Motherly Law

Something Different: IDEA Part C Updates to Take Effect

Gawking Strangers

The stares. I'm still not used to the stares. And it's not kids; it's adults; it's other parents. We were surprised by this part of it. I suppose we shouldn't have been though. Three weeks ago, Darling 1 got two casts from below his knees down to his toes. He isn't hurt; he isn't in pain. He is a toewalker and has been since he began walking at 10 months.

I've been working on treatment for this since that time. Finally, he's getting treatment. He's growing new muscle in his calves that will give him more range of motion. We have a remedy. Every Tuesday he gets new casts, slowly, but surely changing the angle of his foot.

The Casts

The new casts each week is the fun part of this process. He is being very brave, and we are very proud of him. He has had only a few melt-downs about not being able to wiggle his toes or being itchy, etc. But he knows what the casts are doing, and he wants to be able to walk flat-footed. So, he endures.

His friends, classmates and teachers have been wonderful about it. They love to see what colors and designs will show up each Wednesday. They are totally accepting of his new look. Darling 1 gets around perfectly fine; he just can't run, but he can walk really fast.

Mind Your Own Beeswax

The adults we come in contact with, or merely pass by, are the ones who stare and ask questions; questions that make Darling 1 cast a fixed gaze to the ground. The stares have gotten to me. I stare back. I answer the probing questions from strangers with terse, vague answers. Darling 1 hasn't noticed that anyone is rubber-necking as they drive by as he happily walks along next to me on our way home from school or as we amble into the store from a parking lot or as he easily makes his way up, over, under and through the playground equipment at the park or while we wait to be called back for our appointment at Children's Hospital. Thank God.

I know these strangers don't mean any harm; they don't mean to be rude; they're simply curious. "Two casts?" "Wow, two broken legs?" "Oh, that must hurt?" "What did you do?" Well, when you're 5 years old and just want to fit in and you see the differences, those questions can be hurtful and perplexing.

I won't pretend to know all the heartbreak, the difficulties or the joys and the pride of raising a child with extreme disabilities. I'm sure they are many. But I now have a new appreciation for the outward appearance of something different from others, i.e. helmets, leg braces, etc.

IDEA Part C

If your young child has developmental delays or disabilities, you should be aware that on Friday, October 28, 2011, new, updated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C regulations will take effect. IDEA Part C applies to the youngest of those at risk; birth to 2 years. Part C has been around since 1986, but has not been fully updated since 1999 (there was a statutory update in 2004).

Well, a lot has changed in our world since 1999. Check for specific information or topics in this side-by-side comparison of new and old text. There is a lot of text (over 900 pages); so, I suggest looking up the subject you are interested in and viewing those parts, as opposed to reading through all the regulations.

There are agencies trying to wade through these new texts and get summaries and outlines out. Here are a few websites to watch for more information: National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY), idea Partnership and the U.S. Department of Education.

IDEA aides over 340,000 children and infants. This federal grant program provides over 400 million dollars to State run IDEA programs. This program assists States in facilitating early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays. The objective is to prepare as many of these kids as possible for preschool and kindergarten to ensure a greater rate of educational success for these high needs kids.

The Scoop

If your child falls into these categories be sure to monitor the changes on the sites listed above. I also don't pretend to know much about the laws governing special needs and disabilities, etc., but the sites listed above specialize in these areas. And if your child does not fall into these categories, remember... please don't stare when you see a child who is different in some way. Over and out...

Anna

Recycled Post: Fireworks Safety Tips

Note: When I read this post from last year, I was thankful that much has changed. Our Darling Boys are now almost 5 and almost 3. Our lives are still filled with chaos, and we all still throw fits from time to time, but our Boys are a little less unpredictable.

Fireworks, on the other hand, are still quite lethal and tricky. Handling these explosive devices can turn a fun holiday tradition into a fiery nightmare. Please read or re-read this post on Fireworks Safety.

If You Play with Fire You Might Get Burned: Tips for a Safe Fourth of July

The Fire Storm

Our household is in the midst of those precarious years called "The Toddler to Preschool Stage." It's a stage that's filled with risks. That is, risks to the parents. One of the biggest issues in our household involves naps, or resting, as Darling 1 prefers to call it. On some days, our Darling Boys nap with minimal struggle before they actually nod off to sleep. On other days, the Darling Boys scream, shout, cry, whine, throw books and other objects in protest. It's those days that I know they need to rest the most, and usually after much struggle on my part, they both sleep peacefully for a few hours. But then there are the days that the schedule gets filled to the brim and there's no time for a nap or they simply keep on happily playing, reading and laughing which tricks me into thinking they don't need a nap.

These are the days that will really get you into trouble by dinner time. Everything seems to be going along well; everyone is happy. But then some small thing happens like a wheel coming off of a toy car that Darling 1 is playing with or Darling 2 can't quite get the page turned in the book he is "reading" and it all starts to crumble. It takes only one to get upset about something, the other Darling Boy will soon follow, whining and crying, miserably inconsolable. At that point, you might as well skip dinner and go straight to bed, which is what happens on occasion.

