November 17th, 2008 safbaby2 Posted in 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Allergies, BPA-Free, Drinking, Feeding, Fire retardants, Holiday Safety, Natural Remedies, PVC-free, Product Recalls, Toys 2 Comments »
“I’m writing about the challenge of finding safe toys for Christmas. Have you found it’s any easier to find safe toys, now that Congress passed the CPSC law? It doesn’t take effect until February, so I’m wondering if parents can shop with confidence, or if they still have to be careful, checking out each individual toy?”
Wow! These important questions such as these have been coming, and we are happy to address this perfect topic with all of our SafBaby readers.
Toys won’t be safer this Christmas than they were last Christmas, SafBaby believes. This new regulation (starting Feb. 10, 2009) doesn’t mean all toys, as midnight strikes, will suddenly be safe either. They will eventually be safer, but it is very important and wise to know what to look for in finding safer alternatives that are still playfully fun and appealing to our children. Read the rest of this entry »
November 17th, 2008 safbaby Posted in 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Toys 2 Comments »
Toy safety symbols are located on the packaging of our babies and children’s toys, and sometimes on the toy as well. Have you ever wondered what they mean?
We have! So we have done some research to define these symbols and believe that knowing a little bit about these standards will help you make wiser toy purchases.
The more safety symbols the toy has, the easier it is for a consumer to trust in the safety of it’s product! Especially if you see voluntary symbols like the Lion or SGS GS, TÜV, RoHS, FSC and more.
If you visit your local toy store such as Toys R Us, Babies R Us, or Target, you will need to dig for toys that have one or more certifications. We know, we have gone to these stores searching for them. Read the rest of this entry »
October 29th, 2008 safbaby Posted in 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Allergies, Drinking, Feeding, GMO, Gardening, Natural Remedies, Petition, Toys No Comments »
You may know that GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms, but the whole story behind this science is nothing less than SHOCKING.
The video below, which digs deeply into the roots and reasoning behind GMO, was so overwhelming to us, we had to find out if all of this was true. So, we went looking for answers. We wanted to know how GMOs are affecting our children and their future.
We asked the expert Jeffrey Smith, a leading spokesperson on the health dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), the questions parents want answers to. Read the rest of this entry »
October 16th, 2008 safbaby Posted in 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Baby Doll, PVC-free, Product Reviews, Toys 9 Comments »
At Safbaby we have been searching for baby dolls free of PVC for the last few months (in the US and Europe), and we have been unsuccessful in finding one.
Since we’ve recently received an email from a mother who’s desperately trying to find a doll for her little girl that is PVC/Vinyl-Free, we now post our research here for all of you.
Even though most manufacturer claim that PVC/Vinyl without phthalates is not harmful, many experts question it’s safety. Read the rest of this entry »
October 2nd, 2008 safbaby Posted in 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Drinking, Feeding, Fluoride, Natural Remedies, Toys 5 Comments »
We recently interviewed Carol S. Kopf, Media Officer for the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), to get answers to the questions parents, and us at SafBaby, are most concerned about!
Safbaby:
What kind of fluoride is being used to fluoridate drinking water?
Carol Kopf:
Silicofluorides
Safbaby:
What are silicofluorides?
Carol Kopf:
Silicofluorides are waste products of the phosphate fertilizer industry which are dumped, unpurified, into drinking water and allowed (by NSF International-the regulatory body over water additives) to have trace amounts of lead, arsenic, mercury and other toxins present. Read the rest of this entry »
September 19th, 2008 safbaby Posted in 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Drinking, Feeding, Natural Remedies, Skin care, Toys No Comments »
They sure are! Especially when it comes to meat, fish and dairy products. Organic, certified-organic, GMO-Free, cage-free, free-range, fair trade and even more labels can be confusing and misleading to consumers.
After not knowing what many of these meant ourselves, SafBaby did some research to find out. What we learned was definitely interesting, so we wanted to share it with you.
It’s not surprising to see the matter in which some labels are used, simply to attract uninformed consumers. For example, “cage-free” doesn’t depict what you imagine in your head it should mean.
Read the rest of this entry »
September 14th, 2008 safbaby2 Posted in 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Play, Product Reviews, Toys 1 Comment »
The first time that my baby girl played with a wooden Kitchen Play Center was in a toy store. She just loved it and it kept her engaged in imaginative play for quite some time. This was when I realized how wonderful a Play Kitchen really is for a child’s imagination and creative play time.
Unfortunately, many toy kitchens are made of plywood, containing formaldehyde and toxic paints. On top of that, glues used to press woods such as plywood and particleboard together, give off additional toxic fumes.
Formaldehyde and other toxic glues are widely used in wooden play kitchens and other wooden toys. In small amounts, this toxic chemical can irritate your child’s eyes, skin and throat, and it can cause nausea and lethargy. In high concentrations and through long-term exposure, formaldehyde is a deadly carcinogenic substance.
That’s why we were looking for one of the safest, environmental-friendliest and highest quality kitchens available……. and SafBaby happily found this one! Read the rest of this entry »
August 28th, 2008 safbaby Posted in 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Petition, Toys 1 Comment »
Many parents are concerned about PVC/Vinyl in toys. SafBaby understands these concerns, and we have listened to your questions!
