When will this stop? Personally, I think this may only get worse, because even if they tried to fix what is going on in china, or stop buying their toys, our markets will crash. America is just making way too much money off of chinese products.
We, as consumers need to take a stand and hit them where it hurts, (their pocket books) otherwise, this will continue on for the rest of our lives.
I found this video to have a wealth of information. It is a year old, but has anything changed?
This is an interview with Charles Kernaghan, Executive Director of the National Labor Committee.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Interesting Find....
I found a video today while researching the toy recalls, and found this to be important enough to post.
This video is of an amateur filmer that went to his local walmart one day, to find that the store is selling it's chlorine products for swimming pools right by the children's toys, when it says on the chlorine bottles, "keep out of reach of children", it is stocked from the top all the way to the floor where children can easily reach it.
What is wrong with this picture?
This video is of an amateur filmer that went to his local walmart one day, to find that the store is selling it's chlorine products for swimming pools right by the children's toys, when it says on the chlorine bottles, "keep out of reach of children", it is stocked from the top all the way to the floor where children can easily reach it.
What is wrong with this picture?
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Found! American Made Toys!
I have been searching and searching for this and finally I found an easy to navigate site where you can buy American made toys. This is a HUGE help to those of us that want to play it safe and stay away from China's toys. I even heard a terrible story a few days ago that said they poisoned their kids at a local school there in china. Most kids that ate their school lunch that day became ill. I am very concerned about China and so whenever I find something useful, I will pass it along to you.
This is the site I found. It will take you directly to the page where you can search for American made toys.
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/specials/made_in_america.cfm?source=google&kwid=made+in+america&gclid=CPO36sPxpZACFUWoGgod3lMd7A
This is the site I found. It will take you directly to the page where you can search for American made toys.
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/specials/made_in_america.cfm?source=google&kwid=made+in+america&gclid=CPO36sPxpZACFUWoGgod3lMd7A
A Brand New Grandma!
My kids Grandma was recently forced to retire due to her growing number of health problems.
The root cause: Obesity. She has been obese all of her life and has always been scared of surgery, but she didn't have much of a choice at this point. They told her if she didn't lose weight, she'd be in a wheelchair soon.
Many grandmas share this same story. I know, I have seen several since I started to research different surgical options with my mom.
Lapband surgery was very attractive to my mom. She would be up and running after 1 week recovery, which is actually quicker than it used to be for lap band surgery.
Lapband is also the least invasive form of weightloss surgery with the least hospitalization, and the quickest recovery. With other surgeries such as stomach stapling and gastric bypass, unexpected complications can arise.
My mother weighed the pros and cons of all, and in the end opted for the gastric bypass about 6 months ago. With the lapband, she would have been required to drive every month or 2 to her doctor 1 1/2 hours away to get the band adjusted and she thought it more practical to just get it over with and just do the gastric bypass.
In six months time, she has lost a total of OVER 100 pounds, and is starting to feel better. Yes-just starting! Her recovery was not fun at all and more painful than she thought it would be, but now she is well enough to start enjoying dropping a different size every week, and we are happy to have a healthier grandma.
To find out more about the lapband surgery, click on the link below.
central florida weight loss surgery
The root cause: Obesity. She has been obese all of her life and has always been scared of surgery, but she didn't have much of a choice at this point. They told her if she didn't lose weight, she'd be in a wheelchair soon.
Many grandmas share this same story. I know, I have seen several since I started to research different surgical options with my mom.
Lapband surgery was very attractive to my mom. She would be up and running after 1 week recovery, which is actually quicker than it used to be for lap band surgery.
Lapband is also the least invasive form of weightloss surgery with the least hospitalization, and the quickest recovery. With other surgeries such as stomach stapling and gastric bypass, unexpected complications can arise.
My mother weighed the pros and cons of all, and in the end opted for the gastric bypass about 6 months ago. With the lapband, she would have been required to drive every month or 2 to her doctor 1 1/2 hours away to get the band adjusted and she thought it more practical to just get it over with and just do the gastric bypass.
In six months time, she has lost a total of OVER 100 pounds, and is starting to feel better. Yes-just starting! Her recovery was not fun at all and more painful than she thought it would be, but now she is well enough to start enjoying dropping a different size every week, and we are happy to have a healthier grandma.
