Asserting that government and industry safety rules don't protect children from the hazard, Toys "R" Us is dictating stricter tests and design standards that cribmakers have balked at for years. The company, which also owns Babies "R" Us, has the clout to do so because it sells so many cribs—hundreds of thousands annually.

Toys "R" Us is specifying the trees its suppliers can use, the way they attach spindles to crib railings and even the type of glue. Manufacturers that don't follow the new rules can't sell cribs in its stores.

The move by Toys "R" Us shows that major retailers, responding to parents' concerns, are using their purchasing power to redefine the safety of children's products—more quickly and more stringently than government regulators and groups that set standards for the industry.

Toys R Us says that it can speak for consumers when the government won't.

"We saw that there were products that passed the existing standards but had problems in the real world," Toys "R" Us chief executive Gerald Storch said. "Something needed to be done, so we did it. . . . We think that it will spread to the market as a whole."
...
"Clearly a consumer is not going to say, 'You need a slat integrity test,' but they want to feel confident shopping for products," said Storch, the Toys "R" Us CEO. "What we try to do is stand up for the consumer and say, 'What would they do if they had the facts?' "

Toys 'R' Us gets tough with cribmakers [Chicago Tribune]
(Photo: What Rhymes With Nicole )

From the Daily Mail:

Mrs Ralph, 57, a civil servant, said: 'I bought the packet of five multi-coloured knickers. Because they are in a packet, you can't see the writing "Dive In" on them.

'I was extremely shocked when I saw what was on them and I don't believe Disney or anyone else is so stupid not to realise the implications of the wording they chose.

'You let your children watch all these programmes, which are innocent and nice.

'But the merchandising that runs alongside them is the complete opposite. It's sexually suggestive, inappropriate and wholeheartedly wrong in some cases.

Disney has issued the following statement:

"Unfortunately, an oversight was made and the text on the underwear was used out context,” Disney said in a statement. “This product will not be part of any forthcoming collections and the remaining product has been removed from shelves.”

That's probably for the best.

Outrage at High School Musical knickers for young girls emblazoned with the words 'Dive In' [Daily Mail]

Disney says no to ‘Musical’ panties [Reuters via Fark]

If the bill is signed, some voluntary safety standards will become mandatory, and companies who fail to report hazards or violate the new laws will face steep penalties of up to $15 million.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, currently toothless and underfunded, will see its budget double and its authority increase.

We're happy to report that the bill enjoyed bipartisan support and passed overwhelmingly in both the House (424-1) and the Senate (89 to 3.)

Senate Sends Sweeping Product-Safety Bill On to Bush [Washington Post]
(Photo: Lee Jordan )

She sent us her polite letter to Brooks Brother's CEO:

Dear Mr Del Vecchio -

Today, I received a Brooks Brothers catalog in the mail, addressed to Benjamin James Tate-Booth (sic). Benjamin Tate-Boothe is my three-week old infant son. I assure you that he has no need of Brooks Brothers suits at this time, especially as he tends to soil garments quickly.

I am concerned at how your company gained my son's name and address in order to address an unsolicited catalog to him. The customer number present on the envelope is #004388918, and the accompanying letter states that a request for this catalog was placed. Brooks Brothers may have purchased his name from another mailing list, because I doubt Ben is signing up for clothing catalogs at such a tender age.

I am addressing this to your attention as your name is on the letter accompanying this catalog. I am hoping you will look into the source of Ben's catalog request, and stop any further unsolicited mail going to our address.

Sincerely,

Jillian

Who says this is a mistake? Stain-resistant ties! Maybe they come with matching bibs. Benjamin could charge them to his brand new American Express card, you know, once as he learns to scribble his name.

From the Wall Street Journal:

These pools, unlike in-ground models — which usually require a construction permit — are less likely to be subject to local safety codes that call for measures such as fencing, covers or alarms, advocates say. Inflatable pools can be quite large, accommodating several adults and, in many cases, accessible by a ladder.

Donald Mays, senior director of product safety and technical public policy at Consumers Union, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, urges consumers not to buy such inflatable pools. He says that the sides are often pliable, making it easy for a child to topple in.

Mr. Mays also says that such pools' covers are usually designed to keep out debris but cannot withstand the weight of a person. He mentioned an incident in which kids playing on a cover of one of these pools got entangled and drowned.

"The fact is that when people buy these very inexpensive pools at drugstores or the supermarket, towns are not aware they are being installed ... and safety measures don't get put in," Mr. Mays says.

Here's some more pool safety information from Consumer Reports. A particularly useful tip:

Since every second counts, always look for a missing child in the pool first. Precious time is often wasted looking for missing children anywhere but in the pool.

