Toxic Chemicals Found in Brand-Name Baby Products
How safe are your baby’s toys? Not as safe as you think. On December 13, the Environmental Health Strategy Center put out a report identifying 650 brand-name products with hormone-disrupting toxic chemicals, including BPA and NPEs. Not relegated exclusively to baby products, the report reveals that common toys for young children, such as PLAYMOBIL figures and Chicco baby rattles, contain BPA.
BPA, we mentioned before, mimics estrogen, harming brain development and behavior in the process. The report mentions that 18 states have passed 70 laws regulating chemicals in products over the past decade, but a national measure, such as the Safe Chemicals Act, should be in place. Although only in initial stages at the moment, the Safe Chemicals Act would require chemical manufacturers to disclose health information and safety about compounds and restrict the most harmful. The act would replace the current Toxic Substance Control Act, which has had no changes in 35 years.
Although states are already enacting laws, companies found to have potentially-harmful chemicals in baby products are addressing the issue themselves. One is Johnson & Johnson. According to a November Associated Press article, Johnson & Johnson has been working to remove traces of toxic chemicals from baby products. In May 2009, Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo was found to contain two potentially carcinogenic chemicals, and the brand has experienced two-dozen recalls over two years. As far as improving the quality of baby toys, the company has since removed all phthalates from baby products.
Parents shouldn’t have to seek out green products to keep chemicals away from their children – especially those that harm development, like BPA. Enacting a national law regulating chemicals would be one step toward ensuring the greater availability of healthier baby products.
Suggestions for Green Baby Gifts
Going green is becoming essential, going from where electricity and food come from to baby products. If you are looking to go green with Christmas or Chanukah presents for your baby or another’s child, finding such items can be difficult at conventional retailers. For staying away from toxic chemicals, PVC, and BPA, consider these suggestions for green holiday baby gifts:
• A Regal Rocker Moses Basket Stand. Ideal for parents already using Moses baskets as temporary sleeping areas for their children, these stands are made out of all-natural organic wood, with no paint, stains, or toxic finishes added.
• The Lassig Vintage Metro Diaper Bag. Many mothers want stylish diaper bags, and this Lassig model has an eye-catching look, all while being made without PVC, nickel, AZO dyes, and phthalates.
• A Yellow Label Pink Cuddle Doll. With many baby toys, you don’t know if the item was made in the United States or overseas with child labor. Yellow Label Pink Cuddle Dolls, on the other hand, are made entirely by hand – no machines are used – in accordance with Fair Trade Practices.
• Cotton Monkey Crib Bedding. With a bright appearance, Cotton Monkey crib bedding is made out of organic cotton and wool, which has natural antimicrobial properties and is resistant to dust and mites.
• A Naturepedic Mattress. Baby mattresses are often made with foam containing fire-retardant chemicals, which leach out and get into a child’s environment. Because a baby sleeps for 70 percent of its first year, having a space free of chemicals is crucial. Naturepedic baby mattresses, which are also available in sizes for toddlers, are made with organic cotton, without harmful chemicals or allergens.
• An Eco-friendly diaper cake. There’s no such thing as too many diapers. For parents with a new baby, go green with one of these Rattlecake diaper cakes, which include toys made out of organic cotton and Seventh Generation diapers.
Baby Gifts for the Holiday Season
The holiday season is approaching, and no matter if you celebrate Christmas or Chanukah, you might find yourself looking for baby gifts – for your own child or a friend’s. If you are unsure about what to get, consider these pointers below.
• A child can never have too many toys. Yet, the usefulness of the toy counts. While friends, particularly, may be tempted to purchase just any toy, infants and toddlers have specific needs in play, which assists with building sensory, gross and fine motor, critical-thinking, and creative skills. In this case, look out for baby toys in black, red, and white, which visually stimulate a child, or those that have various textures, patterns, or sounds. Toddlers, on the other hand, need to work on gross motor skills, and for such a child, you should be on the lookout for blocks, riding toys, or dolls, all of which should be soft.