To find out more about the lapband surgery, click on the link below.
central florida weight loss surgery
Monday, December 10, 2007
Stocking stuffer Idea :)
I had a few things already planned to go in my kids stockings, but then my ideas ran out. This is a simple idea which you may or may not have already thought of, but hey, it's not bad and it's pretty much free.
Everytime we go to Burger king, my 5 year old is way more interested in which toy he's gonna get instead of if he will have a hamburger or chicken, so the last time we were out I told him if he didn't stop talking about it, he couldn't have a toy. So of course, he wouldn't listen to me and went on and on about it. So I took the toy away from him. He did not see what it was, so I put it in my purse and started thinking. My husband gave me this funny look and he could tell what I was thinking... stocking stuffer!!!
He was laughing at me, but I think it's a great idea. and guess what? you already bought the kids meal, so it's free! he will be more than happy to see it on Christmas morning.
Everytime we go to Burger king, my 5 year old is way more interested in which toy he's gonna get instead of if he will have a hamburger or chicken, so the last time we were out I told him if he didn't stop talking about it, he couldn't have a toy. So of course, he wouldn't listen to me and went on and on about it. So I took the toy away from him. He did not see what it was, so I put it in my purse and started thinking. My husband gave me this funny look and he could tell what I was thinking... stocking stuffer!!!
He was laughing at me, but I think it's a great idea. and guess what? you already bought the kids meal, so it's free! he will be more than happy to see it on Christmas morning.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Shop Safely For Toys, Amidst Growing Number Of Recalls
Author: Judy Griscom
Article:
Dolls. Trains. Play sets. Accessories.
It use to be that safety considerations associated with
children's toys were limited to choking hazards. We're familiar
with the warning, "Never give small toys to children under 3
years of age". Recently, though, there have been new problems
that make us almost long for the days when a choking hazard was
our only safety concern.
Companies that parents have relied upon for quality toys for
years are now being tested, undergoing public scrutiny and
issuing recalls on their products due to substandard and even
hazardous production. Virtually every manufacturer is being
questioned regarding the quality of the products they offer.
With the holidays quickly approaching, what can parents do to
find great products and gifts for their children that will
capture their interest, but most importantly, are also safe for
children to use?
First of all, check out any toy company or product with a click
of the mouse by visiting The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) website. The CPSC posts their recalls on all
products they have reviewed as soon as they are available. While
recalled items are typically pulled from the stores as soon as
the announcement is made, early shoppers need to pay close
attention to recall announcements for toys they may already have
purchased.
Next, invest some time researching your gift ideas. Many online
toy companies are now linking to safety guides on their sites.
They are adding toy safety guides for the product lines they
carry, and are also contacting their vendors to ensure the
products they are selling are safe and thoroughly tested.
Whether you intend on shopping online or at a brick-and-mortar
store, do your homework first and check out what other companies
are saying about the toys you are considering. Look for products
recommended by "toy authorities" such as Oppenheim and Dr. Toy.
They closely review children's products and make recommendations
according to their own standards. Their product selections are
not immune to possible hazards, but it is infrequent that their
choices are recalled.
Another suggestion is to change your overall shopping process.
Look for smaller, more specialized stores that take the time to
carefully screen each product that is offered. A smaller store
tends to focus on fewer vendors, giving them greater control
over the products that are sold. Check each vendor for a safety
statement, indicating their commitment to providing quality,
safe products to purchase. Buying name-brand items makes them
easier to identify in a recall, rather than a generic version
with no well-defined brand name. Keep receipts and/or model
numbers for easy reference and returns, should a recall be
issued.
Look for online sites and stores that sell products from
reputable manufacturers. Many vendors and manufacturers will
happily provide information regarding their product production
to help allay any concerns that may arise in regards to quality.
If manufacturer information is not available for a product,
chances are it is not from a quality manufacturer. Take notice
of manufacturer information on product packaging as well.
Many problems have been noted among toys manufactured in China,
which has led to a common thought that all Chinese-made toys
made present problems. The reality is that it is quite possible
to manufacture quality toys in China, as long as the U.S.
companies focus their efforts on production and quality
assurance, and follow up with thorough testing of the end
product. If anything good can come from the recent recalls, it
may be that vendors are now becoming more aware of the need for
quality control, and the responsibility they have in assuring
the consumer that they are taking the necessary steps to provide
the level of quality and safety that parents require.
Finally, as a caregiver or parent, please remember that all toys
are potentially hazardous, depending upon how they are used by
the child. Make sure to read the packaging and instructions.
