Do I throw out everything made in China!?

Question

Its a wonder why our country is still buying this s*** up still. 80% of all toys in the U.S. are made in china, that doesn't leave us with much of a choice. Over 9 million toys were recalled due to led in the paint..(even on the hard plastic toys, which makes no sense) and of course the magnet thing. But what concerns me the most is not only the led that is completely unnecessary to put in paint...but the recall of the pet food recently that was killing our pets! I don't know about other people but on this note I refuse to buy this Crap....but how? 80%! Everything more or less is bought from china in our country. I have a 11 month old that has a toy box full of toys made in china....he chews on everything right now...he's teething. I'd like to throw them all out...but does anyone know where I can get toddler toys that aren't made in china...and that means things other than swizzles and wazzels..(lol) everything I look at online for american made toys are toys you'd see 80yrs ago!

Answer 1

I know it is so scary. We go to store buy a toy for our children and never wonder could this $10 toy possibly harm or kill my children. This recall on the toys is a eye opener for me. I have been buying these things for my childdren with blind faith that all of the necessary precautions have to been taken to ensure that they are safe. I just assume that they meet or exceed the highest standards of quality set for the industry.
I have been assuming that because they are made for children that quality is at 100%. I would have never in a million years expected to find lead in the paint used to manufacter these play things. I felt like I was doing my part by making sure there were not any sharp edges, small parts that could be swallowed, and always buying age appropriate toys. I also have one that is teething and it is impossible to keep everything out of their mouths. I now know that I will have to be all the more diligint in inspecting these things for my little ones safety. Maybe check the track record of the manufacturer, but I guess what makes this so difficult is these companies outsource the work. As a consumer how will we actually know were these things are produced and how will we know if these companies are going to do what they say and say what they do. They happened to catch this incident a little to late in my opinon. These things should be caught and the necessary actions taken to keep these products from ever hitting the shelves and the hands and mouths of our little ones.
Does anyone know if there is a 3rd party company that puts there stamp on these childrens things. Someone that puts the product through test after test to make sure they are up to par. Maybe like a company like (UL), you know the ones that test household appliances and christmas tree lights (any cord on christmas tree lights has their stamp saying yes we have tested this product and it meets all of the safety standards set forth, and another company like that is FM (Fidelity Mutual) they also do third party testing. Maybe we as consumers should demand that there be 3rd party testing for our childrens sake. It is done in fire protection industries and others that depend on the products to save lives.

Answer 2

Yeah... this is unfortunately the problem with imports. Even though they say that the production is under the watchful eye of American scrutinany, it's not all the time. They hire locals who are supposed to be well-versed in American law and regulations, but remember, cheaper is better, right? They cut costs, and get around patents and laws all the time to cut corners on spending. That's the very reason why all our stuff (not just toys) is made in China. Cheaper. Bottom Line.
It's terrible - they really need to put harsher watch on regulations, but, what are we to do, right?
One thing about the toys though... they're recalling all these things, so as long as your local stores are following protocol, all the recalled products should be off the shelves now, so UNLESS MATTELL HASN'T CAUGHT IT YET, all that's left should be what passed the tests. But as for your toys you have now, you can either go through all the lists of hundreds and hundreds of things that have been recalled and take them back, or just throw it all away and start over. That's really a personal choice unfortunately.
Hey, maybe you can have a "Let's throw my son's toys away" Party ... invite all your girlfriends over with a printed list of all the recalled things, and divide it up and start chucking....
just a thought! ;-P

Answer 3

Try throwing out everything made in China - there goes everything just about. I saw an article where a couple tried to live for one year without anything made from China. They said it was virtually impossible.

We have spoiled ourselve and our kids today with all the electronics and toys we have now. Years ago, kids were quite happy with the toys they had back then, and they weren't all that complicated, needed batteries, etc. Simpler times. Look at our kids today. Their attention span is zero. Plus, years ago the toys were made sturdier. They are still around while the crap they make today breaks and is tossed out to pollute the earth. Plastic, plastic, plastic.

If you child is teething, get some of those ice rings you freeze or those biscuits from Gerber for teething. Don't let him chew things. Start training him now not to put things like that in his mouth. That is a good idea about looking up American made toys online. I will do it myself.

Answer 4

American companies have known for years that Chinese manufacturing is seriously less regulated than that of America and other countries. Although I hate that kids have been put in danger by dangerous products, I'm also glad that this situation will raise American awareness to the seriousness of the Chinese manufacturing problems.

Since we are a "reactive" society here in the good 'ol USA....maybe consumers will start paying more attention to what they are buying and specifically where it came from. If a trend starts growing against Chinese products than maybe pressure will start growing on American companies to start manufacturing in their own country where things can be properly regulated.

Would you rather pay $20 for a barbie doll made in China that probably had some poor child laborer slaving over it for pennies a day, with the added risk of using contaminated products?.........or....... would you rather spend $30 for a barbie doll that was made in USA, knowing the industry was regulated and at the same time provided an American a decent job.

Answer 5

In addition to the many excellent suggestions made thus far, first check to see if your child has any of the toys on the Mattel or Fisher-Price recall list:

Mattel:
http://www.service.mattel.com/us/recall/?recall_id=52431

Fisher-Price:
http://www.service.mattel.com/us/recall/?recall_id=52430

(If these e-mail addresses look almost identical except for the last number, that's because Fisher-Price is a subsidiary of Mattel.)

Also, consider making toys for your toddler and child from items found around the house:

http://www.firstschool.ws/theme/hometoys.htm

http://www.robynsnest.com/homemade.htm

Answer 6

That is what happens when businesses outsource and use cheaper labor and parts to make a larger profit, why do you think if you call a help line you get someone from another country answering you! I would not say 80% comes from china only about 40% another 50% comes from Taiwan 8% from misc countries 2% or less from America!

Answer 7

It is called, blowing things way out of proportion to sell news.

China has taken steps to curtail the problems, but you rarely hear of that in the western press. That simply does not make good news copy, but tainted toothpaste does.

Fact:
China is on the fast track to bring in line the few businesses that are guilty of this.

Fact:
One corrupt high ranking official ended up being executed for accepting bribes to approve drugs that he knew was dangerous and resulted in death to a few unlucky individuals.

Fact:
Businesses are being shut down, to fines, to jailings.

China will fix this problem and in a year you'll figure out something else to pick on China about.

Peace

Jim

.

Answer 8

Perhaps it's time to go back to giving our children good old fashioned home-made toys. As for all else that's made in China, use your judgment & don't buy any of the food for pets or humans. It's time we start to boycott American companies that have moved their businesses to China. Maybe if we did that, they'll get the message.
What's more important...your child's health or your pocketbook?

Answer 9

I think our government needs to stop importing ALL things from China at least till the lead paint and other poisons are proven to be out of their products.
Our government needs to approve a home test kit for parents to test the toys for lead our selves because they aren't doing a very good job of it.
And these BIG toy companies pocketing major profits at our children's risk makes me sick.
I went through all my grand kids toys and throw out probably $1500. worth of toys. My husband and I both work in woodworking so we started making puzzles, cars, trains etc... for our grand kids.

Answer 10

You can't protect your kids from everything, certainly look and make sure you have none of the recalled items. Your kid is going to do unbelievable things and there isn't much you can do about it. My daughter, believe it or not, chews on the movie case, its freakin' wood, I have no way of knowing whats in that... All you can really do is pay attention to the recalls, and check the toys really well for problems like the magnets before you by them. (Oh, and the reason we keep buying them from the Chinese is cost, we won't work for low wages and there everything manufactured in the US is expensive.)