Child Drownings Rise, Spark Safety Concerns [WSJ]

Rise in child drownings prompts new warnings on pool safety [Consumer Reports]

A South Bend, Indiana family is a little ticked off after finding a cigarette lighter in their child's Burger King kid's meal, says WSJV.

The family checked the bag before giving it to their child and are thankful that they did. Now they'd just like to remind other parents to make sure your child's meal doesn't contain anything flammable before you toss it into the back seat...

Angela Vanderhuyden says, "I'm really disappointed. I want people to be a little more aware and a little more cautious. It's something that most parents just say, 'ya, know here guys', and hand the bag to the back seat because it's supposed to be just food, that's it you know. The food and the toy."

Good safety tip, Angela.

Lighter Found In Kid's Meal[WSJV]

You see, James' mother thinks that Elmo is saying "Kill James."

We watched the clip before we knew what the doll was "supposed" to be saying and thought it sounded like "Carol Kane," but James' mother in convinced Elmo is more into Charles Manson than Scrooged.

Fisher-Price has agreed to replace the toy. Feel free to tell us what you think the doll is saying in the comments.

Toddler's Elmo Doll Makes Death Threats, Family Says [TBO] (Thanks, Everyone!)
Video [TBO]

We encourage you to review your pledge and act accordingly by recalling the red blood pressure cuff. Furthermore, we challenge you to live up to your words and set a standard for the entire industry by completely eliminating the use of lead in all of the children's products manufactured by Mattel. When parents purchase a product from your company, they are not just purchasing a toy—they are putting their trust in an established brand that has historically been believed to provide merchandise that is safe for their children. We urge you to live up to this reputation.

Representative Elijah E. Cummings, Democrat of Maryland, wrote Mr. Eckert in December asking it to stop using lead in its products. He said that Mattel's reply, which arrived last week, and its action on the toy were inadequate and that the company should issue a nationwide recall.

Mr. Cummings said in an interview that if Mr. Eckert "knew his child had one of these toys with this kind of lead in it, I know he would not allow his child to be having such a toy."

Lawmakers Say Mattel Broke Word on Lead [NYT]
Cummings, DeLauro to Mattel: 'Stop Selling Toxic Toys' [Congressman Elijah Cummings]
PREVIOUSLY: Consumer Reports Finds "Troubling" Levels Of Lead In Unrecalled Fisher-Price Toy
Fisher-Price Pulls Lead Tainted Toy In Illinois Only
Fisher-Price Pulls Another Lead-Tainted Product In Illinois Only
(Photo: Getty Images)

The company serves a sonorous mix of inoffensive music, public service announcements (buckle up, kids!) and a few harmless advertisements (maybe McDonald's?) to over 1 million children in 23 states. Bus Radio is based in Needham, Massachusetts, but lost its contract with the Needham school district after uppity parents objected to the crass commercialization of something as innocent as a bus ride.

Seminole School Board members said the benefits of the radio show seem to outweigh any drawbacks, but they will evaluate Bus Radio's performance during the test run.

"This is strictly a pilot. I am real concerned about it," School Board member Dede Schaffner said.

Board member Diane Bauer said she wants to know more about the ads that will be on the show. Board member Sandy Robinson suggested a committee be set up to check out ads and songs before the trial run starts, and other board members agreed.

To help win support, Bus Radio has promised the district six minutes out of each broadcast hour for its own use. Officials plan short lessons to help students pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

The district also will get a share of the company's advertising revenues, although that is expected to amount to only a few thousand dollars a year.

Seminole schools agree to give Bus Radio a trial run, but PTA still wary [Commercial Alert]
Turn off Bus Radio [Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood] (Thanks to Jess!)

The drawings, of a scene in an art museum, feature cartoonish depictions of a nude painting and statue. Hardly anything to freak out over, but the publisher, Boyds Mills Press, was so afraid of angry parents that they sheepishly asked the author to censor herself.

This didn't go over so well in Germany. From Spiegel:

American kiddies, obviously, could never be expected to handle such a depiction of the human body. The US publisher, somewhat awkwardly, asked if they could be removed.

The author, not surprisingly, considers the request to be absurd. The statue's mini-willy, the author points out, is hardly even a half-millimeter long. And the naked woman hanging on the wall? Hardly a realistic depiction of the female anatomy. The US publisher, says Berner, was embarrassed to ask for the changes, but they were even more afraid of how American mommies and daddies might react if junior were exposed to such pornography.

For the author, any kind of self-censorship was completely out of the question. She said she could maybe have lived with putting black bars in front of the problem spots, but "invisible censorship" was out. "If you're going to censor something, then the reader should be aware of it," she told SPIEGEL ONLINE.

