Bumbo, swords, table&chairs: Your Monday recalls, with a side of alternatives for the frustrated among us
29th October 2007
I’ve only subscribed to this recall email list since late last week, and have already received three recalls. How scary is this? I mean really? What’s going on here??? If I thought the stench and fumes from burning hard plastic wouldn’t kill us all, I’d have a giant Made in China toy bonfire in my backyard.
As expected, Health Canada is now also recalling the Bumbo Baby Sitter.
Added to this are recalls for children’s furniture (excessive amounts of lead) sold at Winners’ HomeSense, and Gymboree toy swords (11 have broken, causing a sharp point and “laceration” risk, although no injuries).
If you’re as frustrated as I am about all this, check out the Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide. The site has scoured the Interweb for “the best handcrafted, locally made, organic, fair trade, or simply safer alternatives for younger children–for you, for us, for all the grandchildren and nieces and nephews of the world. We want you to know that safer doesn’t mean boring, and handmade doesn’t mean rustic.”
The guide is organized by age and action (teething and building and vrooming and cuddling etc.) and includes a whole lotta online discounts. Fantabulous.
I know our parents and grandparents shake their heads and scoff at a lot of these (“We gnawed on painted wooden sticks! With lead! And arsenic! And it was snowing! Both ways! And we liked it! And we turned out just fine!”), but each time recall news lands in my inbox, the worry grows. And I don’t know what to do. Do I burn throw out all of Lucy’s beloved Little People and squirty bath toys and bottles and sippy cups? Buy a lead test kit? Return the Christmas present we bought her this weekend which we know she’ll absolutely adore but, alas, is Made in China like almost every toy? Replace it all with eco-friendly stuff?
The thought of knowingly hurting Lucy makes my heart hurt, but it’s so confusing as a parent when some toys are safe, and some aren’t, leaving us wringing our hands and clucking like harried hens.
I…just don’t know.
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