I recently got excited about a sale on Melissa and Doug toys on Amazon. Select toys were 50% off, and I was considering stocking up on a few things that I figure Imp will be in to in the next year or so. Then I started reading some of the reviews, and one of them stated that the reviewer had taken advantage of a free lead testing for toys being run by her children's school and found that some of the M&D toys contained lead paint. M&D assure everyone that they meet all standards, but of course, people started emphasizing that M&D toys are made in China and what would you expect, etc. So the assumption is, if it's made in China, it's likely toxic?
Of course, I started Googling, as I am apt to do, and started finding other info about toxic substances in toys that are supposed to be safe. Many other mom bloggers have commented on the issue, some with personal experience. There were recalls for M&D toys in Canada for too much barium, Thomas the Train toys in 2007 for lead, and more. I bought a large lot of Thomas the Train toys at a yard sale a few years ago, and now am freaking out that some may contain toxic levels of lead. I have no idea where they came from or if they fall into that category because I bought them second hand. I suppose I could get a lead testing kit, but is that overkill?
I try so hard to keep toxins out of my son, but it seems that it is difficult to do so and still be on a budget. I tried to keep much of his food organic during the first year, but it gets expensive -- so I compromised and just bought organic things that are on the "Dirty Dozen" list (http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214). I tried to by safe teethers and such, but I admit to letting him chew on things that may not be totally lead free. One of his favorite toys is a fake pumpkin we got at a Halloween party -- with "Made in China" clearly stamped on the bottom. Should I take it away? Or am I just being paranoid?
It's frustrating that one has to do so much research just to be safe, and then one wonders if one is just being ridiculously over cautious. One of Imp's favorite snacks is produced in China (Baby Mum-mums) and I feel a little weird every time I give them to him even though they are widely produced and sold here in the US with no worries. I'm sure they are safe, but the media and over-Googling has made my worry-meter stay on a rather high level with regards to such things. What's a mom to do?
Some of it is being ridiculously overcautious...and you know the Internet...if you google that you are coughing you are likely to have Whooping Cough or Cancer (seriously...I have a mom friend who always googles this stuff and then asks *why* she does this to herself every. damn. time.)
ReplyDeleteHere is the good news...those thomas toys you got at a yard sale are likely lead free (the company asked you to send back everything you had in the "bad" colors and replaced it free - free shipping and everything) if you are still worried then take out any that are yellow and red and throw them out (blue and green are fine).
The truth is you have to trust your gut. Melissa and Doug toys are good toys. If a lead test would ease your worry than do it. For the record there are lots of options for the budget...You can go to the Waldorf store in Lexington (right next to the school) and get things for a good price. You could give Imp what you have and then wait for clearance sales in January to pick up next year's stash. Look for toys on Etsy that are American Made and see if you can score a deal.
No matter what, he will be fine because he is a healthy boy and you are doing the very best for him and that is all that any of us can do.