It's sad but not surprising that the publisher reacted the way they did. A tiny drawing of a wang in a kid's book is just the sort of unsubstantial, yet mildly controversial issue that local TV news teams really enjoy. In a country where you can get your 15 minutes of fame from complaining about talking dolls that "swear" if you listen really, really hard, and the use of the word "scrotum" in a Newbery Medal winning children's book causes apoplexy in librarians, the publisher was probably less concerned about offending your average parent than it was about having to "take tiny penis drawings seriously" on the nightly news. So it goes.

US Publisher Turns away from Cartoon Nudity [Spiegel]
US publisher relents on German children's book [EarthTimes]

He writes:

so my wife and i and our 4 month old baby girl took a trip to the Poconos for a vacation back in December. we stopped at the Super Wal-Mart there (East Stroudsburg, PA) to get some supplies. my wife wanted to get some bibs for our baby.

she bought 2 packs of bibs with a vinyl backing so they wouldn't soak through onto her clothes because she always has her bib in her mouth... as it turns out these bibs have already been recalled in Illinois back in May of last year and later supposedly expanded nationwide for having high levels of lead. there were lots of news reports about this from back in May. after further research we found out the UPC numbers of the bibs and sure enough we had them. they were: Baby Connection 7-Pack Feeder Bibs UPC No. 01468151077. other upc numbers are: 01468152705 and 01468102732

so basically, it just makes us sick to our stomach that these companies will sell products to consumers that they know have high amounts of lead in them. why were'nt these bibs taken off the shelves in ALL of their stores. why does a child in Illinois have better protection than my child in New Jersey (although we bought the bibs in Pennsylvania)?

thanks guys, keep up the good work,

jeff

Walmart voluntarily agreed to pull the lead-ridden bibs back in May to avoid the fine-wielding ire of Illinois' Attorney General.

Mia Masten, a Chicago-based spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said the vinyl portion of the bibs exceeded the lead levels set by Illinois for children's products. She said the company had worked with the Illinois attorney general's office to pull the items and later decided to expand the recall nationwide.

"We at Wal-Mart are committed to working ... to develop industry standards for the elimination of vinyl in children's products," Masten said.

Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan sent a second letter Friday to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urging a law banning magnets in children's toys.

The letters follow the Tribune series "Hidden Hazards," which revealed how the understaffed and sluggish commission fails to protect children from dangers in toys and other products.

Earlier this year, the Tribune reported the agency's botched recall of Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets and the death of a child who swallowed magnets that fell out of the toys. This week, the Tribune reported on the dangers posed by loose magnets in children's jewelry.

Millions of toys have been recalled this year due to design flaws in which toys can break and release dangerous magnets.

Attorney general again urges ban on toy magnets [Chicago Tribune]

Southwest escorts children 5 through 11 who are traveling alone, but "once you hit 12, you're considered a youth and not an unaccompanied minor," said Teresa Laraba, the airline's vice president for ground operations.

Here's a summery of various policies from different airlines, to help you find a policy you're comfortable with. There are more specific policies in the article:

• 
  American:
  
• $75 each way for children 5 to 14 flying domestic and international flights.
  
• You can opt to have your 15-17 year old treated as a minor if you want to lay down the cash.
  
• Kids 5-7 have to fly direct, 8-14 can't transfer to another airline.

  Continental:
  

• $50 each way for kids 5-15 traveling non-stop, $95 for a connecting flight within the U.S. or Mexico. $70 and $95 for international flights.
  
• No connections for kids 5-7.

  Delta:
  

• $50 each way for children 5 to 15, $100 for connections.
  
• 5-7 not allowed on connecting flights.

  Northwest Airlines:
  

• $50 each way for children 5 to 14 on nonstop flights and $75 with a connection within the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. $60 and $90 for international trips.

  Southwest Airlines:
  

• No fee. 5-11 on non-stop flights only. No connections.

  United Airlines:
  

• $99 fee each way for children 5 to 11.
  
• Children 5 to 7 are allowed only on nonstop or direct flights.

  US Airways:
  

• $50 each way for children 5 to 14.
  
• Kids are only allowed on non-stop flights.

Minor passengers, major worries [Columbus Dispatch]
(Photo:Jay Adan)

Consumer Reports analyzed the full CPSC report:

