A to Z: No Mouth!

Once upon a time, way back in June, Moms only had to worry about choking hazards and drug-resistant germ strains when Baby gnawed on a toy. Ah, the quaint olden days…

Now every week seems to bring news of another recall of Chinese-manufactured toys slathered in lead paint or dotted with dangerous mini-magnets that can become intestinal perforation hazards. (Even as I was writing this, FOUR more lead paint toy recalls were announced!) And, if that’s not enough, New Zealand announced this week that it’s investigating Chinese clothing imports, after extremely high levels of formaldehyde (not only generally gross, but also a carcinogen) were found in some randomly tested items.

As I survey our toy-strewn family room, I wonder which lead-laced toys still lurk -- especially among those not produced by major manufacturers with their in-house test labs and valuable brand names to uphold.

“No mouth, no mouth,” I bark at my 22-month-old, with increasing urgency, “No mouth!”

Some moms I know are gathering up any painted plastic toys made in China and rationing their children’s access to them. My mother-in-law recently chose a plastic tub toy made in Denmark for our toddler, reasoning that it would be safe.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution points out that some parents are turning to organic toys as a safe alternative, and old fashioned toys like rag dolls and wooden cars. Treehugger.com has a guide to greening your child’s toy box.

On NPR last week, Dr. Jerome Paulson, a pediatrician at the National Children's Medical Center in Washington, D.C., said acute lead poisoning probably isn’t a risk for most kids. But he theorized that for a generation of American children, IQ, attention span and behavior could be affected in subtle ways: “The risk for any one child from any one toy is pretty low, but from a public health standpoint, tens of thousands of kids individually exposed means that for society as a whole, there may be a lot of kids who sustain a little bit of damage.”

(Of course, how would we distinguish this from the effect of cell phones and video games, I wonder?)

Maybe it’s time to let kids go back to eating dirt… all of a sudden, that doesn’t seem like such a bad thing.

Just for the record, here's the daunting list of toy recalls so far this summer based on lead or magnet concerns:

Martin Designs Inc. Recalls SpongeBob SquarePants Character Address Books and Journals Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard– Aug 22

Thomas and Friends, Curious George and Other Spinning Tops and Tin Pails Recalled By Schylling Associates Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard – Aug 22

Children’s Charm Bracelets Sold by Buy-Rite Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure – Aug 22

Children’s Metal Jewelry Recalled by TOBY N.Y.C. Due to Risk of Lead Exposure – Aug 22

Hampton Direct Recalls Magnetic Toy Train Sets Due to Lead Exposure Risk – Aug 22

Additional Reports of Magnets Detaching from Polly Pocket Play Sets Prompts Expanded Recall by Mattel – Aug 14

Mattel Recalls Doggie Day Care Magnetic Toys Due to Magnets Coming Loose – Aug 14

Mattel Recalls Barbie and Tanner™ Magnetic Toys Due to Magnets Coming Loose – Aug 14

Mattel Recalls Batman and One Piece Magnetic Action Figure Sets Due To Magnets Coming Loose – Aug 14

Mattel Recalls “Sarge” Die Cast Toy Cars Due To Violation of Lead Safety Standard – Aug 14

Fisher-Price Recalls Licensed Character Toys Due To Lead Poisoning Hazard – Aug 2

Children's Earrings Sold at Wal-Mart Stores in Florida Recalled by Uncas Manufacturing Co. Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard – July 17