At ages 21 months and 4 years old, and being highly spirited individuals, it isn't just missing a nap that can set them off, it could be too short of a nap, too long of a nap, the wrong part of the day, the wrong side of the bed, the wrong toy, the wrong snack, the wrong book, the wrong week or month. The toddler to preschool years bring lots of angst, independence and exploration. Fortunately, these volatile moods or years don't last long …usually. Yet, right now the fact remains that our household is smack in the middle of it, and if you play with fire, you might get burned. So, we as parents must do everything within our control to play it safe, with naps, or resting time; plenty of breaks to re-group and lots of very parent-sounding lines like, "Don't slap your brother. Use your words! Tell him how that made you feel when he tackled your head." at the ready.

Fireworks Safety Tips

So it is with fireworks. It seems like such a happy, fun, holiday tradition to have a little fireworks display of your own. The problem is that things can go from fine and safe to bad and dangerous very quickly. It's safest to plan to attend a professionally orchestrated city or area-wide fireworks display, but if you insist upon setting off a few of your own, please take the time to read these safety tips and visit these great websites in order to be fully prepared should an accident occur.

The good news is despite the fact that the American fireworks consumption has dramatically increased since 1976 from 29 million pounds to over 265.5 million pounds in 2007 there has been a 90% decrease in fireworks-related injuries since the Consumer Products Safety Commission began to closely monitor the fireworks industry. That said the need to always use precaution and take safety measures when around fireworks remains.

Here are some great tips for staying safe around fireworks:

• If not handled properly, fireworks can cause burn and eye injuries in kids and adults. In 2003, six deaths were linked to fireworks and hospital emergency departments treated 9,300 fireworks injuries.
• The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period. Attend public fireworks displays, and leave the lighting to the professionals.  
• Lighting fireworks at home isn't even legal in many areas, so if you still want to use them, be sure to check with your local police department first. If they're legal where you live, keep these safety tips in mind:
  • Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold.
  • Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer's name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarterpounder. These explosives were banned in 1966, but still account for many fireworks injuries.
  • Never try to make your own fireworks.
  • Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
  • Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.
  • Don't hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection, and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.
  • Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.
  • Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.
  • Don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
  • Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
  • Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they'll run loose or get injured.
• If a child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don't allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage. Also, don't flush the eye out with water or attempt to put any ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and immediately seek medical attention — your child's eyesight may depend on it. If it's a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn (do not use ice). Call your doctor immediately.

Websites

This is Phantom Fireworks' website. It has all kinds of information about fireworks from safety tips to how fireworks are made to history and trivia. Check it out at: http://www.fireworks.com/safety/. I think this is a great site with so much information.

Another good website for fireworks safety information is www.Fireworksafety.com. This is the site of the National Council on Fireworks Safety. This site offers information on state laws, injury statistics and safety concerns.

The Scoop

I wish you all a happy, safe, fun-filled 4^th of July weekend. Please do take a few minutes to read these safety tips here and on the websites. It's important and could save a life. Over and out…

Anna

Celebrating the Red, White and Blue {by the Law}

Note: After two highly emotional posts this week, I am drained. And yet, I have great recycled content for you regarding fireworks and following the laws in your city or state.

Now brace yourself. Somehow the Fourth of July has snuck up on us. It's next Monday. Where have the days gone? I can't believe we are 1/3 through the summer, but here we are.

And just as this information rang true last year, it is still vitally important that you follow the law. In fact, it's especially true for so many in the numerous drought-stricken states. The tiniest spark from the smallest sparkler lit by the most well-meaning, happily patriotic reveler could destroy thousands of lives.

The Rocket's Red Glare

I love fireworks. That is, I love to watch a fireworks display from afar. I do not under any circumstances want to handle fireworks, detonate fireworks or be nearby when anyone else does. Nor do I want my Darling Boys or Dear Husband to do any of those things. I don't think this is so unreasonable; I think this is a healthy fear. Fireworks are dangerous.

When I was child, my dad instilled this unease of fireworks that remains with me today. Not only were we never allowed to shoot off any fireworks of our own, we couldn't even go to any firework displays. We could view the fireworks from a safe location (Read: a hill somewhere in the city – many miles from the actual site of detonation). For some reason that I don't really understand as I look back on my childhood, my brother and I were allowed to have sparklers – under adult supervision, of course. Even still, sparklers are like a bazillion degrees when lit. So, why were sparklers OK and everything else off limits? Not sure. But despite the ban of firework displays, or maybe because of it, I love to watch the blasts of dazzling colors and designs each 4^th of July.

I also love the brightly colored, intricately designed packages these explosives come in. I have always wondered why the packages are so fancy, and in many cases beautiful, when they are just going to be torn apart once lit. But that's beside the point. The point is, to be safe and law-abiding you must know what your city and state allows regarding the how, and when and where of fireworks.

Laws Controlling Sales and Use of Fireworks

Here in Minnesota fireworks are sold everywhere from grocery stores to parking lot stands to big box department stores. And our neighbors feel compelled to shoot off rockets for a month or so before and after July 4^th and in celebration of every other holiday. This is something we've had to get used to since moving from far more fireworks conservative states. For instance, in Iowa, fireworks were not permitted to be sold in any location in the entire state, with exception to certain sparklers. On the flip side, in Texas, many types of fireworks are legally sold, but permitted use is greatly dependent on the weather and whether burn bans are in place; a frequent occurrence in that drought-prone state.

My research on this topic reveals that the laws regulating permissible and prohibited fireworks, dates of sales and minimum age to purchase fireworks are greatly varied throughout the states. I found a great site with detailed state-by-state law information. Just find your state and click to find all relevant information about what you can buy and when: http://www.americanpyro.com/State%20Laws%20(main)/statelaws.html.