• Non-motorized scooters: Three deaths occurred when children either hit or were hit by an automobile. The children ranged in age from six to 13 years.
• Toy nails and pegs: Three children died when they choked on or aspirated plastic nails or pegs. One 19-month-old boy died after choking on an oversized plastic nail from a toy workbench. A second boy, 2, died when he fell while running with a toy nail; the nail got wedged in the back of his throat. Another two-year-old suddenly started coughing and stopped breathing. He died at the hospital where an autopsy showed a plastic peg from a toy had become lodged in his left bronchus.
• Rubber balls: Three children died when they either aspirated or choked on small rubber balls. Two of the children who choked on small rubber balls were about one year old while the third child was an autistic eight-year-old who aspirated a rubber ball.
• Powered riding toys: There were three fatalities. A boy, 3, was riding a battery-powered toy four-wheeler unsupervised and fell into a pond. A girl, 2, was riding her battery-powered toy truck as her family walked along on a sidewalk; a speeding car hit and killed her. A 6-year-old died when the cape of his costume became entangled in the axle of the gasoline-powered ATV he was riding and strangled him.
• Tricycles: There were two fatalities. In separate incidents, a three-year-old female and a three-year-old male fell into the family in-ground swimming pool while riding a tricycle and drowned.
• Stuffed toys: There were two deaths associated with stuffed toys . A six-month-old fell off the parents' bed into a pile of stuffed animals and suffocated A three-month-old fell off a bed into a container of stuffed toys and suffocated.
• Other balls: There were two deaths from unspecified types of balls. One struck a girl, 10, while she was playing at school; she died of inter-cerebral hemorrhage. A 17-month-old was run over when he followed the ball with which he was playing as it rolled behind a truck.
• Balloons: A nine-month-old female died of upper airway obstruction caused by an uninflated balloon.
• Rubber darts: A 10-year-old boy died from aspirating a rubber dart. He had been chewing on a toy gun dart when he had trouble breathing and collapsed. At the ER, he was found to have a rubber dart in his right lung.
• Toy organizer: A nine-month-old, found underneath a wooden toy organizer, died of neck compression.
• Unspecified: A seven-year-old boy was chewing on a plastic toy when a small part of the toy broke off and became lodged in his throat. He died of asphyxia.

The CPSC cautions that toys were associated with these incidents, but not necessarily their cause.

Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries, Calendar Year 2006 (pdf) [CPSC]
CPSC: 22 children died in toy-related deaths in 2006 [Consumer Reports]
(Photo: Getty)

RC2 is asking that you stop using the feeding chair and contact them to request new straps that will prevent your tiny bundle of joy from experiencing sudden deceleration on the kitchen floor. Those of you with the lead tainted potty-training chair should stop using the chair until you (no, we're not making this up) "contact RC2 to receive a permanent clear protective cover that covers the plaque."

No refunds or replacement products are being offered.

For additional information, contact RC2 toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT.

RC2 Recalls Potty Training Seats Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard [CPSC]
RC2 Recalls The First Years™ Children's Feeding Seats Due to Fall Hazard [CPSC]

For additional information, contact Old Navy at (866) 580-9930 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, Saturday between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET, and Sunday between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET, email custserv@oldnavy.com, or visit www.oldnavy.com.

Old Navy Recalls Boys' Jackets; Drawstring at Waist Poses Entrapment Hazard [CPSC]

These recalls don't grab the headlines like the Mattel and Thomas & Friends toys do, but aren't the children playing with them just as susceptible to lead poisoning?

Among the recalled products were pencil pouches that were distributed in schools and a bracelet used in school fund raisers.

Lots of jewelry was recalled, including sets sold at Limited Too, Big Lots, Family Dollar, and Michaels.

There were also lead tainted paint brushes, lead tainted sunglasses, and lead tainted Curious George dolls.

In all, November's recalls have pushed the total number of products recalled for lead contamination in 2007 to 16,203,350.

Once again we remind you not to buy cheap jewelry for your kid. It's leadtastic!

November Recalls [CPSC]

November 16, 2007

Dear Valued Guest,

As we prepare to kick off the holiday shopping season, we know that the important issue of toy safety is on the minds of many parents. I wanted to take a moment today to reiterate to you our uncompromising commitment to the safety of the children and families we serve and to share with you some of the steps Toys"R"Us has taken in recent months to enhance our already high safety standards:

While we have always mandated that our manufacturers extensively test products for a variety of hazards, earlier this year, Toys"R"Us engaged Bureau Veritas, a respected world leader in independent testing, to re-test products right off our store shelves. We have alerted our manufacturers that we will report any safety violations we may find to the proper authorities. In addition, we have advised our manufacturers that they must now increase the frequency of testing for each shipment of toys sent to Toys"R"Us stores. Our message is clear: there is simply no place for unsafe toys on our store shelves. Failure to meet our safety requirements has consequences - up to and including termination of our business relationship

We believe that when a product is recalled, the most important thing is to get that product out of children's hands. To that end, we have instituted a "no quibble" policy when it comes to toy recalls. This means Toys"R"Us will take back recalled product whether it was purchased at Toys"R"Us or not - with or without a receipt.

We are working in partnership with federal legislators to advocate for more funding and staffing for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the government regulator responsible for toys. We are also advocating for the introduction of production code stamping of products, so retailers and consumers can easily identify specific items should they be recalled.