• Parents always need baby clothes, especially as young children quickly go through garments. No matter if you are shopping for your own child or someone else’s, stay practical with this gift. However, know the child’s age or size before purchasing any onesies, pants, footies, or t-shirts beforehand.
• Generally, veer away from larger presents, such as furniture, strollers, and car seats. Parents with babies or young children likely have these items already. However, if you know a parent in need of any of these items, consider purchasing one as a useful present.
• Go a practical route but dress up your gift. While basic, holiday diaper cakes are perfect for parents with babies and toddlers. Designed with a holiday theme, such diaper cakes contain 80 to 150 diapers, as well as various baby products on the outside. Overall, such a present helps new parents cut down on their diaper budget.
• Consider the parent. Do you know a mother looking for a larger or more stylish diaper bag? Find one that looks similar to a high-end handbag but has all the components a parent needs for taking a child out.
Do Children Actually Learn from Educational Toys?
Many baby toys claim to teach a skill, be it better reading or math ability, a larger vocabulary, or problem-solving skills. Parents, it appears, are buying into these claims, as sales of educational baby toys went up six percent last year. At the same time, though, experts are questioning the claims behind educational baby toys, particularly if children actually learn anything from them.
While skills can be learned in a number of ways, there’s essentially two basic approaches: classroom learning style with a direct goal or intention, or indirect discovery and explanation. Many educational toys, including Baby Einstein and Your Baby Can Read, take the former approach. While the educational claims of expanded vocabulary of Baby Einstein were disproved, plenty more toys assert similar results. At the same time, measuring how much a child learned from a particular toy is difficult.
Even if studies cannot be performed on all educational baby toys out there, the advertisements claiming increased learning can. Targeting both parents and their children, marketing for such toys is unregulated. Russ Heimerich, spokesman for the California Department of Consumer Affairs, stated about this issue:
“Nobody checks the ads and says, ‘No, you can’t say that.’ That would be prior restraint. Unless it’s doing someone harm or grossly misleading, you have to give the benefit of the doubt to the people making the claim.”
That’s not to say that no baby toys are educational. Rather, toys without a specific purpose, such as blocks, may be better at teaching that a video geared toward learning words or math. Such toys specifically focus on exploration and creativity, and a child ends up learning both mental and physical skills as a result. The Early Years Institute President Dana Friedman stated about choosing baby toys:
“Generally speaking, the simpler the toy, the more complex the play. The more complex the toy, the more simple the play. You want to find toys where children have options for what they do with it. If it’s a toy that can only be used in one way, don’t get it.”
Green Baby Showers: Putting Together The Event and Purchasing Baby Gifts
Filed under: Baby Clothes, Baby Gear, Baby Showers, Baby Toys, Premier Baby Stores
Recently, Mother Nature Network (MNN.com) published a letter from a woman about putting together a green baby shower. Many of Morieka Johnson’s suggestions mirror those we have suggested for being economical with baby products and extend to all aspects of a shower:
• Send out digital invitations instead of paper
• Avoid games
• Be practical with decorations
• Hold a potluck and have all guests bring a meal to chip in
• Have all invited parents bring used, lightly-worn baby products, such as clothing and sheets, but be careful with larger items, such as strollers, car seats, and cribs.
While these suggestions make a baby shower green and economical, Johnson didn’t touch on one growing field of baby products: green, or eco-friendly, items. Going green is no longer a luxury, and this is reflected in the availability and styles of baby products, from diaper cakes to toys and clothing. Although Johnson makes some good points for putting together a baby shower, consider our suggestions:
• Going green does not mean that decorations or presents need to be understated. If you are planning the party and want to provide a great baby gift, consider eco-friendly diaper cakes, such as these from Rattlecake. Eco-friendly diaper cakes come in gender-neutral styles and animal themes, are made out of Seventh Generation diapers, include Burt’s Bees baby products, and come with Dandelion baby toys, all of which are made out of organic cotton and corn fiber filling.
