Another China Recall!!!!

[twopinknoblue]

I just saw a blurb for the nightly news tonight, and they were talking about another Chinese recall, this time cribs and lunchboxes.

So far we haven't had anything on the lists, but it seems it's just a matter of time. I will not be buying anything made in China from now on, but we already have so much stuff that was. What have you done with your MIC things? It seems wasteful to throw them out, but it seems dangerous to keep them.

Another thing I've heard is that Mattel has apologized to China and admitted that it was their own neglegent procedures that lead to the recent incidents. This makes me angy at Mattel, and untrusting of their toys. We don't have many Mattel toys (most of our mainstream toys are Fisher Price), but DD LOVES Barbies. Now I am afraid to let her play with them. Fortunately she didn't start playing with them until she was old enough to not mouth things, and she's only allowed to play with them in her room away from little sis, but geez, our children need safe toys.

[rainyday]

Mattel also said that some of the recalled toys shouldn't have been recalled because their levels of lead met US standards. That made me really not want to buy anything from Mattel. I don't want my children's toys to have ANY lead in them, so finding out that Mattel thinks some is okay because it's below some government-set level wasn't reassuring or good PR in my book!

[LynnS6]

I blame the US manufacturers, and yes, the consumers.

Manufacturers and consumers are pushing for ever cheaper toys and other goods. They aren't looking into who is making them, whether there are legitimate safety procedures in place, whether the workers are being treated fairly, whether the practices are sustainable for the environment. We are poisoning the environment in China, which will eventually affect us all. The ONLY thing that 'sells' is price. Yes, China has some major issues with quality and safety right now, but the same issues exist or will soon in Thailand, India, South and Central America... anywhere where there's 'cheap' labor and a country desperate for economic development.

Until we get over that mindset, we will have continual problems with toys being unsafe because of products, design or manufacture.

What happens when you have safe, fair labor, and sustainable manufacturing processes? The price "skyrockets". Remember that quality, fair, sustainable products cannot be ultra cheap. Remember this every time you buy a present for someone, every time you give a birthday party with favors, every time you get a restaurant meal that comes with a 'free' toy....

There is no free lunch. There's also no such thing as "cheap" toys. Someone pays a price.

OK, off my soapbox now.

[delphiniumpansy]

Good point, Lynn.

I would also say that it is unsafe for our children to be putting any toys in their mouths that are not meant for that. How many people thought Magnetix were safe until toddlers swallowed the magnets and someone died? You never know about anything so it is best to be safe. Don't let your children put toys in their mouths that are not meant for that and for which you are 100% sure they are safe. So, if you have a Mattel toy, just don't let them chew on it. It is ok to play with it. You can't absorb lead through your skin. It is not good to ingest it. And, you have to ingest a lot to cause harm so if a toy ends up in a child's mouth for a second before you catch it, it is not a huge deal.

For example, we have a baby. I am not going to let her play with any of the trains with paint on them. You never know. But, her sister loves Thomas trains and at 4.5 years there is no reason she cannot have them and play with them.

On the other hand, this all does seem a great time to think about how children really don't need a lot of toys and how quality is better than quantity. (I am not a soap box. If you saw all the toys we have, you would understand. But, I do think with #2 we will try to buy less and better quality.)

[valerina_cole]

just wanted to let you know--

lead CAN be absorbed through your skin.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/le...htm#absorbtion

[Eris]

Originally Posted by twopinknoblue

We don't have many Mattel toys (most of our mainstream toys are Fisher Price), but DD LOVES Barbies.

Mattel owns Fisher Price.

[twopinknoblue]

Thanks for the info, although, now I'm a little leary about even more of my children's toys. Even Melissa and Doug are made in China.