As the toy authority, Toys"R"Us carries the broadest assortment of toys from 30 countries, including the United States. Whatever your gift needs this holiday season, our toy-trained staff can help you find the best gift for the child on your list. I encourage you to visit our Safety website, www.Toysrus.com/Safety, which we have updated to include helpful tips for safe toy shopping during the holiday season

As a company committed to children and families, we understand the trust you place in us to make sure the toys on our store shelves are safe. And, as a parent myself, I want you to know that our entire organization continues to work vigilantly on your behalf to ensure this is the safest of holiday seasons.

With Best Wishes to You and Your Loved Ones on behalf of the Toys"R"Us, Inc. Family,

Sincerely,

Gerald L. Storch
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
Toys"R"Us, Inc.

(Thanks, Imasuperhero!)
(Photo:HamillianActor)

In America, the toy was sold as "Aqua Dotz" but there's no information yet as to whether they shared the same chemical composition and they too have been recalled.

Chinese-made Bindeez, which won the 2007 Australian Toy of the Year award at the Melbourne Toy and Hobby fair, contains hundreds of beads which can induce seizures, drowsiness or a coma if eaten.

The beads should contain a non-toxic glue but instead contain the chemical which the body metabolises into gamma-hydroxy butyrate (GHB), also known as fantasy or Grievous Bodily Harm.

All Bindeez products would be removed from sale, Minister for Fair Trading Linda Burney said today, and households with the toy were urged to get rid of it.

"This Bindeez product is Australian Toy of the Year, it is extraordinarily popular," Ms Burney said.

Ms Burney said an investigation into the toy, which is manufactured in Hong Kong, also would look at whether the substitution was deliberate. Bindeez toy recalled over drug fears [News.au](Thanks, Darryl!)

Concerned that developing countries will start drinking as much soda as we fatties here in the States (a legitimate worry, we must admit,) they're asking governments around the world to require soda companies to change the way they do business. They want more low-sugar alternatives to soda, smaller portion sizes of existing high-sugar sodas, prominent display of calorie information, and warning labels that warn consumers to drink water to quench thirst.

In addition, they're asking that soda companies "stop promoting and selling sweetened beverages, including sports drinks and fruit flavored beverages and teas, in all public and private elementary, middle, and high schools" and to instead sell fruit juice (in container sizes of 250 ml or less.)

These sorts of campaigns always remind us of something we noticed way back when we were in school. When kids were asked how to stop other kids from smoking, the first thing our classmates always said was, "Advertise against it," but when the instructor asked the class if they were influenced by advertising they always said no. Either the kids were lying or they knew that cheesy "don't smoke" ads and warning labels didn't work and wouldn't keep them away from the forbidden pleasure of smoking themselves to death. Probably both.

Personally, we drank too much Coke in high school because they hid the coffee machine in the teacher's lounge. Damning teenagers to high school without caffeine is cruel and unusual punishment, even if the alternative is to be fat with rotten teeth.

In our elementary school, however, soft drinks were not allowed and we didn't consider it much of a hardship at the time. On the other hand, death would surely have come to anyone attempting to pry the "Ecto Cooler" juice box from our tiny fingers.

Do you think soft drinks should be banned from schools?

The Global Dump Soda Campaign
(Photo:chickee510)

Here's some very tense video from Good Morning America.

The recall just involves the distribution of better warning labels, but these seats seem like they might be more trouble than their worth. If you do use one, don't use it on a table top. Your kid could launch herself at a moment's notice.

[Good Morning America]

As a parent, he gives his 3-year-old combination cough-and-cold medication. As a doctor, he recommends against it.

After the recommendations against over-the-counter cold medicines came out, we heeded them for less than 24 hours in our house. Once my sick son took the medicine, his sniffles and coughing abated a bit. His symptoms returned later that day, after we discontinued the treatment. Our experience showed that whatever mild benefits these medications offer, they don't last long.

The risks with cough-and-cold medication are clear. If you don't know your phenylephrine from your acetaminophen, you can deliver more potency than you had intended by unknowingly combining products with similar ingredients and confusing chemical names.

Overdoses of medication occur all too often; the FDA has linked over-the-counter medicines to 123 pediatric deaths since 1969. Most of the fatalities were in children younger than 2.

The crackdown on cold medicines for kids may have an unintended benefit for me. With infant cold medications off the market, I won't miss the parents calling in the middle of the night for recommendations on how much to use. I won't miss meticulously documenting how many tenths of a milliliter I advised a person to give or the liability risks associated with my advice.

My new answer is simple: "It's just a virus, and, unfortunately, there is no safe and effective cold medication on the market that I can recommend to you."

At my house, though, I have found that the advice to hold off on a kid's cold medicine is much easier to give than it is to heed.

