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So apparently the sh*t has hit the fan for Miley Cyrus (pictured at the left) due to her latest film, “Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert“, showing her riding in the back seat of a car without her seat belt on. According to studies from Consumer Reports 65 percent of the 13- to 15-year-olds killed in auto accidents in 2006 were not wearing seat belts. Miley could be using her popularity atm to influence this trend and encourage teens to wear their seat belts as well but sadly her and Disney missed the boat.

Sounds good, right? It makes you wonder where to draw the line for the people in the spotlight, doing their job and minding their own business. I understand they are popular and they *have* to be more aware than us normal folk about what they do, say, etc, etc etc but where do you draw the line? Shouldn’t it be our jobs, as parents, to promote seat belt wearing and making it a rule of our car and not left up to a celebrity to do it? Yes, subliminal seat belt wearing by Miley would have been a nice touch in the film but we can’t bash the poor girl for it. For all we know they were on take 500 of that particular scene and she simply forgot to put it on just once and that was the take they used.

I think this should just be an opportunity for us as parents, guardians and adult-figures in the kids’ lives to put the issue on the table and talk about it. It should have been done with Brit’s sister, Jamie Lynn and her turning up prego at 16, Britney’s myriad breakdowns and drug/alcohol use, Lindsey Lohan and her on-going baggage, and Heath Ledger’s overdose on pills. ALL good opportunities for us to use famous people as examples of what could and does happen. I know the old standby of “it won’t happen to me” is in every teens head but they have to think twice about it if it happens to famous people that have everything - fame, money, power, cars, bling, or whatever.

Take a stand people and raise your own kids and don’t leave it up to the media to do it for you!

Kids II has announced a recall of about 15,000 Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Soothing Seascape crib toys. Anchors attached to the toy’s fabric straps can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Kids II has received 23 reports of anchors breaking.

This was announced this morning (or at least I heard about it on the news this morning).

Toy Wrestler Figures made by A.A. of America Inc., of East Brunswick, N.J. has been recalled because surface paint contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. The recalled toy is a package of four action figures. Each figure is about 5 3/4 inches high. The UPC number 604111230003 is printed on the product’s packaging. Sold at: Dollar stores and discount stores nationwide from January 2007 through December 2007 for about $1.

Consumers should take the toy away from children immediately and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. For additional information, contact A.A. of America toll-free at (888) 822-8697 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, e-mail the firm at recalls@aatoys.com, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.aatoys.com

Due to incorrect use of these seats over 25 infants have received injuries. Please do not put these seats on anything other than the floor where the child is safest should they fall. Bumbo has voluntarily stopped production of these seats until they can update their warning labels and safety instructions. To read more about the recall, which includes all seats produced from 2003-2007, click here. To learn about additional safety steps you should take with your seat, click here to visit Bumbo’s safety website.

In the past several days amazing articles have come out on chemicals in our children’s bodies (and of course our own). I find it amazing that people are so naive as to think that all of the cleaners, chemicals, pollutants, etc in our lives don’t effect our bodies. I’ve switched to cleaning with vinegar for 99% of everything because if my son ingests it - it won’t hurt him! And it doesn’t do me any harm either. Think about it people!

Here are some blurbs from the latest news articles, complete with links to read more. Enjoy!

Tests reveal high chemical levels in kids’ bodies

Trasande said children up to six years old are most at risk because their vital organs and immune system are still developing and because they depend more heavily on their environments than adults do.

“Pound for pound, they eat more food, they drink more water, they breathe in more air,” he said. “And so [children] carry a higher body burden than we do.” Studies on the health effects of PBDEs are only just beginning, but many countries have heeded the warning signs they see in animal studies. Sweden banned PBDEs in 1998. The European Union banned most PBDEs in 2004. In the United States, the sole manufacturer of two kinds of PBDEs voluntarily stopped making them in 2004. A third kind, Deca, is still used in the U.S. in electrical equipment, construction material, mattresses and textiles.

Another class of chemicals that showed up in high levels in the Holland children is known as phthalates. These are plasticizers, the softening agents found in many plastic bottles, kitchenware, toys, medical devices, personal care products and cosmetics. In lab animals, phthalates have been associated with reproductive defects, obesity and early puberty. But like PBDEs, little is known about what they do to humans and specifically children.

Read the rest of the article here.

Interestingly enough note the next article is out of California and it bans phthalates (which is mentioned above). Good going Governor! Let’s hope all states follow suit soon!

California Bans Hazardous Chemical in Plastic Baby Toys

SACRAMENTO, California, October 17, 2007 (ENS) - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation to prohibit the manufacturing, sale and distribution of vinyl toys and childcare products that contain phthalates designed for children under three, making California the first state in the country to ban these chemicals used in baby toys.

“We must take this action to protect our children,” said the governor. “These chemicals threaten the health and safety of our children at critical stages of their development.”

The phthalate ban was among 80 bills the governor signed Sunday to meet a midnight deadline. The ban will take effect on January 1, 2009. Several other states are expected to follow suit.

Read the rest of the article here.

