Ever since that celebrated lead poisoning scandal that had involved China on its toys, it has apparently spread as far as the other baby products coming from them. In fact, it has raised the level of expectancy on quality and hazzards. With these harmful deterrents, it has come to the attention of most parents to be more alert on the things that they buy.

Babies are quite fragile and these unseen harmful toxins may more or less be a critical factor in their growth and well-being in the long run. Just read this post from Yahoo on such health issues that are sure to make you think twice the next time you buy a baby product for your child.

Baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose infants to chemicals that have been linked with possible reproductive problems, a small study suggests.

The chemicals, called phthalates, are found in many ordinary products including cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. They are used to stabilize fragrances and make plastics flexible.

(Source) Yahoo Health

[tags]harmful_toxins, child_baby, baby_product, critical_factor, lead_poisoning, baby_products, health_issues, medical_supplies, scandal, parents, china, toys[/tags]

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WASHINGTON, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Name of product: Little People® Builders’ Load ‘n Go Wagon

Units: About 208,000 in the U.S. and 2,800 in Canada

Importer: Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y.

Hazard: The back of the wagon’s plastic handle has molded-in reinforcement. This design adds stiffness and facilitates children gripping the handle. The handle poses a laceration hazard if a child falls on it.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and Fisher-Price are aware of seven reports of injuries, including five reports of children requiring surgical glue or stitches.

Description: This recall involves the Fisher-Price’s Little People® Builders’ Load ‘n Go Wagon model number P8977.  The product includes a red wagon with a yellow handle, multi-colored plastic blocks and a dog figure. The model number is located on the bottom of the wagon. “Little People® Builders” is found on a label on the side of the wagon and “Fisher-Price” is embossed on the handle. Wagons with green handles are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Mass merchandise retail stores nationwide from June 2009 through July 2011 for about $25. Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled wagons away from children and contact Fisher-Price for instructions on how to obtain a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fisher-Price at (800) 432-5437 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.service.mattel.com.

Note: Health Canada‘s press release is available

Article source: PRNewswire

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Innovative Baby and Toddler Company Seeking Entries for Scholarship Contest

NORTH HILLS, Calif., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Munchkin, Inc., leading designer of infant and toddler products, today announced a contest to celebrate the company’s 20-year anniversary and put the spotlight on its many fans. On July 26, the company will launch a national search for five babies to make up “The Munchkin Bunch,” a new campaign that will follow each member through the earliest stages of their childhood.  Munchkin invites parents of infants to nominate their children to become part of this exclusive bunch and enjoy a variety of special benefits.

Members of “The Munchkin Bunch” will receive six months of free product deliveries, consisting of the company’s award-winning Arm Hammer™ Diaper Pail, Safety Gates, fresh feeding accessories, bath toys and other items from its signature line that help make parents’ lives easier.  Additionally, the five selected participants will each be awarded a $1,000 financial scholarship at the end of the campaign.  Munchkin will share the growth and progress of the five babies through their phases of development on its social media pages.

“At Munchkin, the most rewarding aspect over the past twenty years has been the opportunity to see the joy our products bring to both parents and children,” said Steven Dunn, Chairman and CEO of Munchkin.  ”We are launching The Munchkin Bunch to spotlight and celebrate a few of our tiniest fans, and together with their families, witness their delight in the little things that make each of them truly special.  Munchkin will share in the excitement as each baby reaches a new milestone – from eating and playing, to waking and talking.”

To nominate a child, parents should visit the Munchkin Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/MunchkinInc) and enter their child via the contest tab.  Nominations must be posted by August 25, with the top entries being revealed on September 1 for public voting.  From September 1 to October 1, Facebook fans will be able to help choose the five lucky babies by voting on ten finalists, who have been selected based on their application answers and photos.  The five members of “The Munchkin Bunch” will be announced on October 1, 2011.  Social media followers are also welcome to participate in the voting and ongoing contest giveaways.

About Munchkin, Inc.

Founded in 1991, Munchkin, Inc. is a private company that creates innovative baby and toddler

Article source: PRNewswire

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Features Signature Family-Friendly Fun, Spirited Action and Irreverent Humor – Along with Two Bonus Shorts and an Exclusive Minifigure!

SAN FRANCISCO, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — After the Cartoon Network debut of their first-ever original television special, The LEGO Group and Lucasfilm will join forces once again to bring LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace to Blu-ray Disc and DVD. Launching on September 16, the 22-minute original standalone special will feature the charm, action and irreverent humor that have become the signature style of LEGO Star Wars animation collaborations and will include five LEGO Star Wars shorts, as well as an exclusive, collectible minifigure.

LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace BD/DVD combo pack is available now for pre-order exclusively at WalMart.com.

Featuring situations, characters and locations from throughout the entire Star Wars Saga, the original adventure is written by Emmy Award winner Michael Price (The Simpsons) and produced by Oscar-winning Animal Logic, the production company behind Happy Feet.

To date, Star Wars is the first and most successful LEGO licensed product collection in the company’s history, generating more than 200 LEGO models and approximately 275 LEGO minifigures inspired by the Saga, which has also spurred a blockbuster collection of videogames, selling 25 million units to date worldwide. In addition to its popularity among younger fans, a significant portion of the LEGO Star Wars consumer fan base is made up of adult fans and franchise collectors.

BONUS MATERIAL :

• Hunt for R2D2
• Bombad Bounty
• Star Wars in Two Minutes (Part 1)
• Star Wars in 2 Minutes (Part 2)
• Star Wars Clone Wars In Cinema

SYNOPSIS:

A routine Jedi Academy field trip is turned into a rip-roaring comic adventure in LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace. Tour guide Master Yoda leads a group of rambunctious Jedi Younglings through Senate chambers when he senses a disturbance in the Force. Summoned to help save the Republic, he discovers that one of the Younglings secretly boarded his ship…and has a taste for adventure! Meanwhile, C-3PO and R2-D2 are put in charge of the boisterous group and find themselves in over their heads. As the evil Sith prepare to wreak havoc, it’s up to Yoda and the Droids to ensure that their young charges aren’t torn to bricks!

Lucasfilm, Star Wars and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM © Lucasfilm Ltd.  All rights reserved.  All other trademarks and trade

Article source: PRNewswire

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Stay of Enforcement for Testing Until December 31, 2011

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 5-0 on July 20 to approve new third party testing requirements, through a notice of requirements, to ensure the safety of children’s toys. While the toy industry has had to comply with mandatory toy safety requirements for more than two years, the Commission voted to give manufacturers, importers and private labelers additional time to put a third party testing program into place.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

CPSC has approved a stay of enforcement on the requirement for third party testing and certification of children’s toys until December 31, 2011. The Commission will enforce third party testing and certification of compliance based on the testing for toys manufactured or imported after that date.

In the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), Congress required that the existing voluntary standard become a mandatory standard and directed CPSC to require testing to that standard.  In May 2009, the Commission adopted the updated voluntary ASTM standard known as F 963-08 as the mandatory safety standard for toys and ASTM F 963-07-1 as the mandatory safety standard for toy chests.

Safeguards in the mandatory toy standard strive to eliminate electrical, thermal and mechanical hazards, including cuts from broken wires, strangulations from long cords, burns from heating elements, shocks from electrical circuits and suffocations from hemispherical-shaped objects.

Commissioner’s Statements: Chairman Inez Tenenbaum and Commissioner Nancy Nord (both PDF).

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.cpsc.gov

Article source: PRNewswire