You should also check your local city's ordinances. Often, the local regulations are stricter as to where and when one can set off fireworks. For local ordinances, check your city's website.

The Scoop

It's important to know and follow your state and local laws regarding fireworks. Not only could you or someone else be harmed, but you could get an expensive citation if you are not following state laws and/or local ordinances as to where and when you can detonate fireworks. It's better to be safe than sorry!

Do you buy your own and shoot them off? Do you go to your city's fireworks display? Maybe fireworks aren't your thing. We have a great city fireworks display nearby. We are thinking about trying to go with the kids this year. Not sure how the loud explosions will go over with our two Darling Spirited Boys. Drop me a line and tell me your thoughts.

On Thursday, I'll be reposting tips for having a safe 4^th of July celebration. If you happen to be traveling over the Fourth of July, do make sure to check the local regulations before you decide to shoot off fireworks. Think twice before you light any fireworks for both legal and safety reasons. Over and out…

Anna

What’s Your SPF? The Dangers of Sunscreen

Rays of Light {Seen & Unseen}

Spring finally reared her pretty, sunny head this weekend. We've been waiting a while for her to grace us with her fair beauty. In celebration, we spent most of the day outside on Saturday, basking in the golden rays, soaking up the warmth and relishing the feeling of sun on our bare skin. I guess we soaked up a bit too much sunlight because Saturday evening I noticed the tell-tale pink spread across the Darlings' cheeks and noses and forearms; the first sunburn of the season.

Now I'm not one to take health and safety risks, as you, dear readers, well know. But, it has been a long, cold winter here in Minnesota; longer and colder than most in recent memory. The sun has been shrouded by clouds and snow much of the past 7 months. On the days there was pure sunlight the temperature was generally hovering in the single digits with below zero wind chills. Even on those days, we got outside to feel the warmth on our faces; that was the only part not covered in protective, winter gear. In Minnesota, you learn to take it when you can get it, regardless of the temperature.

So, you can see why the thought of putting sunscreen on our bare, pallid, winter skin escaped my mind. And yet, I now have been given a not-so-subtle reminder that it's time to buy sunscreen. Yesterday, I did my annual research into the best sunscreens, made a list and went shopping.

Choosing the Best Sunscreen

Buying sunscreen should not be a difficult task. The purpose of this product is to protect skin from the harmful UV rays and prevent skin from being damaged. For years, I bought the cheapest, largest sunscreen I could buy, gingerly applied it to my very pale, very sunburn prone skin, and generally ended up somewhat sunburned. And didn't give too much thought to it. Then, I had a child.

The mere thought of that soft, smooth, very pale baby skin getting burned by the sun made me cringe. I read labels, I read research and articles. There was an article being circulated by email a few years back with a list of "good" sunscreens. I recall being at Target trying to remember which ones were on the list when another mom walked up with the very same list printed from an email checking the shelves for the brands that had made the cut. She let me take a peek since I didn't have mine.

The trouble is that most on this list are outrageously expensive and not readily available at drug stores, grocery stores or department stores like Target or Wal-mart. Many are available online or through specialty stores, natural health stores and the like. One on the list I found on the Walgreens' website, available online only, for $52. Outrageous.

The basic premise of "the list" is the inclusion of a key ingredient and the exclusion of several harmful ingredients. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzed 1,400 sunscreens, cosmetics, moisturizers and lip balms and graded each one with an explanation of any risk or issue. All top-rated products contain either zinc or titanium minerals to help cut UVA exposures for sunscreen users. None of the top-rated products contain oxybenzone or vitamin A and none are sprayed or powdered.

I managed to find a cheaper, rated at a 3 with minimum cautionary notes, sunscreen at a drug store. At $ 9.99 for 8 fluid ounces, it was the cheapest of the three options I had for a fairly good rating at that store. I have found that I have basically the same options at Target. I bought Coppertone Kids, Pure and Simple with a 50 SPF. Not all Coppertone options get a rating of 3, the lowest given to any of this particular brand. Check the EWG's very comprehensive list with ingredient concerns and details for each of the 1,400 products listed before you stock up for the summer.

The FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes sunscreen as a drug, rather than a cosmetic. The FDA introduced new proposed rule regarding the standards of formulating, testing and labeling over-the-counter sunscreen with ultraviolet A (UVA responsible for tanning) and ultraviolet B (UVB responsible for sunburns) protection back in 2007.

The proposed regulation creates a consumer friendly rating system for UVA products designed to help consumers identify the level of UVA protection offered by a product. The FDA proposal provides a ratings system for UVA sunscreen products on a scale of one to four stars, but no new regulations have been finalized yet. Although it was this proposed rule that generated more awareness of the dangers and issues with some of the chemicals being used in sunscreens and forced the sunscreen industry to make some changes of its own. These changes have been beneficial to the consumer.

SPF

On its site, the FDA notes that many consumers are confused by what SPF stands for and means. To clarify, SPF is the measure of how much solar energy, or UV radiation, is required to produce sunburn on protected skin {skin with sunscreen applied} relative to the amount of solar energy required to produce sunburn on unprotected skin {no sunscreen applied}. As the SPF number gets higher, sunburn protection also increases.

