droolicious : lead paint

Pre-Holiday Reminder to Check the US CPSC Recall Site

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:04:00 GMT

Not to seem xenophobic or anything, but it seems fair to assume that the more incoherent a toy's packaging is, the more likely that toy is to end up on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's Toy Hazard Recalls site. And, you guessed it, this toy TV from Los Angeles-based company-no-one's-ever-heard-of OKK Trading was recently yanked for violation of the federal lead-paint standard.

If you haven't already bookmarked the CPSC's recall pages (see below) or signed up to receive recall alerts, now is a good time to do it. Though we're not seeing as many life-threatening toys from major manufacturers as we were last year, there's still plenty of time before the holidays.

US CPSC Recalls and Product Safety News (main page)

Toy Hazard Recalls

Infant/Child Product Recalls (Not Including Toys) [RSS Feed]

Consumer Reports' Child-Safety Mega-Guide Hitting Stores May 13

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:03:00 GMT

It's a big, scary world out there, and it becomes even scarier when you start having kids, as everything from an open window (falling hazard!) to that wonderful end table your grandparents handed down to you (lead paint!) takes on new life as a potential danger. Hitting stores this Tuesday, the Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety collects 600 tips for averting everyday hazards, starting with the nursery and ending at the neighborhood swimming pool. Among the tips, highlights of which CR will also be making available online (though, fair warning, the site's not live yet):

Is Your Sitter Safety Savvy? A checklist for helping to pick the best, most safety-conscious caregiver for your child.
Playroom Pitfalls: Toy-safety checklists (from stuffed animals to play food), and how to identify hazards, including lead, in the playroom.
Top Summer Fun Tips: How to spot unsafe equipment and toys in the playground, and how to identify poisonous plants and flowers that should be kept out of little ones' reach.
Safe Surfing: Seven Signs Your Child May Be at Risk: Keep your kid on the safe side of the Web, and identify risks and predators before they infiltrate your home PC.
Nursery: How to choose the right crib and mattress, along with other nursery essentials, and how to spot potentially health and safety hazards when you're decorating.
Everyday Objects That Can Harm Your Child: Get some surprising tips about the potential dangers behind everyday household objects.

The Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety is available for just under $11 (normally $12.95) at Amazon.

Hand Made: Bowl for a Bear of Very Little Brain

chrisjordan — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:07:00 GMT

What parent isn't familiar with Winnie the Pooh? This hand made porcelain bowl has phrases from A. A. Milne's books printed around the rim. Glazed with Evening Sky Blue, the letters contrast nicely with the white porcelain.

Much nicer for your child to eat out of than plastic or melamine, lead paint with your meals anyone? It really is a "useful pot to put things in."

7.5 inches (19 cm) wide and 2 inches (5 cm) tall.

Available at antb for $35