Chinese Toy Recalls - Information on Recalled Toys Made in China

There have been more toy recalls and I wanted to update you.

Babytown Pacifiers - shield an ventilation holes are too small

Tinker Bell Lamps- Lead

Dollar Store Toy Wrestler Figures-lead

Pacific Cycle- Defective welds

Toy Wagons- lead

2007 may be a year that will be remembered in the future for many things but one of the main things it will bring to mind is the year of the toy recall. In 2007 there were over 450 toys recalled for safety issues, most of them manufactured in China. In August alone the giant of the toy industry, Mattel recalled over nine million Chinese manufactured toys because they were painted with a lead based paint and/ or contained small magnets that could prove hazardous if swallowed... Just two weeks earlier they had recalled 1.5 million Fisher Price toddler and infant toys for lead paint safety issues. Polly Pocket, Barbie, Batman, and other figures came with accessories that included small magnets. At least one child died last year and nineteen others were hospitalized for ingesting these small magnets. The Sarge toy, from the movie, Cars, was recalled for lead paint in it's manufacture. In fact 253,000 of these toys were pulled from the shelves. The issue is, of course, that China has a much more lax set of safety and inspection standards than the United States and yet manufactures over 60 percent of our children's toys. By outsourcing manufacture to keep prices low are we creating a monster?

Although this should in no way be construed as a complete list, some of the many toys that have been recalled are as follows:

Floating eyeball toy- found to be filled with kerosene, an extremely flammable chemical, and dangerous if ingested.

Thomas and Friends play sets- painted with lead paint

Aquadots ( called Bindeez in Australia)- contain a chemical that turns into the "date rape" drug, gamma hydroxy butyrate. When ingested, the compound can induce drowsiness, unconsciousness, seizures, coma and death.

Barbie Accessory Sets- these include the dream puppy house, the dream kitty condo, and the various pieces of furniture that go with the Dream House manufactured between October 2006- August 2007. Lead paint.

Barbie and Tanner Play-set- this set includes Barbie, her dog Tanner, and plastic dog poop. Personally, I think it should be recalled just for the plastic dog poop. However it is the lead paint that is the problem.

Batman- small magnets which can come off and be ingested * The Batman Magna Battle Armor Batman figure with model number J1944, * The Batman Magna Fight Wing Batman figure with model number J1946, * The Batman Secret ID figure with model number J5114, and * The Batman Flying Fox figure with model number J5115. The model number is located on the lower right corner of the tag which is sewn to the figure.

Doggie Day Care Toys- magnets

Sesame Street- lead paint. Numerous toys listed here. They include, Press and Go Cookie Monster, Construction Set, Sesame Street Shape Sorter and many more.

Dora the Explorer and Diego- lead paint. Dora's Talking House, various figure packs, Birthday Dora, Vamoose Van and many more

Blues Clues- three pack figurine

Little Tykes Animal Shaped Flashlights- excessive amounts of lead

Winnie the Pooh Play-sets- excessive amounts of lead. These would have been purchased from J. C. Penney and the play set consists of 23 pieces including: either a white or black baby doll and assorted Winnie-the-Pooh themed items such as a diaper bag, blanket, playpen, highchair, swing, stroller, and carrying bags.

Polly Pocket Dolls and Play-sets- contain small magnets

Necklaces, Charm Bracelets, and pin sets sold at Family Dollar Stores, Michael's Stores and other discount chains.

Boppy Pillow Slip Cover- excessive lead and these break and create a choking hazard.

Raymond Geddes & Co pencil pouches- lead hazard.

Shaving Paint Brushes- contain excessive lead.

Jetmax, ltd. Storage Units -Sold at Wal-mart under the name Home Trends. Organizers are unstable and caused the death of an 8 month old boy when he pulled the mover on himself.

Children's Sunglasses- sold at Dollar Stores, lead paint.

Skippy Pool Toy- extremely sharp edges.

Cars Themed Backpack- have a magnetic game piece that comes with it that poses a potential hazard.

Kipp Brothers Bendable Dinosaur toy- excessive lead.

