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| How to Buy Safe Toys For Toddlers - A Checklist For Parents |
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 Safety is everything when it comes to our kids. Unfortunately, the sad fact is that Mattel voluntarily recalled nearly a million toys in 2007 for being covered in lead paint, and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have long lists of consumer products recalled for containing excessive amounts of lead (half of the products are toys). It's enough to want to forego buying any toys at all, especially for our very youngest children.
Lead is not the only problem, though, we've also heard about hormone-disrupting chemicals called phthalates in plastic products, such as baby bottles, that can affect reproductive and developmental health. Other news headlines include various hazards from chocking, magnets, and more. These headlines about lead and toxics in toys, as well as other hazards are scary, to say the least. For a time, I did not want to buy any new toys for my soon to be two-year old, mostly because everything goes in his mouth at some point!
Yet this is the real world, where toys and bottles are a part of life. The question becomes, how can we be sure the products we buy are safe? The good news is that national political leaders have finally taken some action. On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed into law a consumer safety bill that will ban lead in nearly all products designed for children 12 years old and younger. A second major step forward will occur next year, when a nationwide ban on six phthalates in soft plastic toys and cosmetics takes effect. The law marks a major shift in the way toxics are regulated in the U.S. |
| Baby Gift Shopping 101 |
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Baby gifts are extremely fun to shop for. Whether you're shopping for yourself, a friend, or even an anonymous recipient set up for you via a baby gift swap or upcoming surprise party, there's nothing more exciting than picking out a few cherished items for mom-to-be and upcoming baby.
But don't let the excitement overwhelm you. While there are many wonderful baby gifts to choose from, there are some baby gifts that are better off remaining on the shelves, while others should be immediately tucked into shopping carts and baskets, and brought home to be packaged, wrapped and beribboned.
Let's start with some sensible baby gifts. Choosing practical items means picking items that are both wanted and needed. Large items like baby cribs, bassinets, high chairs, strollers and car seats are all wonderful baby gifts, even if they are rather expensive and bulky. Of course, make sure that the recipient wants and needs the particular large baby gift that you're thinking of purchasing.
Smaller baby gifts that are both practical and desired include clothing, diapers (be sure to check if the mother-to-be is going to be using disposable or cloth), feeding supplies (bottles for a formula feeding mother, shields, creams and pillows for a breastfeeding mother) and travel gear (visors for car windows, baby viewing mirrors to attach on rearview mirrors, shopping cart covers).
You can never go wrong with clothing as a choice for baby gifts. All babies need clothes! Boy clothes and girl clothes are available in abundance at all stores that carry children's clothing. You can find baby clothes bundled together in adorable gift sets, or you can take regular clothing items and wrap them together. Onesies, creepers and gowns make great baby gifts for newborns, while adorable little outfits and outerwear work well for older babies. |
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