for those who are eliminating toys MIC...

[sesa70]

What do you do with all the plastic/MIC stuff?

My dd's have LOTS of toys. I am usually not too picky about plastic or MIC stuff, but will all the recalls its making me really nervous and DH and i want to purge all the toys and get new ones (conciderably less of them and of better quality) that are NOT MIC. My younger dd is still very mouthy at 2, and I think she is just one of those kids that always will be.

However, what to do with all these toys? How much will it cost to replace all their stuff? We have some toys my dd will miss (little people/animals type stuff, and lots of cars)and some I will miss (like our M&D toy food and puzzles). What do we keep? Stuffed animals MIC?

How do we even go about doing this? I feel a little overwhelmed.

[Ubelle]

:

I have been wondering the same thing. I 've thought about donating or freecycling them, but then I feel bad about giving them to a child whose parents either don't care or don't know any better.

Also we now we will be getting som MIC items for the holidays - despite requests other wise, what would you do with those?

[MommaGreenBean]

I give them to the thrift store, new and used toys. IMO the parents who buy them would buy new MIC toys anyway, so it doesn't bother me. Expired car seats I'm not going to put in the donate pile, but MIC toys I do

Stuffed animals... Yeah, those are being moved along too. I dunno, it's just not worth the risk for me I guess

[WuWei]

Ok, I happened upon this thread yesterday and am confused. Are you eliminating all MIC toys due to safety concern preemptively or due to human rights issues? Is there something I don't know besides the few recalls on specific items?! I don't watch the news, so unless I hear it here, I pretty much am in the dark.

However, to your question, we would not discard any of ds's toys without his consent. So, if there is a safety concern about specific items we just discuss that and address it consensually. But, if there is something in general that I am clueless about, I'd love more info. We just move stuff out to give to others when we no longer use it and to make space for new stuff, we discuss what he thinks he wants to share with someone younger.

ETA: I see that part of your concern is the younger child mouthing the older dd's toys. Two things come to mind. The first is that "have to get rid of your toys, since your little sister chews on them" could set up a situation of resenting the younger sibling, imo.

The little sister "bothering" the older one's toys needs a solution which honors the needs of both children. Does big sister have her own space? Even if it is on top of her bed, or make a closet into her play house, or have a corner with curtains that is her "room", or have the little mouthable pieces stored in containers which are brought out when you are available to engage the baby elsewhere, or have her play with them at the table, or get the "safe" alternatives which are in a common play area and then purge the old stuff, perhaps.



Pat

[Kleine Hexe]

I am throwing it out. But then how does one dispose of lead?

[raleigh_mom]

I, too, am clearing out MIC. I am doing it because of safety concerns. Personally, I am throwing much of it away. It goes very much against my environmental concerns, but I can't in good concience provide MIC items to other families and I'm can't figure out a better option.

I hope I can piggy back your thread with another question... What other countries are you ok buying items from? What about made in Malaysia (toy cars) or Thailand (mugs)?

[MommaGreenBean]

I just bought a wood bike/scooter thing for DD made in Thailand. I'm trying to stick with the nicer stuff because I'm hoping that the people who put together nicer things take enough care to NOT poison my child. Generally I try and stick with Europe, US and Canada, though..

And we have pine cones and rocks and sticks Yeah... I'm serious.

[A&A]

WuWei,

Since you asked about human rights issues:

http://extras.sltrib.com/china/