Lead recalls

[kibba]

All of these toy recalls really worry me, there is supposed to be another one from mattel tuesday!! I buy a lot of wooden toys but they to worry me since some are colored...How do I make sure the toys arnt lead?? How do I gurantee what we are playing with is safe?? I cant believe that a toy company wouldnt think of this!! I almost feel like going out and getting test kits or something. My daughter is only seven months so EVERY toy is in her mouth!!!: : :

[reducereuserecycle]

only buy toys from a wood toy company that prides themselves in selling safe toys. i know there is still reason to doubt ANY company, but i feel safe with many of the German companies such as HABA. i hope they are safe cause dd chews on them all day.

[ashley1972]

we have several wood toys from a company called "melissa and doug" or something - all wood but painted and made in china. i guess i'll be throwing them away - better than taking a chance with lead paint right?

[wombatclay]

You can find lead test kits (sort of a qtip like swab affair) at home supply stores (like home depot or lowes) and I've also seen them at Target and Walmart. Your local dept of health or WIC/infant health service might sell them too or provide them free for some income brackets.

I think it's worth checking...

[acupuncturemomma]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

You can find lead test kits (sort of a qtip like swab affair) at home supply stores (like home depot or lowes) and I've also seen them at Target and Walmart. Your local dept of health or WIC/infant health service might sell them too or provide them free for some income brackets.

I think it's worth checking...

Thanks for this--I've been wondering about those test kits and where to get them.

[hottmama]

I'm nervous about that too, lately-- we had a couple wooden toys with lead paint-- some of the Thomas trains and a bamboo game from Target. My littlest still puts some toys in his mouth (wooden food, especially). I plan to get him lead tested at our next dr. appointment even though he was tested at 9 mos., since I know there was lead in our toys.
If I had a 7 mo. old I would definitely buy a test kit-- they're very easy to use. Since my son doesn't generally mouth toys anymore, I think any damage has been done already.

[dany]

That's a good idea, Wombatclay - I have mostly Haba toys for DS, but have a few that worry me a bit that I've shelved for the time being. Plus with the holidays coming around the bend (ack! where did summer go?!) and well-meaning but not always appropriate grandfathers...

Sigh. My kingdom for some skill at whittling my own toy trains.

[ashley1972]

Sorry but aren't the lead testing kits for WATER? I've never heard of a lead paint testing kit? Am I missing something?

[wombatclay]

There are kits that detect surface lead... you swab the surface of an item and it tells you if there is lead. There are also kits for water testing, mold testing, etc...

[meggles]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

There are kits that detect surface lead... you swab the surface of an item and it tells you if there is lead. There are also kits for water testing, mold testing, etc...

Keep in mind these kits are not always reliable and are a pain to do-you need to have paint "chips" in order to test for lead, and even then the diy kits are hit or miss. A friend used one to test the chipping lead paint on her windowsill at home and it came back all clear. However, she decided to hire a professional to come out and test several spots in her home (older home and her dd was crawling/climbing) and the same windowsill came back with a high lead rating!

So, I think it is probably better and easier in the long run to buy toys from reputable companies in the first place.

[mama_daba]

Originally Posted by meggles

Keep in mind these kits are not always reliable and are a pain to do-you need to have paint "chips" in order to test for lead, and even then the diy kits are hit or miss. A friend used one to test the chipping lead paint on her windowsill at home and it came back all clear. However, she decided to hire a professional to come out and test several spots in her home (older home and her dd was crawling/climbing) and the same windowsill came back with a high lead rating!

So, I think it is probably better and easier in the long run to buy toys from reputable companies in the first place.

thats really good to know about the tests not always working. i have been realizing my cats spend so much time in the windows and our house is pretty old. my baby isn't here yet but i am starting to think i should et my cats tested as well as having a professional come in and check the windows. can you get pets checked?

[wombatclay]

can you get pets checked

Sure. It's a pretty basic blood test...just talk with your vet to see if they can do it for you.

And I agree...buying safe is the best bet...I just wanted people to know there are options other than throwing out all your toys!