It's Hard to Heed the Experts When Your Kid Has the Cold [Wall Street Journal]
(Photo:Getty)

The FDA recently issued a public heath advisory warning parents of the risk of overdose from OTC cough and cold medicines when administered to children under 2, and has been taking a much closer look at cold and cough medicines marketed towards small children. Safety experts advising the FDA on the issue have been recommending that the drugs be pulled from the market.

According to a safety report commissioned by the FDA, at least 54 children died after taking decongestants, and 69 died after taking antihistamines from 1969 to 2006. The report also suggested that that those numbers were probably significantly understated because deaths from overdose are "reported voluntarily and fitfully."

The following products are being recalled by Johnson & Johnson:

• Dimetapp Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops
  
• Dimetapp Decongestant Infant Drops
  
• Little Colds Decongestant Plus Cough
  
• Little Colds Multi-Symptom Cold Formula
  
• PEDIACARE Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine)
  
• PEDIACARE Infant Drops Decongestant Cough (containing pseudoephedrine)
  
• PEDIACARE Infant Dropper Decongestant (containing phenylephrine)
  
• PEDIACARE Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough
  
• PEDIACARE Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough (containing phenylephrine)
  
• Robitussin Infant Cough DM Drops
  
• Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant
  
• Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant Plus Cough
  
• TYLENOL Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold
  
• TYLENOL Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough

On Oct. 18, the FDA's Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee will meet to discuss the issue.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare Is Voluntarily Withdrawing Infants' Cough And Cold Products (Press Release) [Johnson & Johnson] (Thanks, M.!)

Leo at Zen Habits has put together a bunch of lessons you can teach your kids. Teach them now; avoid paying their bills later.

We like this one:

Teach them about advertising and consumerism. This is something that should be taught at home and in the school, because most of us grow up without really being aware of the effects that advertising, marketing and consumerism has on us, and on our spending. This is often the root of our financial problems, whether we're young or old. Teach them about the goal of advertising: to get us to buy their products or services, and to get us to spend our money. And show how advertising affects us, and gets us to do that. And talk about consumerism, and how it hurts us financially, how it's not good for the environment, and how it leads to a cluttered house full of expensive and wasted stuff.

10 Lessons To Teach Your Kids About Money [Zen Habits]

Photographs taken of Liam Johns' crib by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office clearly show where it came apart.

The drop rail had detached from its plastic track, creating a gap through which the 9-month-old boy slipped feet-first. Instead of falling to the floor, Liam got his head stuck between the rail and the mattress. Trapped in a hanging position, the boy asphyxiated.

Liam's April 2005 death prompted an investigation by a federal watchdog agency and a family lawsuit against the crib's manufacturer, Simplicity Inc.

But the company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission didn't warn parents across the country about the potentially fatal flaw in Simplicity cribs—not after Liam suffocated, not after more complaints about the crib rails and not after two more infants died.

Once the Tribune began questioning the company and the agency this month, a massive recall of Simplicity cribs followed.

"The CPSC didn't even pick up the crib until after I told them about it," said Tribune reporter Maurice Possley. "A kid died in April of '05, and a kid dies in November of 2006, and you're the parents of a kid who dies in February of '07, and you know that something could have been done about it? Boy, I'd be really, really angry."

Missteps delayed recall of deadly cribs [Chicago Tribune]
Crib Recall Came Years After Infant Deaths [ABC News]
Did an Investigative Reporter Awaken the CPSC? [The Pump Handle]

Natalie from Craft says:

"With al the recent scary news of the toy recall, now more than ever is the time to take back our children's safety in our own hands and have fun in the process by crafting our own toys! To get you started, here's a roundup of some great toy projects you can make."

It's not a solution to the contamination problem, but it might actually be sorta fun.

Safe Toys You Can Make [CRAFT via boingboing]

Which Stores?

Most big-box stores have already had lead-related recall this year. Walmart exclusive earrings were recalled, as were Target exclusive Anima Bamboo play-sets. Kmart jewelry was recalled as well.

Is This Just A "China" Problem?

No.

Although most of the recalled products came from China, there were two recalls of jewelry made in India and two from Hong Kong. (Hong Kong is a "special administrative region" of China but is considered separate from China by the CPSC.) Ultimately, the responsibility for the recalled products is on the US company that imported them.

What Types Of Products Are Most Often Contaminated?

The lead contaminated products are a diverse bunch—from lead snaps on children's clothing to lead-based paint on toys, as well as jewelry with lead contaminated clasps and chains.

In addition to the well-known recalls of Thomas & Friends and Fisher-Price toys, lesser talked about recalls of souvenir gift shop jewelry and trinkets from vending machines were common. Some recalled jewelry featured popular Disney characters and movies and was sold at outlets like Limited, Too.

What Should Parents Do?