While SPF does not have to do with the time one is exposed to the sun {ex. SPF 15 sunscreen does not protect someone for 15 hours}, generally it does take less time to get sunburned at midday, rather than in the morning or evening because the sun is more intense during the midday. Consequently, during hours of more intense solar energy, sunscreen would need to be applied more often than at times of decreased solar energy.

Other factors also account for the amount of solar energy a person is exposed to: skin type {a lighter skinned person absorbs more solar energy than a darker skinned person experiencing the same conditions.}; amount of sunscreen applied {more sunscreen equals less solar energy}; and frequency of reapplication {physical activity, heavy perspiration and activity in the water can rub off sunscreen, leaving skin exposed to more solar energy}.

The Scoop

So, until the FDA finalizes the new rules that provide for tighter regulations and clearer and simpler consumer information, refer to EWG's list and research for the best and most affordable choice for sunscreen. Remember that staying out of the sun, covering up with clothing and/or a hat is also advisable even if you apply sunscreen.

Do your best to avoid sunburn and keep an eye out for the FDA's new and well overdue regulations regarding sunscreen labeling and testing. But do get outside and enjoy the spring and summer. Afterall, around here, it really lasts only a few months. Over and out...

Anna

You might also like:

The Overly Cautious Traveler: Must Read Pool Safety Tips

Feeding the Minds of Students: Federally Funded School Lunch Programs & Kids’ Nutrition

Alphabet Soup: Food Safety Standards; USDA, FDA, HHS & Now FSMA

 

 

Children Choking Apples?

4^th Place Winner Still Gets a Ribbon

Oh, I bet you're on the edge of your seat waiting to see which post is the 4^th most read post based on search engine traffic. Well, wait no longer….it's The Organic, Sustainable, Grass-Fed, All-Natural, Free-Range, Fair Trade Grocery List: What Do All These Adjectives Mean??

Food for Thought

I have to admit that I have been surprised by how often this post gets picked up by search engine queries. This post explains the U.S. Department of Agriculture's labels in regards to organic, natural, grass-fed, sustainable, fair trade, etc. When I first posted it I got quite a response from readers, and it continues to be well-read.

Information about our food has become more important and more readily available to the consumer. People want to know who grew the plants or raised the livestock; where that farm is located; how quickly and by what means it arrived at the market; and what, if any, hormones, fertilizers, chemicals, etc. were used on the food product. And this is a good thing.

Intriguing Searches

This is not the only post involving food. I have also written about choking hazards, social host laws, BPA free containers, etc. Here is a list of the most fascinating searches on the topic of food, eating and drinking:

1. "children choking apples"
2. "organic adjectives"
3. "dried fruit Czech Republic "
4. "should I take my child to ER for choking"
5. "grazing, rooting and pecking"
6. "list of safe, natural adjectives"
7. "what to do if your baby swallows tinsel"
8. "sustainable grass types"

Clearly, a few of these searches were misdirected to Motherly Law. Other keywords are grammatically comical. Either way, I'm glad these people made their way to Motherly Law, and I hope they found something worth sticking around for on Motherly Law.

The Scoop

On Friday, I will answer a few of the questions posed from search engine queries and list a few more post links. Over and out…

Anna

Other related post you might also like:

Trying to Stay Focused: Making Time to Save Money on Organic Products

To BPA or Not to BPA? That is the Question: Tips for Limiting Your Family’s Exposure

Sippy Cups: BPA-Free or Not. What’s the Big Deal?

Too Many Toys: Tips for Buying the “Safest” Toys & Checking for Recalls

Child Psychology In Reverse

Two years ago, I bought the book "Too Many Toys" by David Shannon, thinking it would be a good way to start a dialogue on giving away toys that aren't played with anymore. Wrong. I thought we had too many toys then. Wrong again. That was two year ago, Darling 2 was just a few weeks old. He had not even begun to add his own toys to the stash. Now, here we are, two year later, still with too many toys! (Please note this is exclusively the opinion of the parent in this case)

The premise of the book is that the boy, Spencer, has too many toys. Yes, I 'm sure you got that part already, but there's more. He gets toys from everyone, from grandparents to the dentist. Spencer never gets rid of any of them. That is, until one day when his mom has absolutely had enough of stepping on the toys, and then it's much more difficult than she ever imagined because Spencer begins to negotiate what stays and what goes. It's a cute book, and I thought it was a good tool. And it was, but not in the way I had planned.

Darling 1 quickly caught on to what the story was really about and what I was trying to do. And even more quickly memorized the book, and still, after two years, uses Spencer's lines against me. His favorite, "but I LOVE ALLLLLLL my toys" (said with big, sad eyes and in a pleading, drawn out, pitiful voice). This scene is played out every time I ever say anything about all of their toys and how we should go through them to see if there are any toys we could get rid of.

How Many is Too Many?

The thing is, my Darlings do have too many toys, but they do play with them all. And as soon I think there is a toy that they haven't played with in a while, along comes one or the other and plays with that toy for 2 days straight. Mind you, I said, as soon as I think it. It's as if they can read my thoughts (well, actually sometimes I think they can, but that's another story). I have managed to smuggle a few things down to the basement and hide them away until they can be donated, etc.

