House Approves Legislation for Tougher Toy Standards

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

31 Jul 2008 11:15 AM

Toys should not be hazardous to our children's health. It has long been assumed that the things that we buy and give to our children, those same toys, teethers, and pacifiers that our babies put in their mouths, are safe. But as we all know now, that is not the case.

In a bold move yesterday, the House overwhelmingly approved legislation that would ban lead from baby toys and children's products. These are the toughest standards for lead in the world. In addition, the legislation also bans six types of phthalates in plastic products meant for children. Third-party testing of these products would be required, to be monitored by the Consumer Safety Commission, and that is a key step to ensure the safety of our children.

The recalls of toys because of lead contamination has been in the news. At least one little boy in Minnesota died of lead poisoning when he swallowed a jewelry charm. And I personally know one family who had a health scare when their one-year-old son swallowed a small toy resulting in high levels of lead in his system.

You also may have heard of BPA. This is a chemical or actually series of chemicals that can be grouped together called phthalates, that has been shown to cause reproductive issues for males and the onset of early puberty in females when tested on lab animals. Another study showed that the amount of lotion, powder and shampoo that is used on a baby directly correlates to the amount of phthalates that are found in the baby's urine. Phthalates gives plastics their flexibility and can be found in everything from those shampoo bottles, bath books and rubber duckies to sippy cups, baby bottles and teethers to toys.

While I applaud this legislation, which was approved by a 424 to 1 vote (with Republican Ron Paul of Texas dissenting), isn't it a shame that it takes a massive recall of 45 million toys and products to act as catalyst for change. My own children chewed on teethers, played with rubber duckies and bath books, drank from sippy cups and put plenty of toys in their mouths. All of the time I had no idea that I was putting them in danger.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

More Great Articles:

Important Child Safety Recalls: July 21, 2008

The Best Things to Buy Used: Toys 2

A Dangerous Pacifier Practice

Printable Toys

BPA Is In Formula Cans Too

Removing BPA from Your Home

Minimizing Your Baby's Exposure to BPA

Neurosurgeon Warns that Cell Phones are Worse than Smoking

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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Kara (21275) 31 Jul 2008 11:27 AM

What do they do with all the recalled products? Do they just end up in the garbage? or do they recycle them for something else?

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 31 Jul 2008 11:44 AM

That is a great question. My guess is that they are thrown away into a landfill most of the time. I know that when I returned a toy to Target, it was placed directly into a dumpster.

Kara (21275) 31 Jul 2008 05:17 PM

That's so sad.

deedee1231 (4030) 31 Jul 2008 05:27 PM

I imagine this new legislation will give toy manufacturers an excuse to raise toy prices. I had a few items that had to be turned in after the big toy recall a few years ago. A Dora dollouse and some Diego stuff. I got a coupon for replacement items and I don't imagine that is helping these companies bottom line.

Valorie Delp (49340) 31 Jul 2008 05:59 PM

In this case, they can't recycle because there would still be the lead paint issue. So into the dumpster it goes!

Kara (21275) 31 Jul 2008 06:33 PM

Isn't there something safe they can use the lead that won't bother anyone? I dont really think its any better in the trash

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 01 Aug 2008 04:31 AM

I agree. There should be some way of safely disposing of the lead. Unfortunately, lead can be found in most natural water supplies, already, to the best of my knowledge.

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 01 Aug 2008 04:33 AM

There has got to be some cost involved with finding new "chemicals" to make the plastic flexible and find supplies that won't use lead. As far as the monitoring cost, that will all be put on the Consumer Safety Commission which was given more funding for this purpose.

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 06 Aug 2008 04:35 AM

Do you think there is enough media on this? Lat night I was watching a TV show in which the little girl was using the exact same toy broom that I brought back to the store because of a lead recall. I don't know when the show was filmed, but it had me cringing.

Kara (21275) 06 Aug 2008 04:59 AM

I do think it is hard for most parents to know which toys are safe and which ones are not. I wanted all of Katelyn's toys tested and did buy home testing kits but couldn't afford enough for all of them lol and there are so many toys that have been recalled

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 06 Aug 2008 06:04 AM

Can you tell me more about the home testing kits? Did they find anything? How do they work?

Valorie Delp (49340) 06 Aug 2008 06:50 AM

I'm not a big fan of home tests. I think they mostly prey on parents' fears. Honestly, I think that stuff has been in our toys, water, etc. for forever. We all survived toys with lead and houses painted with lead paint. While I'm all for improvement, I just don't think it's as big of a deal as the media makes it out to be. (ducking now)

ruthann8 (6378) 06 Aug 2008 07:08 AM

If you fear your child has lead in there system have your child tested (most insurance companies will pay for this). Then if they do have an unsafe amount in there system then look for the cause and remove it (some states offer help in finding the source and removing it). Lead is everywhere you just have to figure out where your child my be getting it from. The most common place is window sills, baseboards, very old carpet (from lead dust). But I do believe that companies should not be allowed to make toys with lead paint or any unsafe substance.

Samual (11722) 06 Aug 2008 07:26 AM

If lead was so unsafe, all of those born between 200-10 years ago, would surely have health problems associated with lead?

Kara (21275) 06 Aug 2008 07:30 AM

I don't know how accurate they are but there are a few different ones I bought them from ace hardware because it is acrossed the street. One type you put a drop of water on it then rub it on the surface you want to test if the fabric changes to a certain color it tested positive. the other one is in a tube u break the end and rub it on and if it changes to a certian color its positive. I wouldn't rely on them 100% but they did enough to put my mind at rest for awhile. They tested Kate at 12 months which seems like so long ago...I wouldnt' think she had too much unless she started being really....stupid. Then I would wonder.