There's not a whole lot you can do, unfortunately. We'd recommend paying close attention to recalls and to avoid giving cheap metal jewelry to young children.

Here are two of them:

From KRQE:

The toy is designed for toddlers like Santa Fe's Unique Gonzales, or at least that's what her godmother thought.

"I bought it for my goddaughter for her birthday, her first birthday," Lanette Rodriguez said.

But when Unique played the voice scale her own way, she found a unique message. The problem is how the digital voice singing the scale sounds with the combination Fa-Mi-Re-Mi.

"It's very, very inappropriate," Rodriguez said. "It's very disturbing. It's completely unbelievable, insane, upsetting."

Unique's mother says she got her first clue to the key combination from her 1 year old.

"She's like fa, fa, fa,' and I was wondering why is she saying that?" Alexis Chacon said. "It was the toy.

"Then she says, ra, ra, ra.' She's too small to learn those kinds of words. It's supposed to be Do-Re-Mi, and it's F-me-rape me."

The offended mothers want the toy pulled from the market. Um. Fa that.

Toy tune offends mothers [KRQE]
(Photo:KRQE)

• Make sure all art supplies carry a label that says: "Conforms to ASTM D-4236." This means that the product conforms to the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act. This law says that all art materials be reviewed to determine the potential for causing a chronic health hazard and that appropraite warning labels be placed on the materials. The law applies to many children's toy products such as crayons, chalk, paint sets, modeling clay, coloring books, pencils, and any other products used by children to produce a work of visual or graphic art.
• Avoid clothing that has hood or neck drawstrings. Most children's clothes are already free of neck drawstrings that can tangle and cause accidents and death—but its your responsibility to check your children's clothes yourself. Drawstrings are easy to remove.
• Take a look at your child's playground to make sure there is a layer of wood chips or other shock absorbing material to help cushion falls. Make sure portable soccer goals are securely anchored so they won't topple over and crush anyone. The CPSC says 28 children have been killed by soccer goals since 1979.
• Provide the correct helmet for the correct activity. Football helmets for football, etc.

Consumerist would also add that it's a good idea to avoid cheap metal jewelry when back-to-school shopping because of possible lead contamination. Also, cheap jewelry is tacky. Let's face it.

CPSC Urges Parents to Help Children Avoid Injuries As They Head Back to School [CPSC]

There have been hundreds of overdoses and a "handful" of deaths from OTC medicines, according to the Washington Post. Current labels already warn parents not to give cough syrup to children under 2, but they don't seem to be very effective.

FDA Warns Against Giving Cough Medicine to Toddlers [Washington Post]
(Photo:Getty)

Why?

Because babies don't understand that eating a bunch of magnets will cause them to die, and it's really hard to explain it to them. It's probably easier to just not buy them.

From Consumer Reports:

Given the ongoing problems with these toys, and the potential for serious injury or death, we continue to recommend that parents avoid all magnetic toys if there are young children in their home. We also recommend caution when purchasing products made for adults that may contain strong magnets (such as those used on some bulletin boards). Many of these are small and colorful and could easily be swallowed by children.

So if you do have very small children who are not yet at an age where they know what not to put in their mouths, you might want to stay away from magnets.

Latest toy recall raises additional concern over magnets [Consumer Reports]

Poorly constructed magnet toys have been the cause of several injuries and at least one fatality. When the toys break and magnets fall out, they can be eaten or inhaled by small children—causing punctures in the intestines and lungs and requiring emergency surgery. Lead paint is toxic to children can cause adverse health effects.

Here is a list of the newly recalled toys:

Cars "Sarge" 21/2" Die-Cast Toy
Barbie and Tanner play sets — model numbers J9472 and J9560.
Doggie Day Care Magnetic Toys (All)
A Very Long List of Various Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets
Batman and One Piece Magnetic Action Figure Sets

Mattel originally recalled the Polly Pocket magnet toys in November of 2006, after three children required emergency surgery to repair intestinal perforations caused by the magnets. Since then they have received 400 additional reports of magnets falling out of various Polly Pocket toys, prompting an expansion of the recall. And, of course, Mattel's Fisher-Price division recently recalled almost a million toys due to lead paint.

Before this latest recall was announced, Mattel took out full page ads in the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal that featured a letter from Mattel's CEO, Robert A. Eckert. The New York Times reports:

"Nothing is more important than the safety of our children," the letter begins.

"Our long record of safety at Mattel is why we're one of the most trusted names with parents," it says. "And I am confident that the actions we are taking now will maintain that trust."

The toymaker said the latest defective Chinese toys were produced by Early Light Industrial Company, which it said subcontracted the painting to another Chinese vendor, Hong Li Da (HLD). "While the painting subcontractor, HLD, was required to utilize paint supplied directly from Early Light, it instead violated Mattel's standards and utilized paint from a nonauthorized third-party supplier," Mattel said.