They won't even get rid of the broken toys. Case in point, Buzz Lightyear, see photo from Monday's post. He is now headless, wingless, missing one hand, wrapped in masking tape and tied up with a yo-yo, but don't you dare for one intergalactic moment think he's headed for the trash. Oh no, Darling 1 is working on making him a new head and thinking of how to give him a new hand. He'll be as good as new very soon, or so I'm told.

Now don't get me wrong. I love to watch the Darlings construct elaborate storylines and play with the hundreds of stuffed animals, hordes of Little People and McDonald Happy Meal Movie Character toys, legions of cars, trucks and planes and every single Pixar character in their play room, um, I mean, my living room, but I have to draw the line somewhere. I just don't know where that line is yet.

The Dangers of Toys

What I do worry about is lead paint covered toys, tiny batteries, magnets and other small ingestible items. I try to watch for recalls and inspect our toys for loose pieces (or broken off heads and hands, etc.), chipping paint and other dangers. There have been so many toys recalled in the last several years. Many of the recalls were due to the level of lead in the paint used.

Fortunately, the U.S. has responded to these recalls and other issues by tightening the standards and has seen promising results.

Tips for Buying Safe Toys

Here are CPSC's Top Safe Shopping Tips for this year:

• Magnets – For children under age six, avoid building sets with small magnets. If swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.
• Small Parts – For children younger than age three, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
• Ride-on Toys – Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be sized to fit.
• Projectile Toys – Projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and sling shots are for older children. Improper use of these toys can result in serious eye injuries.
• Chargers and Adapters – Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.

CPSC also recommends using the following tips to help choose appropriate toys for children:

• Be a label reader. Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
• For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.

Once the gifts are open:

• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys before they become dangerous play things.
• Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings or neighbors.
• Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07032.html

Additional tips from CPSC:

To help keep what has been called the most wonderful time of the year happy and incident-free, CPSC is encouraging consumers to adopt a three-pronged safety approach."

1. Which Toy for Which Child – Always choose age appropriate toys.
2. Gear Up for Safety – Include safety gear whenever shopping for sports-related gifts or ride-on toys, including bicycles, skates, and scooters.
3. Location, Location, Location – Be aware of your child's surroundings during play. Young children should avoid playing with ride-on toys near automobile traffic, pools or ponds. They also should avoid playing in indoor areas associated with hazards such as kitchens and bathrooms and in rooms with corded window blinds.

Source: http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11042.html

Websites

• Check the CPSC's site for recalls: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html
• Check The Toy Association's site for all kinds of toy information, from safety to top toys to recalls to parent discussions on playing and toys: http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=TINFO_Home
• For Toy Standards from around the world and agency contact information , check the International Council of Toy Industries site: http://www.toy-icti.org/info/toysafetystandards.html

The Scoop

It's trite and often goes unheeded, but CPSC swears by its "small parts regulations" that have been in place for more than three decades. You know, the warning on toy packaging that cautions of small parts and gives the age the toy is inappropriate for. It's a simple warning, and I have to admit, I rarely look at those warnings on packages. However, I do check toys for small pieces and put those away for a time when the Darlings are older. It's difficult with two children of two very different ages on the development spectrum. At age 2, Darling 2 is still likely to "mouth" small objects.

So, be cautious, be vigilant and have fun shopping this holiday season. How do ensure your kids' toys are safe? Do you watch for recalls? Does it matter to you whether a toy is made in the U.S. or China or New Zealand or Timbuktu? I feel like it mattered more to me when the Darlings were babies. Now it seems like it's all about which toys they want – plastic, commercialized, made in China!

Check back tomorrow for the $40 Caribou Coffee Gift Card Giveaway! On Friday, I post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

Anna

You might also like:

Risk Management: Tips for Preventing Choking and What to Do if Someone is Choking

The Cautious Approach to Life: Tips for Teaching Your Kids Gun Safety

The Days Keep On Rolling: Great Websites for Getting the Best Fit for Your Child’s Car Seat

Black Friday Temptations: U.S. Toy Safety Standards

Late Night Foray

Laugh if you will (and I can almost guarantee you will by the end of this story), but I decided to brave the cold and go out to Toys R Us when it opened at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. The sales flyer was enticing; 50% off this and that, buy one, get one free, and on and on. The possible savings were too good to pass up.

I decided that I should arrive by 9 p.m. in case of a line. But if you know me, you know that I'm always running late. So, I arrived at 9:30. I noticed a line, but it didn't look too bad. And the store opened in 30 minutes. No sweat. It turns out the line that I could see was just the part on that side of the building. But still, it wasn't too far around the other side.

And then the cold wind reached me. I knew it was single digit temps, but I decided not to check my handy-dandy weather channel app on my phone to find out the actual temperature and wind chill. That would just make me feel colder. I did know that the wind chill earlier in the day, when the sun was still up, had been below zero. I plunged my gloved-hands deep into my warm coat pockets and did what I do best; I struck up a conversation with the two lovely ladies in front of me and nice couple behind me. We talked; we stomped; we hopped up-and-down in place, waiting, waiting, waiting for those doors to open.

People continued to arrive and get into line. The employees working the line estimated more than a 1000 people were there. I was approximately 250 in line. They let about 5o people in every 5 minutes once 10 p.m. arrived. I finally got inside; I wasn't sure I still had toenails; my face and hands were numb with cold, but that was OK because I was about to start saving money. And THEN, I realized it.