[Juvysen]

I shudder to think what *we* were exposed to as children... you know, back when there was far less testing of our toys/painted surfaces, let alone our blood. Oh, and when there was still leaded gasoline... what happened to people from that?

[MamaE]

We have a number of Melissa and Doug toys as well. I bought and tested most of our wooden toys with the home test kits. All came up negative. I wasn't aware that the tests were so frequently inaccurate. Actually, I had read they might show a false-positive if anything. Now I'm nervous. But seriously, throwing out your Melissa and Doug toys??

I'm starting to feel like there's nothing safe for my kids to play with. We have few plastic toys b/c of the toxins associated with them, so if wood isnt safe either, we're just SOL, aren't we?!

[hottmama]

Originally Posted by meggles

Keep in mind these kits are not always reliable and are a pain to do-you need to have paint "chips" in order to test for lead, and even then the diy kits are hit or miss. A friend used one to test the chipping lead paint on her windowsill at home and it came back all clear. However, she decided to hire a professional to come out and test several spots in her home (older home and her dd was crawling/climbing) and the same windowsill came back with a high lead rating!

So, I think it is probably better and easier in the long run to buy toys from reputable companies in the first place.

Not necessarily about needing paint chips.
The tests I had a couple of years ago, you put this liquid on q-tips, then rubbed the q-tip against the surface (window/door frames, walls, tiles, dishes, etc) and the q-tip would turn black if there was lead in the paint. Alternatively you could put a paint chip in a glass with the stuff in it. But the swabbing detected lead paint in our window and door frames, an old chair, and some old ceramic dishes, so I assume it's pretty accurate. The health dept. came to our apartment after we tested and found the same thing.

[hottmama]

Originally Posted by Juvysen

I shudder to think what *we* were exposed to as children... you know, back when there was far less testing of our toys/painted surfaces, let alone our blood. Oh, and when there was still leaded gasoline... what happened to people from that?

Lead poisoning can affect almost every organ system of the body, including:

* brain and central nervous system, causing:
o lower IQs
o headaches
o memory problems
o reduced coordination
o learning disabilities
o irritability
o hyperactivity
o increased sleeping
o decreased activity and fatigue
o hearing loss
o vomiting
o slow reflexes
o muscle weakness, affecting mainly the upper extremities
o seizures, coma, hypertension in high levels
* gastrointestinal system, causing:
o constipation
o diarrhea
o abdominal pain
o vomiting
o poor appetite
o weight loss
* blood system, causing anemia or low blood counts
* kidney problems
* reproductive system, causing:
o miscarriages
o premature birth
o low birth weight

Know any adults with any of those symptoms?

[kibba]

I guess I have a huge worry because both my sister and I have learning disabilities and while it might be gentic, what if its not?? I would love to prevent my daughter from having the same problems I had. I will never forget the struggle I went through in school.

[prettypixels]

I threw a bunch of our toys away myself... anything with PAINT on it that was made in China. I read a long article in USA Today about this which was saying that basically lead paint is cheaper, it dries faster, and it dries to a shinier finish... so lots of companies in China *sneak* it into the manufacturing process.

BTW HABA is no guarantee of anything. Guess where HABA manufactures their toys? China! I was just trying to put together an all-wood-toy wishlist last night when I noticed that on many of their toy descriptions. Something like "Designed in Germany, manufactured in China." Ugh.

I don't even know what to say! Can a clear finish on a wood toy have lead in it? I know sometimes I am overprotective, but lead is such a HIGH RISK issue that it's just not worth taking chances IMO.

[reducereuserecycle]

i think that just cause it is painted in China that does not neccessarily worry me. it worries me when i have something froma company that does not test its products before selling them. i hope that Melissa and Doug prides themselves in safe toys and tests them after they leave China. I think that was the problem w/ Matel-they didn't do their own testing before selling the products.

[kibba]

I thought about just avoiding toys from china since all of these american companies are running off there and then most of these lead toys/bibs are coming from there, but then where do I draw the line...what countries are "ok"... I found a toy I want thats made in Vietnam, do I consider that to be okay?? Then I wonder what the working conditions are like there for whoevers making the toy.



Makes me want to just use sticks and leafs for toys :