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Safety Concerns
 Toys and Children's Products

We thought that we would be more free of safety concerns this year, following the debacle of 2007 with products manufacturered in China. Now it seems that, despite corrective measures being taken, there is still cause for concern. Concerns over additives to milk products were recently in the news.

Below you will find information, links and notices until the concern is behind us.  We are working to provide you with actual safety testing results for our products.  Don't miss the Made in the USA section!

Inventive Parent Products Made in the USA, Green or Organic

We're constantly updating these categories.  Check back often!

Links for More Information on Product Safety and Lead

ToyInfo.org A parent's resource for facts and information about toy safety from the Toy Industry Assoc.
USCPSC.gov Consumer Product Safety Commission list of recall alerts, method to report unsafe products and more
ASTM International Standards Worldwide Information on the latest requirements in toy safety
Safe Kids Worldwide Safe Kids, an organization devoted to ensuring child safety
Centers for Disease Control Lead Program Listing of toys that have been recalled for lead
Consumer Reports Consumer Reports feature on Lead:  New Worries Over Lead: Our latest tests find the toxic metal in more products
Recalls.gov A combined federal agency "one stop shop" for all U.S. government recalls

From our Thanksgiving 2007 Newsletter:
  Help Prevent Lead Poisoning by Eating Well
  (Click here to subscribe)

     I don't know if it was the toy recalls, or the hard sell from some of the big box chain stores, or maybe the Christmas decorations going up in our mall before Halloween, but I'm having a tough time getting into the "holiday spirit."
      The toy recalls really scared me. Not only for me and mine, but for you and yours. You can imagine that everyone into toys - making them, selling them, playing with them - is talking about this constantly. What to do?
      Testing, for one. Everything that we carry is tested, and tested. We're working to get all these testing results for you.
      Today I picked up the latest issue of Consumer Reports, and read an article titled " New Worries Over Lead: Our latest tests find the toxic metal in more products " You probably knew about lead paint in older homes, and some of the recalled toys. But families are finding lead in the finish on the platters they serve food on, in belt buckles, in keys, in the less expensive jewelry that girls like to wear, in lipstick and even in the liner of their diaper bags.
      Diaper bag liners? Where we all throw pacifiers, toys, food, everything for baby? Yep.
 What to do?
      There are lead testing kits on the market, and Consumer Reports tested them. You can read the results in their article on-line. I think that is a great start, but if the lead is all around us, what else can we do?
      Apparently, people who consume adequate amounts of calcium and iron don't absorb more lead. That's what they say. The report doesn't specify what amounts by age, but I figure that we should be getting enough of these vital nutrients, anyway. This is just another reason to eat well.
      Infants will get their nutrients from breast milk.
      What should kids eat to get the calcium and iron they need? The usual suspects: greens, dairy, meats, fish, beans, and grains. See bottom for more.
 For some help preparing your baby food, see the So Easy Baby Food Kit. If you just want a cook book, check out the So Easy Baby Food Cookbook.
      I'll be back to introduce you to some wonderful new items we have found - safe, fun and wonderful toys that will still be played with months after the holidays.
      Just wanted to take a moment of your time to let you know that there is something good you can do for your family, another reason to encourage healthy eating habits, at this time of Thanksgiving.
      Enjoy your holidays. If you are traveling, have a safe journey; if staying home, revel in your family.
 Happy Thanksgiving!
 Sharon