My wallet was at home, not in my purse! (I did, however, think to bring a bottle of water in case I was parched by all of the hard-core shopping.) I thought and thought, trying to figure out a solution. I decided to call DH at home. I noticed that my phone was showing low battery, but I figured I had enough battery remaining to call and discuss my predicament with DH. Uh, wrong. My phone died when DH answered and completely powered off. I walked around, dodging jolly, focused shoppers and their carts full of money-saving deals, until I could feel my extremities again, and then I left. When I started my car to drive home, I noticed my gas tank was on E. Seriously, someone was trying to tell me something. When I got home, we had a big laugh about the whole thing, but it took the rest of the night for me to warm up.

And the worst or best part of the story, depending upon how you look at it, I went back at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, and got everything on my list, but one crucial, A-listed-by-Darling-1 toy. I'm OK with it though, these are the kinds of things that happen to me. There was a happy, Christmas-y, congenial mood in the line that made it worth standing out in the frigid night. And let's face it, as parents, we will go to great lengths to get the toys our kids really want and get a good deal too.

Which Toy is the Safest?

It's easy to spot a good deal in a newspaper flyer or online, but it's hard to know how well a toy is made or to predict whether, after 50 million have been sold during the holiday season, it will be recalled in the next several months because there's lead in the paint or the tiny magnetic eyeballs fall out and pose a hazard, or the wheels fall off of a bike when a child is coasting down a hill, etc.

Recalls have been prevalent in the U.S. toy industry in recent years. Some of these recalls are so ridiculous that it's hard to imagine that the toy makers did not know of these issues before placing them on store shelves.

The Standard

Toy safety standards for the U.S. are governed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). There have been standards regulating toys and attempting to keep kids safe since the 1970s. The Standards are ever evolving in response to research and reports, new technologies and current trends. ASTM F963 is the general safety standard for toys.

ASTM F963 is cited in the CPSC's Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), which was created in response to the numerous toy recalls in the past several years. ASTM F963 includes guidelines and test methods to prevent injuries from choking, sharp edges and other potential hazards.

The new toy safeguards include: establishing the lowest lead content and lead paint limits in the world; setting limits on the use of certain phthalates; converting the voluntary toy standard into a mandatory standard; and working with Customs and Border Protection data systems to track shipments as they are in transit from other countries thereby increasing our effectiveness in discovering dangerous products coming into U.S. ports.

Source: CPSC Press Release

The Scope of ASTM F963 is as follows:

This specification relates to possible hazards that may not be recognized readily by the public and that may be encountered in the normal use for which a toy is intended or after reasonably foreseeable abuse. It does not purport to cover every conceivable hazard of a particular toy. This specification does not cover product performance or quality, except as related to safety. Except for the labeling requirements pointing out the functional hazards and age range for which the toy is intended, this specification has no requirements for those aspects of a toy that present an inherent and recognized hazard as part of the function of the toy. Such an example is a sharp point necessary for the function of a needle. The needle is an inherent hazard that is well understood by the purchaser of a toy sewing kit, and this hazard is communicated to the user as part of the normal educational process.

Source: http://StandardsForum.com

There is another standard for electric toys: UL-696. And yet another standard that includes Safety of Information Technology Equipment: IEC 60950-1, Second Edition. This includes the hundreds of varieties of electronic child development tools sold as toys: child laptop computers, handheld devices for games and learning, electronic reading toys, etc. ASTM 1148 is the standard for home playground equipment and ANSI Z315.1 is the standard for tricycles. There is even a standard for toy chests: ASTM F834.

All toys sold in the U.S. must conform to these standards. CPSC continues to monitor the effectiveness of the standards and update them as needed. According to Wikipedia, the new standard may be the toughest in the world.

Annual Toy Safety Report

The good news is that toy-related deaths have significantly dropped in the past year. The CPSC recently released its Toy Safety Report for 2009. According to this report, there were only 12 toy-related deaths in the U.S. last year, compared to 24 deaths in 2008 and 24 deaths in 2007. The highest number of deaths was attributed to tricycles. All three deaths occurred when a child fell into a pool while riding a tricycle and was drowned. While the deaths and injuries reported are not necessarily caused by toys, they are related to toys. Even still, the overall number of injuries related to toys is quite high. In 2009, there were an estimated 250,100 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments.

CPSC feels that the new standards are making a positive impact and restoring consumer confidence in the toys available. Only time will tell if these new standards are indeed making toys safer.

The Scoop

While these Standards are meant to be followed by toy manufacturers and inspectors, the parents must continually be attentive and do inspections of the toys in the home. It's important to watch for toys that are broken, have missing pieces or loose screws, etc. Parents should remember to watch for small pieces that come with larger toys that might be inappropriate for younger children and pay attention to the warnings given on the toys and their packaging.

On Wednesday, I will post tips for making sure the toys your kids are playing with are safe and how to be sure to spot any toy recalls that may affect you. I do have a Giveaway starting Thursday and ending Friday of this week. I'll post about that soon. Don't forget to weigh in on the Sunday Spotlight article this week. Over and out…

Anna

You might also like:

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The Unintended Result: When "Good" Laws Go Awry

The Mundane Decisions

As a parent of two young children, I have to make decisions all day every day that will affect not only me but also my little Darlings. Most of the decisions I make will not change the world or make much difference to anyone other than our family, i.e., whether to have PB&J or turkey sandwiches for lunch; whether to go to the zoo or the arboretum in the afternoon; whether to watch Cars or Diego; whether to interrupt Darling 2 while quietly playing trains to change that wet pull-up or wait until he notices and runs to the bathroom, etc. Oh, the important and critical issues a parent must decide.