Scary stuff guys. I know a lot of it can be attributed to hype since we are all a lot more aware and connected in our lives today (think old days we had the pony express now we have crackberries) which makes it easier to spread stories that may or may not be true. BUT and it’s a big but… don’t assume it is hype and do what you can to lessen your impact on your health. Buy natural products or make your own. Open up the house and let some sunshine and air in instead of burning cloying candles or spraying air fresheners. You don’t have to be crunchy-granola to take into account your health. Trust me your body will thank you

If the cup is dropped, the colorful face on the cup can break off and leave small parts or sharp exposed edges that can pose a choking or laceration hazard to young children. Starbucks has received seven reports of the cups breaking, including two reports in which a child began to choke on a broken piece. No injuries have been reported.

The recall includes four styles of Starbucks children’s plastic 10-ounce cups. Styles include: “Dot” Red Ladybug; “Dash” Green Turtle; Bunny Pink; and Chick Yellow cups. Sold exclusively at: Starbucks stores nationwide from May 2006 through August 2007 for about $6. Consumers should immediately take the recalled cups away from young children and contact Starbucks for instructions on returning the cups for a refund. Starbucks is also offering a complimentary beverage as an incentive to return the recalled cups. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Starbucks at (888) 288-4008 anytime or visit the firm’s Web site at www.starbucks.com

Kids II Recalls Baby Einstein Color Blocks Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

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: Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks

Units: About 35,000

Distributor: Kids II Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga.

Hazard: Surface paint on the blue block contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves the blue block included with the Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks, Model 30726 and Model 30881. The blocks are made of soft textures and come in different colors. Only date codes of GE7, GF7, and GG7 are included in this recall. The model number and date code are printed on the labels affixed to the green-colored block.

Sold at: Various retailers and specialty stores nationwide from June 2007 through September 2007 for between $10 and $13.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled blue block away from children immediately and contact Kids II to receive a free replacement of the affected block.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Kids II toll-free at (866) 203-6788 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidsii.com

Kolcraft Recalls Play Yards After the Death of a 10-Month-Old Child

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 425,000 infant play yards following the death of a child.

CPSC received a report of a 10-month old boy who strangled on the changing table’s restraint strap that was hanging down into Kolcraft’s “Sesame Beginnings” Travel Play Yard where the child was located.

Twelve different Kolcraft play yards are included in this recall. All of the play yards have raised changing tables with a restraint strap that forms a loop beneath the changing table, posing a strangulation hazard to a child in the play yard.

In addition to the strangulation hazard with the changing table restraint strap, one play yard also has a raised cradle that rocks back and forth. A child can roll and get trapped against the side of the cradle in the Contours 3-in-1 Play Yard. If that happens, a child can suffocate. Kolcraft has received 45 reports of children rolling to the side of the rocking cradle attachment.

The recalled play yards were sold in a variety of colors and patterns. Play yards and model numbers included in this recall are listed in the chart below. The model number is printed on a white sticker located on one of the feet of the play yard. They were manufactured in China.

The play yards were sold at retail stores nationwide from January 2001 through September 2007 for between $50 and $130.

Consumers should immediately stop using the changing tables and rocking cradle and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a free non-looped replacement strap for the changing table and a free repair kit to secure the base of the cradle. Consumers should immediately cut off and remove the existing changing table restraint strap. Consumers should always remove the raised changing table and cradle or bassinet before placing a child in a play yard.

A free repair kit for the rocking cradle will be sent to consumers separate from the replacement strap.

For additional information, call Kolcraft at (888) 655-8484 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kolcraft.com

This hasn’t hit the mainstream media yet, but don’t use:

Warning Issued on Baby Colic Remedy
Source: Associated Press/AP Online
Publication date: 2007-09-21
Arrival time: 2007-09-20
WASHINGTON - Federal health authorities warned parents Thursday not to give babies a liquid herbal supplement marketed as a remedy for colic and teething pain because several bottles tested positive for a parasite that may have a sickened a 6-week-old infant in Minnesota.
Lab tests conducted by the Food and Drug Administration confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium, a parasite that can cause diarrhea and intestinal infections, in unopened bottles of apple-flavored Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water, according to the FDA. The supplement’s distributor, MOM Enterprises of San Rafael, Calif., said it had recalled about 17,600 bottles of the product that were being sold through the Internet and at retail stores nationwide.

The Minnesota baby so far is the only person with a reported illness possibly linked to the product, which is sold in 4-ounce bottles with the code 26952V and has an expiration date of October 2008.

The FDA said that people infected with Cryptosporidium generally display symptoms within two to 10 days. The most common symptom is diarrhea, and other symptoms include dehydration, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. Health officials advised consumers to discard any of the product they have and to consult a pediatrician if it was consumed by a child who seems sick.

MOM Enterprises is offering full refunds. Consumers can call 877-457-4955 for more information.

Publication date: 2007-09-21
© 2007, YellowBrix, Inc.

If your kids are running around in the current craze of crazy looking footwear aka crocs make sure you pay special attention to them on escalators. Reports have been coming out from around the world that people are getting caught in escalators thanks to the shoes super grippy-ness. Here’s the CNN report to learn more - http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/17/crocs.escalators.ap/index.html