Curious George Plush Dolls- excessive lead.

Northern Tool and Equipment Big Red Wagon- excessive lead.

Toys R Us Elite Operations Toys- lead

Kahoot Company Cub Scout Totem Badges-lead

Baby Einstein Color Blocks- lead

As you can see the list goes on and on. Be sure to check with the consumer agencies to make sure that the toys you are planning on giving as gifts are not on the list. One of the problems is that the recalled toys are showing up all over the place. Many of them are being sold on eBay, in deep discount stores like Big Lots, and through dollar type stores like Family Dollar and Dollar Tree. And herein lies the biggest problem with these toy recalls, sluggish response time from both the manufacturers and the retailers. It would seem that they are very interested in covering their assets at any cost.

In the past when there has been a recall the company has been very open, very public, very apologetic. In the recent rash of recalls this year the consumer is not seeing that. Rather, the companies seem to be saying as little as possible, other than the standard, "We are looking in to it." It isn't just the toys. Boppy pillow covers were recalled for lead in the fabric dyes and a choking hazard. There have been recalls of children's jewelry, sunglasses and accessories, and there was an incident reported of a small child swallowing a bracelet piece that had come off of the bracelet given by Reebok as a free gift and dying from lead poisoning. Hannah Montana boots with guitar shaped zipper pulls, sold at Payless Shoes, have been recalled because the pulls interlock and cause the child to fall. Toys, art supplies, fabrics and clothing, jewelry, footwear...where does it all end? How do we protect our children short of putting them in an organic cotton padded room?

Toy manufacturers and economists are concerned, as well they should be, that the economy is going to be adversely effected by all of the toy recalls. Parents are less likely to buy toys of the type, or in the amounts that they have in the past. Because of this look for great sales, and free shipping deals on toys of all types. Just be aware and check carefully that they are toys that you feel comfortable giving your children and grandchildren. Check with the church nursery, the day care, and other places where your children have access to potentially dangerous toys. Don't be afraid to ask if they have checked for recalled toys.

While our parents and grandparents had the option of being uninformed consumers we do not. It is imperative that we check and recheck information and make informed choices based on that information. Obviously the more hand made things are the less chance there is that there is a problem.

Toys that are made with wood and organic fabrics and dyes are safe. Happily, that old stand-by, Lego is also safe. It is manufactured in Denmark from solid color plastics and not painted. Playmobile toys have been around a long time and are well made and safe. Plan toys, for example, colors their toys with food grade dyes. In fact, European made toys, while they are more expensive, have some of the most stringent safety requirements in the world. Toys made in the United States, of course, are safe and you can find them. If you need a train set consider the wooden sets available at USA Made Toys. Several sets, from basic to huge, with many accessories are available. Consider toys like Lincoln Logs, or Slinky. K'nex is made in the United States, although some motorized parts are made in China. Remember Shrinky Dinks? They are still being made in the United States, and lead free. Many Little Tykes items are U.S. made but be sure to check the country of origin. Lauri toys and puzzles have been a favorite with both parents and educators for years and are made in the United States. For these and more check out Still Made in USA for many consumer products besides just toys.

Look for terms like Fair Trade, organic, and, eco-friendly on the labels and packaging. Companies that care about the environment also tend to be more ethically and socially responsible. Plan on buying for quality rather than quantity. These toys will cost more, there is no way around it. They are often manufactured by hand, in small companies with expensive paints and dyes. Supporting these small manufacturers and cottage industries sends the message, via profits, to the big companies that Americans are tired of buying cheap toys.

Be careful about buying toys at garage sales, thrift shops, and deep discounters because these toys may have been recalled. The same advice should be applied to Ebay. Do remember that when you give a toy to a charity that these children have enough problems without adding lead poisoning to it. Please do not donate a toy or item that you would not want your child to have. Of course, homemade toys are always a wonderful way to give a gift. Homemade rag dolls, wooden blocks and other hand-crafted toys are not only a gift but a gift of yourself. Children and toys will always go together. Let's make sure that they are safe.