4th of July Preparation

With all the recalls we've had over the last year of things made in China, I wonder how safe it is to trust them to make this stuff for us?!?! If you've purchased fireworks already, make sure to check for recalls! Click on the recall headlines to see the official recall notice with pictures. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2008
Release #08-322
Fireworks Over America Recalls Fireworks Due to Shock Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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: Oh Chute Parachute with Streamer Fireworks
Units: About 84,250
Distributor: Fireworks Over America, of Springfield, Mo.
Hazard: The parachutes can become entangled in overhead power lines causing a shock hazard to users and bystanders.
Incidents/Injuries: Fireworks Over America has received one report of entanglement, in which a consumer's hand was burned and shocked.
Description: The recalled Oh Chute Parachute with streamers is a firework item with a light blue cylinder with white clouds. The model name is printed in triplicate on the front of the tube and FOA #2085 is on the lower back of the tube. This item is sold separately or in a box of four.
Sold by: Various fireworks stores nationwide from April 2007 through June 2008 for about $2.50 each and $8 a box.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return it to either the place of purchase or Fireworks Over America for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fireworks Over America at (800) 345-3957 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m, CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.fireworksoveramerica.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2008
Release #08-325
Black Cat Fireworks Recalls Fireworks Due to Injury Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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: Screech and Scream Fountain Fireworks
Units: About 20,000
Distributor: Black Cat Fireworks, of Prairie Village, Kan.
Importer: Shiu Fung Fireworks, of China
Hazard: The firework can produce a loud bang and unexpectedly scatter debris, posing an injury hazard to the user and bystanders.
Incidents/Injuries: No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recalled Screech and Scream Fountain is a firework item with a yellow and red cylinder with red balls. The model name is printed on the front of the tube.
Sold at: Various fireworks stores nationwide from October 2006 through June 2008 for about $7.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return it to either the place of purchase or Black Cat Fireworks for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Black Cat Fireworks collect at (913) 649-0537 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.blackcatfireworks.com

Is Cheap Worth It?

This is just crazy. It's only October 4, and already this month 9 recalls have been issued for children's items made in China. Eight were recalled for excessive lead content, one for possible choking hazard. There were 18 recalls from China in September. Why are we putting up with this???

Keep up to date with these sites:

• NotChinaMade.net
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Tiny Talk Tuesday & Our First Bus Ride

Elizabeth's vocabulary has now expanded to include vowel sounds and consonant sounds. Now that she's got dadada down, mamama seems to be a thing of the past. But I will always remember that she said my name first! At times her dadada seems like dadid... hmmm... could she seriously be saying David? Yesterday was her 8 month birthday. I just can't believe it. No teeth yet, but look how long her hair is getting!

Monday, we went with Grandma's quilt club, the Sew & Sews, to the big Jo-Ann Superstore in Dallas. Before leaving the church, we all made a potty run. Grandma ended up in the stall beside us, and she waved under the partition. David quickly caught on...

D: Grandmas go tt in the potty?
Mom: Yes.
D (rather loudly): Great job, Grandma!!!
Loud cackles from the rest of the bathroom.

We went in the church bus, making this both David & Elizabeth's first bus ride! David thought it was pretty cool getting on the bus.

I think he liked the big windows and he pointed out all colors of cars on the highways, a Target truck, and lots of rain.

Elizabeth also seemed to enjoy herself. Actually, she slept most of the time that the bus was rolling.

We quietly sang a few songs while the ladies visited with each other. David had finished off all 3 of the granola bars that I brought by about 30 minutes into the trip!

Grandpa was our bus driver. He wore his cowboy hat.

After letting the ladies off at Jo-Ann's, we stayed in the bus a little bit while Elizabeth nursed, then went to the Whole Foods Market across the parking lot where I was able to get some yummy fresh bread, David's Omega-3 Oil, and some gDiapers liners! (Earth-Friendly Diapers. Happy Baby. Happy Planet.) We got our lunch in the Market. I had a delicious sandwich from the deli & David had a slice of 4-cheese pizza. When I opened his box, he exclaimed, "PIZZA!"

We did finally make it to Jo-Ann's where David pleaded, "Ride moving stairs, Mom???" (the escalator), but since we had a basket we rode the glass elevator instead. Much to my surprise, that suited him as well & on the way back down, he asked, "Ride the escalator, Mom???" meaning the elevator this time!

Speaking of Jo-Ann's, if you bought the Robbie Ducky Watering Can this year, you need to take it back to the store ASAP, as it is another made in China play pretty contaminated with excessive levels of lead paint. I hope you're thinking of alternatives to made in China toys for Christmas this year... seems that nothing's safe these days. NotChinaMade.net has a list of alternative shopping websites and I have added a Toys Made in the USA page in my Amazon store.

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I know I covered more than just Tiny Talk today, but if you want to read more cute things kids are saying, visit Not Before 7. Even though she's on vacation, I think Tiny Talk Tuesday will still be there.

Do you have any of these toys?

Yesterday, Mattel announced even more toy recalls! The following toys have been recalled due to excessive lead content (and yes, they were all manufactured in China):

• It's a Big Big World 6-in-1 Bongo Band toys
• Geo-Trax Locomotives
• 7 different Barbie Accessories

To check out the specifics on these recalls, visit the Mattel Product Recall page.

Thanks to my sister for bringing this to my attention. Keep up with product recalls by visiting NotChinaMade.net, where Mommy Zabs keeps you on top of things with daily updates.

Do you think Chinese children play with toys that were made in China?

Plastics

My sister asked me about which plastics are the bad ones that have been in the news lately. Here is how I understand it: Check the number in the recycling code on the bottom of the plastic item. 1, 2, 4, and 5 are usually safe. 3, 6, and 7 are usually not safe. Heat on these old containers may increase the likelihood of chemicals migrating into your food (heating in the microwave, placing hot food in them, heating them with plastic wrap, and washing them in the dishwasher for example). I really want to start using more glass dishes when we get our own house.

There is a good article specifically on safer sippy cups here: ZRecommends' Sippy Cup Showdown and they followed up with Baby Bottle Safe Alternatives also. I highly recommend these links if you are in the baby bottles or sippy cup stage of life!

I've compiled a shopping list of BPA-Free cups and bottles in one convenient location here.

A New Bib for Elizabeth

After reading some of the information on recent bib recalls over at NotChinaMade.net, I decided to take some of my fabric that I used recently for a diaper and make a bib!



The back makes good use of an old towel and I included a velcro closure on it because I hate to tie things around baby's neck.

This took all of about 5 minutes to make! Think I may use some of my extra fabric & list some in My Etsy Shop to go along with my tag blankets!

And the test drive... it works!

Cross-posted at In Stitches

What's *China* Doing Now?

I can not stand to watch the news since we've moved to an area that has so much bad news! So I am thankful for bloggers who keep us informed about topics that are important to me. I don't want to hear about all the crime in the larger D/FW area, but a recall on the Chinese-made die cast Sarge toy from the movie Cars was important news to me. I'd like to thank Mommy Zabs for putting the information out there for me to find! (and my SIL who called after she saw it on the news to make sure I knew) You can see the recall specifics on Sarge here... our car did not match the criteria to be recalled. But even at 3, I sometimes have to remind David not to put his cars in his mouth... now I find out that some of them have dangerous amounts of lead in the paint.

Mommy Zabs is taking a stand and speaking out on this China issue in her new blog, Not China Made. If you're wondering, "What China issue?" then I strongly suggest you go take a read. This site also includes information in other product recalls. Warning: You may be disturbed about some of the things you'll learn about China.

Some more interesting articles on China can be found here.