• Bring an eco-friendly and practical baby gift. Green baby clothing, toys, and sheets no longer have the same uniform off-white color they did when going green reached public consciousness 20 years ago. Now, green baby products come in several colors – many of which are bright and bold – and are affordably priced. Many baby boutiques carry green baby clothing, toys, sheets, and diaper bags, and Dada Baby Boutique has a particularly large selection of green baby products.
Victoria Beckham Had a Pink, Posh Baby Shower
Filed under: Baby Bath Time, Baby Clothes, Baby Gear, Baby Showers, Baby Toys
The tabloids were a bit late on this one, but, as mentioned in recent news on Monday, Victoria Beckham had her baby shower on May 7 at the Hotel Le Petit Ermitage in Hollywood. According to celebrity blog Hollywood Life, the former Spice Girl and current fashion designer had a pink-themed baby shower and invited A-listers Eva Longoria, Nichole Richie, and Selma Blair. According to the Daily Mail, however, Beckham had insisted on a pink baby shower but local baby boutique Beginnings mentioned they saw invited celebrities choosing red baby gifts.
Even though the news is late (seriously, where was the paparazzi for this?), at least both the Daily Mail and Hollywood Life aren’t relying on anonymous sources.
If you’re reading this, you likely want to know the details of the shower, particularly the gifts. According to both pieces, the list of baby gifts at Beckham’s shower included:
• A Quinny Buzz Special Edition Stroller in pink
• A mamaRoo baby swing
• A Hoppop bath tub
• A Little Giraffe Luxe Blanket
• A Timi + Leslie diaper bag
• A custom-made stuffed giraffe by Melissa & Doug
• A Bonpoint clothing set
• An Orbit Baby Infant Stroller in Red
• A Bloom Alma Crib; and
• A Bloom Fresco high chair
The interest in celebrity babies has increased in recent years. Whether you attribute it to Suri Cruise’s fashion choices or Angelia Jolie’s gaggle of adopted children, you can easily see news about stars’ children taking up pages in tabloids and magazines. But celebrity baby products aren’t as far removed from your budget as, say, a pair of Louboutins or an Alexander McQueen purse. In fact, many baby boutiques carry some of the brands found at Victoria Beckham’s baby shower.
Find Quinny Buzz strollers and Timi and Leslie diaper bags at Baby and Me Boutique. Melizza & Doug baby toys and Little Giraffe baby furniture, bedding, and clothing are available through Hunky Dory.
Are Your Baby Can Read Advertisements False, Deceptive?
You have likely seen the commercials for Your Baby Can Read, perhaps during the day or late at night in a series of infomercials. If you’re one of the few parents that has not caught a glimpse of these ubiquitous advertisements, watch below:
Recently, however, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission against Your Baby Can Read, claiming the educational toy’s advertisements are false and deceptive.
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, last decade, crusaded against Baby Einstein, another line of educational baby toys claiming to boost a child’s vocabulary. Parents who purchased Baby Einstein were refunded, after multiple studies disproved the educational toys line’s claims. In fact, as we discussed before, children who used Baby Einstein had smaller vocabularies than those who learned words solely from interacting with parents.
Beyond calling Your Baby Can Read’s advertising tactics “deceptive,” the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood states the educational toys are harmful, as they require a young child to sit in front of a computer or television screen. Although Your Baby Can Read incorporates some interaction, it takes a similar approach as Baby Einstein does.
Your Baby Can Read, obviously, has a counterargument. They state one million parents have bought their products and are satisfied.
But, at the same time, just as much if not more parents purchased Baby Einstein and studies proving the ineffectiveness of this toy line resulted in refunds.
In terms of using educational toys for babies and toddlers, which work better? Is it possible to teach a child under two years of age to read? Or, as many toys designed for children at this age are geared toward motor skills, should parents be more concerned with other stages of development?
What Happens If My Baby Products Are Recalled?
Filed under: Baby Gear, Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping, Baby Toys, Parenting
Drop side crib
In the event of the recall you should find out if the manufacturer will be sending out safety kits to correct the hazard. If not, a newer baby product needs to be purchased.
Always think about recalls beforehand and send in a registration card for the baby product. You never know when it will come in handy.
