User Comments

1. 

   12/18/08

   timethief

   FWIW I just found another great green toys for green tots link focusorganic.com/green-toys-green-tots/

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2. 

   12/18/08

   Anok

   Thanks TT - these are great links.
   
   For me personally, I haven't made the content safety issue much of an issue. Of course, I do check recalled items, and I do keep an eye on the news for poisoned toys made in foreign factories
   
   I focus more on immediate safety, such as toys being age appropriate, small parts, sharp edges, dangerous parts that sort of thing. We get a lot of toys in a freecycling/barter exchange way or from consignment and second hand shops as well. So, I have no idea of the toy's toxic safety.
   
   Oh...great...now I'm worried

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   1. 

      12/18/08

      timethief

      You're welcome. I believe that the data base will be useful in that regard.
   2. 

      12/18/08

      Anok

      Yeah, I just found out that one of the toys Punky has has lead, arsenic and one other chemical in it.
      
      Of course, you'd have to actually break it into pieces and eat it to be poisoned, but still...
3. 

   12/19/08

   wherethehellwasi

   It's probably best to be aware of both toxicity issues and 'physical' safety with toys.
   
   I remember growing up, we used to have Jarts. So far as I know, they could have been completely biodegradable, eco-friendly, and zero-footprint playthings.
   
   But have someone heave one of those steel-tipped death devices in your general direction, and let me know if that makes you feel any safer.

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   1. 

      12/19/08

      timethief

      We used to have lawn darts as well. However, our parents kept them locked up and only allowed us to use they when they were supervising us.
4. 

   12/19/08

   jan4insight

   There's a dark side to the new legislation that has been passed and is supposed to take effect in February. The draconian testing requirements of the legislation - no matter how well intended - could put a lot of small businesses out of business! There's petitions and forums about this all over the Web, especially on handcraft venues like Etsy (which is where I learned about it).
   
   Here's a like to one of the main websites:
   www.handmadetoyalliance.org/
   
   Even though my craft business focuses on women's clothing and home decor, the rules are so broad it could affect me. (For example, an afghan that I make "could" be used by a child, so theoretically I'd have to pay big bucks to have it tested before I could sell it).
   
   To make matters even worse, many of the green products makers are small businesses that could not afford the testing even though they make non-toxic products!!!!
   
   This is a bad piece of legislation that will mainly serve the interests of big box stores and mass-market producers, while hurting small manufacturers and retailers. But the law came out of the Bush Admin, so no wonder

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5. 

   12/19/08

   Nesmuth

   As a successful fundraiser, we need to entertain people of all ages with our gimmicks. The adults, no problems. Kids are a tacky issue cause if you sell them containing harmful compounds like lead, it'll make you look bad and crash your fundraising like a ship running aground. That's why I carry a small lead test kit when I go to the showrooms. It will make a little stink testing the toys. A bigger stink if youre caught by the wholesaler. Thats how we address the problem of toxic toys.

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6. 

   12/19/08

   Shiley

   There are other things you can do to avoid the toxins in toys proofpositivity.wordpress.com/2008/12/19/proof-positivity-toys-that-are-saf...
   
   If you are crafty you can make your own. My daughter sleeps with a doll baby I made with out a sewing machine and my son sleeps with a blanket I crocheted.
   
   The age range that is listed on boxes is very important. If you have a toy intended for an 8 year old then it would be terrible to give it to a child under 3 or 4 because of the choke hazards.

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   1. 

      12/19/08

      timethief

      @shirley
      Thanks for posting that relevant link.
   2. 

      12/19/08

      Shiley

      Thank you and you can also sign a petition
      "Earlier this year, Congress passed a tough new law that would make it illegal to sell lead and chemically tainted children's products. But now, some companies are saying they can't meet the deadline – and they want to keep selling some of their toxic children's toys after they're supposed to stop!"
      www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/473414504?z00m=18624231
      
      This link is also made available on my blog about 5 seconds ago.
   3. 

      12/19/08

      timethief

      @Shirley
      I think if you read Jan4insight's comment above you will see why some companies are not willing to comply www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/toxic-free-toy-shoping#comment_719850
   4. 

      12/19/08

      Shiley

      The above are not my words they are directly from the site. There are crafters who craft for a living that are supporting this as well. I personnally don't sign anything until I know all the details. I provided the link but I still haven't signed it. Here is a link supporting Jan www.digitaljournal.com/article/263549
7. 

   12/19/08

   Sylvia

   TT, thanks for sharing those links I'm always so worried about what toys I buy my daughter and of course the big bock toy stores don't help the situation for concerned parents.
   
   The Chemicals of Concern section at HealthyToys.org is a great resource.

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8. 

   12/19/08

   jan4insight

   @ Timetheif & Shiley - thanks for referencing my link. The law as it's written actually works against the intention of providing safe toys and other products that don't come from WalMart or worse. It will effectively limit parents' choices. For example, Anok mentioned getting toys from barter/recycle sources. Thrift shops are an example. They would have stop selling used toys and other products unless they could test each one, and I've heard quotes for testing at $500 a pop! Consequently, thrift stores will have stop selling toys and other children's products! How weird is that?
   
   Of course no one wants toxic toys! It's just that this new law is going about it totally the wrong way! The website I linked above has an online petition; it would be good if parents would join the handcraft community in calling for a review of this law so we can all get something workable going.
   
   Btw, I don't currently make children's products, so you might wonder why I'm following this. Well, it affects all of us - if my venues such as Etsy go under because they lose a significant number of vendors, then I lose. Also, the vagueness of the law means that some of my products could be considered "used" by children and therefore subject to testing. It's no fun working at a creative business with this hanging over my head!
   
   And finally, I have been asked by several people about making baby blankets and such. With this new law looming on the horizon, I won't go there. So I am losing potential customers after all.
   
   Until this new law is fixed, we're all gonna lose!

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9. 

   4/07/09

   marrysoe

   comment removed by the community.

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   1. 

      4/07/09

      timethief

      @marrysoe
      

      What the heck has your post and link drop about women wearing less make-up or wearing no make-up at all got to do with toxic free toy shopping? Nothing!