Production companies package products for children with age
guidelines posted clearly on the label. These age specifications
are provided for safety reasons and should be followed when
buying toys and products for children. Toys with small parts
should not be given to children under 3 (or any child who
habitually puts objects in his or her mouth) to avoid a possible
choking situation. Read any instructions or warnings that are
included with the product to ensure proper use and care. Anyone
who will be using the product should be made aware of the
appropriate way to use it.
Children need adequate supervision to make sure they use toys
and products appropriately. And, for those toys that are just
too tempting to be used the way they are intended? Store them
for a rainy day - next year.
About the author:
Judy Griscom is a preschool teacher and mother of two boys. She
recommends that parents review WonderBrains'
safety guide to find out more about toy quality and safety.
Article:
Dolls. Trains. Play sets. Accessories.
It use to be that safety considerations associated with
children's toys were limited to choking hazards. We're familiar
with the warning, "Never give small toys to children under 3
years of age". Recently, though, there have been new problems
that make us almost long for the days when a choking hazard was
our only safety concern.
Companies that parents have relied upon for quality toys for
years are now being tested, undergoing public scrutiny and
issuing recalls on their products due to substandard and even
hazardous production. Virtually every manufacturer is being
questioned regarding the quality of the products they offer.
With the holidays quickly approaching, what can parents do to
find great products and gifts for their children that will
capture their interest, but most importantly, are also safe for
children to use?
First of all, check out any toy company or product with a click
of the mouse by visiting The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) website. The CPSC posts their recalls on all
products they have reviewed as soon as they are available. While
recalled items are typically pulled from the stores as soon as
the announcement is made, early shoppers need to pay close
attention to recall announcements for toys they may already have
purchased.
Next, invest some time researching your gift ideas. Many online
toy companies are now linking to safety guides on their sites.
They are adding toy safety guides for the product lines they
carry, and are also contacting their vendors to ensure the
products they are selling are safe and thoroughly tested.
Whether you intend on shopping online or at a brick-and-mortar
store, do your homework first and check out what other companies
are saying about the toys you are considering. Look for products
recommended by "toy authorities" such as Oppenheim and Dr. Toy.
They closely review children's products and make recommendations
according to their own standards. Their product selections are
not immune to possible hazards, but it is infrequent that their
choices are recalled.
Another suggestion is to change your overall shopping process.
Look for smaller, more specialized stores that take the time to
carefully screen each product that is offered. A smaller store
tends to focus on fewer vendors, giving them greater control
over the products that are sold. Check each vendor for a safety
statement, indicating their commitment to providing quality,
safe products to purchase. Buying name-brand items makes them
easier to identify in a recall, rather than a generic version
with no well-defined brand name. Keep receipts and/or model
numbers for easy reference and returns, should a recall be
issued.
Look for online sites and stores that sell products from
reputable manufacturers. Many vendors and manufacturers will
happily provide information regarding their product production
to help allay any concerns that may arise in regards to quality.
If manufacturer information is not available for a product,
chances are it is not from a quality manufacturer. Take notice
of manufacturer information on product packaging as well.
Many problems have been noted among toys manufactured in China,
which has led to a common thought that all Chinese-made toys
made present problems. The reality is that it is quite possible
to manufacture quality toys in China, as long as the U.S.
companies focus their efforts on production and quality
assurance, and follow up with thorough testing of the end
product. If anything good can come from the recent recalls, it
may be that vendors are now becoming more aware of the need for
quality control, and the responsibility they have in assuring
the consumer that they are taking the necessary steps to provide
the level of quality and safety that parents require.
Finally, as a caregiver or parent, please remember that all toys
are potentially hazardous, depending upon how they are used by
the child. Make sure to read the packaging and instructions.
Production companies package products for children with age
guidelines posted clearly on the label. These age specifications
are provided for safety reasons and should be followed when
buying toys and products for children. Toys with small parts
should not be given to children under 3 (or any child who
habitually puts objects in his or her mouth) to avoid a possible
choking situation. Read any instructions or warnings that are
included with the product to ensure proper use and care. Anyone
who will be using the product should be made aware of the
appropriate way to use it.
Children need adequate supervision to make sure they use toys
and products appropriately. And, for those toys that are just
too tempting to be used the way they are intended? Store them
for a rainy day - next year.
About the author:
Judy Griscom is a preschool teacher and mother of two boys. She
recommends that parents review WonderBrains'
safety guide to find out more about toy quality and safety.
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