A product recall, on the other hand, is often a last resort, one taken as the result of multiple injuries or deaths. Like we saw with drop side cribs, many brands were recalled over the past decade for entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation-related deaths. Enough brand recalls over time resulted in the government banning the product from stores, daycares, and any location needing cribs.
Before you hear about a product recall, check the baby toys and furniture yourself. U.S. News & World Report gives the following suggestions for parents:
• Toys should not be able to fit in a child’s mouth.
• Always look for broken parts on the toy and around you home.
• Keep toys designed for older children out of reach.
• Avoid motorized toys, cords and strings, and balloons.
• Find out if the toys are safety tested.
• Always throw away the packaging.
Take a similar approach with baby furniture. Look for suffocation hazards inside a crib, such as stuffed animals or bumpers. Check the durability of hardware. If any item in the nursery has a cord, keep it as far away from the crib as possible.
Concerns with Gendered Baby Toys
You have been invited to a baby shower and are looking for a gift at the last minute. You end up going to a toy store, only to find out they are short on baby items. It appears that most of the boy toys for an infant are gone. Instead, you are faced with a rack of pink items, specifically for a baby girl. What do you do?
If this shower is for a baby girl, you’re in luck – and probably have more than a few items from which to choose. For a boy on the other hand, what in the world do you do?
Rachel Kramer Bussel brings the issue of gendered baby toys up in an article for the Huffington Post. Faced with a dilemma that her favorite baby toy was only found in pink, she sent the pink toy to the parents of a baby boy. Even after the pink baby toy was sent, however, she questions her decision based upon the implications of the color pink. Simply put, pink is for girls only, while blue can be acceptable for both genders, assuming you aren’t giving a baby girl a set of blue army men.
Bussel’s dilemma, however, doesn’t involve the child. Being a toy for an infant, her pink item may be played with for a few months and then forgotten. The parents, on the other hand, may be taken aback – or may think the gift is strange. Worse, they could think Bussel has some kind of feminist agenda to undermine the masculinity of their child.
Concerning gendered toys, there is no concrete answer, aside from knowing the parents. Do you think they could handle a pink baby toy given to their child? If this is the case, go ahead and sent the pink baby toy. If not, find another baby gift as soon as possible.
The comments to Bussel’s piece do not have a resolution, either. Some say it’s fine, others say no, and a few additional voices claim that non-gendered baby toys are the best route.
In this case, finding the lone unisex item at the toy store is your best bet to make everyone happy.
Perfect Holiday Baby Gifts
Filed under: Baby Clothes, Baby Gear, Baby Toys, Premier Baby Stores
It’s the holiday season, and you, like many others, have exchanged gifts with the same people over a number of years. But one of your friends recently had a baby, and although you attended her baby shower, you know she could use a few additional items for her child. If you’re thinking about getting her a baby gift, what should you do? Instead of settling on a green and red onesie, think about other practical options:
• Baby Toys. Children, no matter the age, love toys. If her baby is more than six months old, the child might already be developing gross motor skills – rolling, crawling, and using hands. Even though those black, red, and white mobiles are still kept by the crib, many more options are available. Many baby toys are designed for the child just learning to touch and hold things. In addition to several patterns on the surface, these toys are designed to make noises when touched and have varying textures.
• Baby Clothes. Although new parents are advised to have as many onesies and t-shirts as possible on hand, a few special occasion outfits are also nice. If you plan to buy baby clothes for a new parent, know the baby’s age or size first.
• A Diaper Cake. The quintessential item for any baby shower, a diaper cake is also appropriate for the holidays. Designers and retailers like Rattlecake even make specific holiday cakes. While some are decked out in red and green for the holidays, others come with a plush toy. Diaper cakes, as a practical item, have 80 to 150 diapers arranged in tiers, tied together with ribbon. Many cakes, adding to the decorative quality, come designed with various baby products, such as blankets, bath items, and small toys, on the outside. As parents always need more diapers for the first few years, a diaper cake is an appreciated baby gift for the holidays.