But in truth, I do make decisions that can affect others, such as whether to vaccinate my children and whether I choose to use my cell phone to make calls or text while driving. However, most decisions I make throughout any given day are rarely given a second thought. It's just part of my everyday life.

A Bigger Impact

Everyone makes good and bad decisions. But what if you had to make a decision that could impact an entire state or the whole country? Our state and federal legislators make these kinds of decisions on a regular basis. Arguably, legislators are influenced by a variety of factors. Some base decisions on how to support, draft and/or vote on legislation on his or her principles, experience, needs and/or views of constituents, etc. Others make choices regarding legislation based on personal gain, whether for campaign purposes, financial incentives from lobbyists, or status, etc. And we accept this as politics.

Unforeseen Results

As one philosopher states, the single universal element of all such statutes, ordinances, codes, taxation provisions, appellate court decisions, prescribed punishments and rules for civil and criminal procedure is the presumed and stated intention of the law to correct some evil, injustice, inequity or promote some important and desirable good for the majority of civil society. Yet regardless of the intended purpose behind certain legislation, some laws, codes, regulations, etc. create unintended consequences. Many times, these inadvertent results have negative, unforeseen effects. I started thinking about this issue after reading an article about a high school football coach in FL. I soon found other good laws that have had unexpected results. Here is a potpourri of such laws, regulations and codes:

The Football Coach

When a FL high school football coach found out that one of his football players was homeless he took him in, allowing him to live in his home. Sounds benevolent, right? Yes, except for that fact that this violates the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) code.

The particular rule violated states: No school employee or representative of the school's athletic department can provide or promise free or reduced-cost housing for a potential athlete in their program. The code is meant to prevent coaches from recruiting players from other cities.

While no one questions the intention of the coach as being anything but kind-hearted, and the high school self-reported this violation to the FHSAA, the player has been sidelined pending the outcome of the investigation by the FHSAA.   Even though the school district reinstated the coach to both his coaching and teaching duties, after having to sit out one game, he may still have to forfeit some or all of his $3,850 annual coaching stipend, depending on the decision of the FHSAA.

It was certainly not the intention of the FHSAA to punish athletes who happen to be homeless. It was merely meant to stop high school coaches and other school district personnel from shopping around for athletes. And yet it's not right that a decent human being can't do something out of the goodness of his heart without violating a rule. Hopefully, this situation will be remedied soon.

Source: rivals.yahoo.com

Bike Helmet Laws Leaving Kids Behind

Several months ago I posted on bike helmet laws and the reasons for such laws. The intent is to protect children, and sometimes adults too, from head injuries if thrown from the bike or hit by a car while riding. While these laws have reduced the number of injuries and fatalities, apparently these laws in over 20 states have also reduced the number of children who bike.

According to the article Intended and Unintended Effects of Youth Bicycle Helmet Laws by Carpenter and Stehr, there are several possibilities as to why this is happening. One likelihood is that the cost of bike helmets is problematic for some. It's speculated that another cause of reduced biking is that it simply is not cool to wear bike helmets, and social acceptance is important to tweens and teens.

The problem is that reduced biking among youth means less exercise, which goes against the current trends of tackling childhood obesity. And as one article suggests, some kids are turning to other less regulated activities, such as skateboarding and in-line skating, which could be just as dangerous as biking without a helmet. Again, it's unfortunate that laws with good intentions are having such negatives effects when the laws were put into place to protect children from injury.

Source: Ideoblog

Sexting and Other Teen Exploits

These days photos, videos and written materials can be easily exchanged and shared with numerous people in a matter of minutes through texts, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Over the past several years I have read many articles about teens who consensually took nude photos of themselves and sent the photos to boyfriends or girlfriends over the Internet or others who willingly took videos of themselves engaged in sexual activities, who then found themselves charged with child pornography crimes and prosecuted.

The intent of these laws is to protect minors from abusive adults who seek to harm them both physically and psychologically. These teens who have been charged with such crimes and found guilty are labeled sex offenders for the rest of their lives. When, in fact, the teens were doing nothing more than exploring their sexuality, not committing a crime.

While I'm not condoning this activity, I believe there are other ways to handle such situations. There is no crime being committed in most of these circumstances. Being found guilty of such a crime means being stuck with a misleading and false label for the rest of one's life and can ruin college, career and family opportunities. This was certainly not the intent of the legislature when these laws were passed.

Source: Wired

Historical Unintended Consequences

Historically, there have been other laws that were intended to stop something or promote something and yet went terribly wrong. Two such instances: prohibition and prohibiting abortions. I know I'm treading on dangerous ground bringing up these two points, but this is my opinion.

                Prohibition

Prohibition was intended to eliminate drunkenness, promote industry and hard work, reinforce the sanctity of the family unit and generally encourage and assure sobriety and adult responsibility in America. The results were contrary to the motivation for the federal and state laws that outlawed the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages. Crime increased, and previously unknown petty criminals and street gangs were quickly transformed into wealthy, powerful and organized crime syndicates. The consumption of alcohol actually increased over pre-Prohibition levels. Agencies and departments intended to enforce the law and keep the peace were on the whole corrupted with bribes. Clearly, this law did not accomplish its intended purpose.

