properly, he won't get to enjoy them when he's old enough to really appreciate them (including the fact that these were Daddy's toys when he was a little boy.)

I suspect MIL may listen to reason #2 better than reason #1- it won't put her on the defensive so much!

I wouldn't flip out about the health risks from this one exposure to *possible* lead or chemicals in the plastic. If he was chewing on these toys constantly, there would be a health concern, but I doubt there's any real risk to him from a single low-level exposure. There's absolutely no need to have him tested for lead or anything else. But make it clear to her in the future that she needs to provide him with safe toys, and only safe toys.

[lifeguard]

I wouldn't worry at all about the potential exposure from this one incident. If you don't think she can resist than only have her babysit at your house where you know what is around (it's easier anyway as you're all set up for baby).