Grandpa Richards Kids

Wooden blocks have always been one of my favourite toys. I even have a spare set in case a grandchild comes for a visit.

Unfortunately, one type of wooden block is being recalled, and not for the obvious reason of having too much lead in the paint on the surface. This one had too much barium in the paint.

Product Name: “Wooden Alphabet & Number Blocks” by First Learning

Full Product Description: 50 piece wooden alphabet and number block set painted a variety of colours; manufacturer’s age recommendation 18+ months; item no. 8409; UPC # 834162008198.

More details can be read at Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety site.

A relative’s son received a wireless helicopter last Christmas. The little boy in me was very impressed by this flying gadget. Unfortunately, some of them are not safe.

Product Name: “Sky Scrambler” Wireless Indoor Helicopter

Full Product Description: The “Sky Scrambler” toy helicopters have yellow, red or blue decals; product # 1610865; UPC # 694202303351; BH26047 is printed on the helicopter tail.

Hazard Identified: The rechargeable lithium ion battery inside the helicopters can overheat, catch fire, and ignite nearby combustibles, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

More details can be read at Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety site.

Wooden Toys Recalled by Earthentree Due To Choking and Strangulation Hazards.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 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.

Name of Product: Wooden Toys

Units: About 375

Manufacturer: Earthentree of Kirkland, Wash.

Hazard: The recalled toys contain small parts or can break into small parts, posing a choking hazard. The recalled rattles violate the federal rattle standard. Some of the toys also have a string longer than 12 inches, which can pose a strangulation hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves a variety of wooden toys including egg shakers (maracas), pull toys, rattles, and trains. The toys are painted glossy red, orange, green, brown, yellow or natural wood.

Sold at: Earthentree’s Web site, Fairs, Trade Shows and retail stores nationwide from December 2007 through May 2008 for about $7 to $34.

Girls’ Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Liberty Apparel Due to Strangulation Hazard

Jewel brand girls’ hooded sweatshirts, about 12,000 of them sold in U.S., have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

There have been no reported injuries but onsumers should immediately remove the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard, or return the sweatshirts to either the place of purchase or Liberty Apparel for a full refund.

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08146.html

A recent example of a recall involving paint and China.

Name of Product: Curious George Plush Dolls

Units: About 175,000

Manufacturer: Marvel Toys, of New York, N.Y.

Hazard: Surface paint on the toy’s plastic face and construction hat contain excessive levels of lead, which violates the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Curious George 12-inch plush dolls with a plastic face. The dolls are dressed to represent five various themes: birthday, fireman, sweet dreams, tool time and tool time with a soft face. The plush dolls were sold with a Curious George storybook or activity book. The following product and SKU numbers are printed on the packaging.

Birthday : 90253/ 8-83199-90253-5
Fireman : 90246/ 8-83199-90246-7
Sweet Dreams : 90247/ 8-83199-90247-4
Tool Time : 90251/ 8-83199-90251-1
Tool Time (soft face) : 90251/ 8-83199-90251-1

Sold at: Toy and discount department stores nationwide from December 2005 through August 2007 for about $15.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Marvel Toys to receive a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Marvel Toys at (800) 352-2064 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.regcen.com/curiousgeorge

To see this recall on the U.S. Government’s CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: the CPSC site.

Another children’s product made in China has been added to the growing list of recalls over concerns about lead, making it the fourth such recall in less than one month.

Health Canada has recalled Favor Set children’s pencils because the coating contains high amounts of lead, just two days after another children’s product was recalled due to similar concerns.

The 16 recalled sets are:

275034 Prehistoric Party Favor Set.
275049 Keep on Truckin Favor Set.
277037 Championship Baseball Favor Set.
277042 Championship Soccer Favor Set.
277721 Championship Basketball Favor Set.
277751 Championship Football Favor Set.
278128 Camouflage Favor Set.
278222 Pirate Party Favor Set.
279756 Hearts & Flowers Favor Set.
279760 Unicorn Magic Favor Set.
279763 Frogs & Lizards Favor Set.
279765 Princess Favor Set.
279766 Shimmering Butterfly Favor Set.
279780 Underwater Friends Favor Set.
279781 Safari Party Favor Set.
349949 Glitzy Girl Favor Set.

As of late August 2007 some brands of car seats are the subject of a recall. Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Safety 1st car seats have a strap that can loosen which could lead to a child being injured if there’s a car accident. Dorel Juvenile Group which makes the seats will provide a replacement strap.

For more on the recall, and models involved, please go to the Dorel website and scroll to the bottom of the page for the link.

I was shocked to find out that children’s products with lead in them are still managing to enter the United States and showing up on store shelves. Here is a recent advisory from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Name of product: Children’s “Groovy Grabber” Bracelets

Units: About 4 million

Manufacturer: A&A Global Industries, of Cockeysville, Md.

Hazard: The paint on the metallic band beneath the decorative cover
contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young
children and can cause adverse health effects.

Description: The recalled bracelets are made of flexible metal bands
wrapped in decorative plastic covers. The bracelets come in various
colors and designs, including smiley faces, Chinese symbols, dogs, cats,
aliens, checker boards, and flames.

Sold in: Vending machines located in malls, discount, department and
grocery stores nationwide from November 2005 through March 2007 for 25
cents.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled bracelets away
from children and discard them.

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the
recalled product, please go to:
this link.

Name of product: Metal Key Chains

Units: About 396,000

Importer: Dollar General Merchandising, Inc., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Hazard: The key chains contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if
ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Description: This recall involves three styles of metal key chains
including a flip flop design, dangling charms and a letter. The flip
flop charms were sold in purple, yellow and aqua blue and have a flower
at the top. Charms on the dangling-style key chain include a cross,
flower, shamrock, and a heart that hangs from a short silver chain. The
letter-style key chain is a silver metal letter in the English alphabet.
The words “KeyChain” and “Dollar General $1.25″ are printed on the front
of the packaging for each style.

Sold at: Dollar General stores nationwide from December 2005 through
January 2007 for $1.25.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these key chains away from
young children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund
or replacement product.

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the
recalled product, please go to:
this link.