Mattel said Lee Der Industrial, a contract manufacturer based in southern China, was responsible for producing the toys that contained excessive levels of lead paint in the initial recall.

PREVIOUSLY: Toxic Lead Paint Prompts Recall of 967,000 Fisher-Price Toys
Fisher-Price Being Investigated By CPSC Due To Shoddy Track Record Reporting Defects
Fisher-Price Fined $975,000 for Failing to Report a Serious Choking Hazard With A Popular Toy
Chinese Lead Toy Maker Commits Suicide In Mattel Recall Aftermath
China: It's Mattel's Fault That Chinese Companies Manufactured Toys Covered With Lead. What?
Serious Injuries Prompt Recall of Polly Pocket Toys

When a company first receives a "credible" report that their company's product has a defect that could "create a substantial risk of injury to the public," the company has 24 hours to report it to the CPSC or they are in violation of federal law.

Back in 2002, Fisher-Price received a report that a nail-fastener had come loose from the "Little People Animal Sounds Farm." It did not report this defect to the CPSC within 24 hours. In fact, it did not report the defect March 2003. By that time, Fisher-Price had received 33 reports that the nail-fastener had come loose, including 4 injuries. In one case a child had inhaled the nail fastener, which became lodged in his lung and required emergency surgery.

Fisher-Price was fined $975,000. Now the CPSC is taking a closer look at Fisher-Price's most recent recall. A spokesperson told the AP that the CPSC was conducting an "an active and open" investigation into Fisher-Price, but declined to provide further details. Did the fine help motivate Fisher-Price into acting more responsibly this time?

CPSC Investigates Fisher-Price Recall [Forbes]

PREVIOUSLY: Fisher-Price Fined $975,000 for Failing to Report a Serious Choking Hazard With A Popular Toy

Much of General Mills' serving size information is arbitrary. Take their line of Total: The serving size for Total and Total Honey Nut Clusters is 3/4 cup, which fluctuates between 30 grams for the former, and 48 grams for the latter. Compare that to Total Cranberry Crunch and Total Raisin Bran, which have larger serving sizes of 1 cup, or 53 grams. Total's mass remains roughly the same mass regardless of whether it has raisins, cranberries, or honey nut clusters.

The standard USDA serving size is 30 grams. For Cocoa Puffs, General Mills uses a serving size of 27 grams. Under the USDA's serving size, Cocoa Puffs have 14 grams of sugar, which would make them subject to the advertising ban; but by using a serving size of 27 grams, the sugar content drops to 12 grams per serving, meaning that General Mills can peddle their sugar puffs to kids without restriction.

Now compare that to General Mills' treatment of Trix, which has a serving size of 32 grams. According to the both the USDA and General Mills, Trix have 13 grams of sugar, making them subject to the advertising ban. When the serving sizes are equal, Cocoa Puffs have more sugar than Trix; yet Cocoa Puffs will be advertised to children, while Trix, the cereal with less sugar, will be kept from audiences under 12.

Despite the labels, these trix are not at all sweet.

Trix indeed [U.S. Food Policy]
Cereals [General Mills]
Cocoa Puffs [NutritionData]
Trix [NutritionData]
PREVIOUSLY: Should We Unilaterally Ban Junk Food Advertising Targeting Children

But does it go far enough? TV is just one component of the advertising spectrum, and the industry's move won't apply to "family"-type shows.

Maybe we should treat treat junk food ads like cigarette ads...

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The toy, Mag Stix, had been voluntarily and privately recalled by its manufacturer after they heard about issues with other magnetic toys. Sadly, the recall did not prevent the defective toy from being sold.

Consumers should immediately take these recalled toys away from children and contact Kipp Brothers for instructions on returning the product for a full refund (including shipping).

We really do suggest you send these toys back. They may seem cool, but they break easily and the consequences are really nasty—hospitalization, surgery, and in one case, death.

The first magnetic toy company to experience a similar recall, "Magnetix" has since redesigned their toys to prevent them from breaking in a way that can kill babies, and they are now safe.

Serious Intestinal Injury Prompts Kipp Brothers Recall of Mag Stix Magnetic Building Sets [CPSC]

We interpret this to mean that parents are wasting hard-earned money on awful DVDs. The last of the crappy sequels will be "The Little Mermaid III," and then, parents, your pocketbook is free of Ariel forever.

On the other hand, this could be bad news for the parents of children who like to play the same movie over and over again... Sorry!

Steve Jobs directs Disney [MacWorld]

...the representative on the phone told her the only way the phone could have those images was if she took the photos herself or if the pictures were sent to her in a text message.

New phone comes with porn? [12 News via Blorge.com]
(Photo: JD Pavkovich)