Even though there is a lot of information out there, it can still be confusing about how concerned we as parents really should be.
Because we couldn’t find clear answer anywhere, we contacted Mike Schade from CHEJ (Center for Health, Environment and Justice) to do an interview with us!
Mike’s answers have finally brought light to all of our questions! This interview is something that every parent should read. Read the rest of this entry »
July 15th, 2008 safbaby Posted in 0-1 yr, Play, Product Reviews, Toys No Comments »
It was love at first touch for me! Having this natural doll in my hands feels really good. Not to mention: what a great safe alternative to those toxic stuffed animals that typically end up in our landfills.
Numerous pieces of brightly colored and patterned leftover fabrics are sewn together in rings attached to a fun animal head (choose from bear, bunny, elephant or puppy doll).
The textures that come from the folded and layered limbs are so uniques and wonderful.
We also love that the cutest cuddle toys have been lovingly crafted from scraps that would otherwise be unwanted additions to our landfills. Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: natural doll, toys
July 2nd, 2008 safbaby2 Posted in 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Product Reviews, Toys No Comments »
I don’t think a toy chest would be complete without a wooden train set. Why?
Well, I haven’t seen a toddler or child who does not like them. In fact, I have seen boys go crazy over them, and my little girl loves her Wooden Railway.
Undoubted, train sets are a classic childhood treasure, and we have found one we favor: Super City Wooden Railways from Heros!
The Wooden Railway from Heros comes in a durable, heavy cardboard canister. This makes set-up AND clean-up fun and easy. Any parent can appreciate that! I have also noticed my little girl feels good about it too! Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: wooden train set, train sets
April 12th, 2008 safbaby2 Posted in 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Play, Product Reviews, Toys No Comments »
Can you think of a cooler way to give veggies the exposure they deserve? With this [tag] wooden Assorted Vegetable array from Erzi you are certain to bring healthy color to any child’s pretend kitchen, tea party, or imagination station.
My little one likes to feed these veggies to her babies too. What a fun opportunity to continue instilling the importance of proper nutrition, during PLAY! Read the rest of this entry »
December 19th, 2007 safbaby Posted in News, Toys No Comments »
Sparked by a national campaign led by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), together with a coalition of health and environmental organizations, today Sears Holdings (Sears and Kmart) has announced its plans to begin phasing out products and packaging containing the toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, commonly known as vinyl.
Sears and Kmart join Wal-Mart and Target in reducing and phasing out PVC in products and packaging. Target’s policy was just announced last month. Sears Holdings has announced it is working to reduce and phase out PVC in its packaging and merchandise, including encouraging vendors to label their PVC-free merchandise. Additionally, Sears is working to identify safer, more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to PVC and incorporate them into the design and manufacturing process for private label merchandise and packaging
Big retailers finally recognize the harm that can be caused by PVC for all who come in contact with the PVC life cycle, Read the rest of this entry »
December 10th, 2007 safbaby2 Posted in 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Toys No Comments »
I am already on the mailing list from US CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION which sends out emails often, detailing all of the recalled baby and children products on the market. I am amazed at the numbers of recalled products weekly! (If you are not on this mailing list, you can do so by going to our previous article “Would You Like Instant Notification On Recalled Baby Products“, and get the information to get registered).
With the holidays upon us, I am sure that plenty of us are buying toys. At the same time, there is quite a scare as to what toys are actually SAFE. Read the rest of this entry »
November 22nd, 2007 safbaby Posted in Toys 5 Comments »
Just in time for the Holidays, we put together a list of safe and fabulous toys for your baby or toddler. All our recommended toys are lead-free, PVC-free, fire retardant-free, and are painted with a non toxic finish. Read the rest of this entry »
October 25th, 2007 safbaby2 Posted in 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Toys No Comments »
Being that Sandra is from Europe, she had been exposed for some time now to the controversy around the possible toxic effects of PVC in baby and children’s toys. In fact, the additive of phthalates (or PVC) in baby toys has already been banned there. So she had always been very adamant about having only PVC-free toys for her baby. But up until I met her, I really didn’t know about the potential dangers of PVC in baby toys, it just isn’t spoken of too much here in the US.
Have you heard of the scare of phthalates, and do you know if it is lurking in the toys your baby plays with, and chews on, daily? Read the rest of this entry »
October 3rd, 2007 safbaby2 Posted in Product Reviews, Toys 2 Comments »
I was looking for PVC free bath toys for my baby girl when I came across this adorable bath time game.
Gone Fishin’ Ocean Animals, made by Rich Frog retails at $11.99. Catch them if you can, they are often on backorder. Must be popular with all the babies. Read the rest of this entry »
September 23rd, 2007 safbaby2 Posted in Product Reviews, Toys No Comments »
This is a brand new line of dolls by Sassy called Earth Brights. Sassy has gone green on these cute Cuddle Dolls. Not only are they handcrafted from cloth, have wood with water-based finishes, and scented with calming lavender, but they are also packaged in 100% recycled paperboard. Go Sassy!
Another thing we love about these dolls Read the rest of this entry »