Abortion Laws

Prior to Roe v. Wade, abortions were illegal in almost all circumstances with a few exceptions, such as rape and incest. Instead of stopping abortions from taking place, the law merely forced women to seek out doctors and/or clinics or others who operated outside the law. The result was that many women died or became ill with infections because of the non-sterile equipment, inexperience or lack of expertise of the person performing the abortion. In many circumstances, women were so desperate that they risked their lives to have an abortion. Certainly, it was never the intention of the legislators who deemed it an immoral procedure and banned abortions that women would seek to have an abortion regardless of the repercussions, but that is exactly what happened.

Fortunately, both prohibition and the ban against abortion have been lifted thereby diminishing the unintended impact, although some remnants of those ill effects still linger. There are other such laws written and passed with an intended positive result that, in fact, is never achieved, such as Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the military, certain tax laws and enforced busing of students after desegregation of schools.

The Scoop

How does the Legislature prevent laws created with good intentions from going awry? As they say, hindsight is 20/20. Can you think of other circumstances where an unintended result occurred? On Wednesday, I will post tips on decision making. Over and out…

Anna

You might also like:

Protecting the Ol’ Noggin: Why Your Child Should Wear a Bike Helmet and How to Choose One

Driving to Distraction: The Hazards of Texting While Driving and the Laws Restricting This Habit

We're Not Gonna Take It: Anti-Bullying Laws Leaving Kids Unprotected

The Perils of Feeding a Child: Food-Related Choking Hazard Warnings

New Information or Common Knowledge?

This just in…The following information may come as a shock to you. Hotdogs, hard candy, grapes, popcorn, nuts and other small, hard items of food are choking hazards. Of course, large pieces of food, like hunks of meat, potatoes, bread, a peach pit, carrots, apples and really anything are potential choking hazards.

How can one prevent this would-be accident? Well, one could avoid food that is any larger than a green pea, or you could throw caution to the wind and eat what you would like, chewing each bite carefully and thoroughly before swallowing. You should also teach your kids this life saving measure, and take care to feed your children small pieces of age appropriate foods. Of course, avoiding hotdogs and hard candy is a good idea for many reasons besides the potential to become lodged in your child's throat, but that is another topic altogether. I digress.

An Overloaded Potato

All joking aside, choking is a serious matter, and one I don't take lightly. I ask my Darling Boys and my DH, "Are you choking?" at just about every meal. In fact, this topic reminds me of the time that DH choked on a chunk of baked potato. It was some kind of Texas-sized southern fried chicken and gravy baked potato (if you can imagine such a thing). We were in college, and were eating with my parents who had come to town to see me off at the airport the next day. I was leaving to study abroad in London, and I remember thinking in those split seconds that DH was choking that I wouldn't be able to go if DH died, which sounds petty and callous, but that wasn't my feeling. It was just a matter-of-fact, fleeting thought that I remember going through my head.

DH, then Dear Boyfriend, began choking, indicating he could not breathe. My father, a much shorter man than DH, jumped up from his chair, knocking his chair backwards, grabbed hold of DH, picking him up and plunging his fists up under DH's ribcage dislodging the chunk of baked potato, and thereby saving DH's life, as my mom and I sat silently staring at the scene. Should he have avoided the loaded potato? Probably so, for a variety of reasons, none of which have to do with choking hazards, but truthfully he could have choked on anything. Do we really need labels on everything from grapes to marshmallows to hotdogs warning of the potential choking hazards these foods carry for its youngest clientele?

Choking Hazard Warnings

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), more than 10,000 children under 14 go to the emergency room annually for food-related choking. Each year between 66 and 77 kids under age 10 die due to choking on food. That number might not seem that high unless one of them is your child.

The argument is that toys have choking warnings and age appropriate labels, why not apply the same standards to food? The AAP is asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require warning labels on foods that are known choking hazards. At the same time, the AAP is calling for the redesign of certain foods that are leading choking hazards, such as the hot dog; advocating for the recall of food products with a significant and unacceptable choking hazard; and requesting the establishment of a national surveillance and reporting system warning the public of food-related choking hazards. Is this going too far? The FDA has said "it will review the AAP's recommendations and continue to work with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on assessing choking hazards associated with food."

Exhibit A: The Hot Dog

We have long known that the hot dog is a nutritional death trap full of fat, sodium and other preservatives, but now the "iconic food" is getting a bad rap based on its shape too. The small cylindrical shape of a hot dog is the "perfect" shape and size for getting stuck in a child's throat. While approximately 2/3 of hot dogs do already have choking hazard warning labels advising parents to cut them into small pieces for children, consumer protection groups say that is not enough.

The call to redesign the shape of hot dogs has been scoffed at and has become the butt of many jokes. In fact, the president of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Janet Riley has said that she "redesigns" hot dogs herself with a paring knife, cutting it into a smaller, safer size before giving it to toddlers, and says a redesign is "not going to happen."

I think Riley has a point, at some level it becomes the parent's responsibility to ensure that his/her child is eating food that is the appropriate size and texture for that child's age. However, a food designer has come up with a new hot dog design that will be marketed on the East Coast. It's the same shape, but it has deep slits cuts into the sides that open as it cooks, causing the hot dog to break apart as a child eats it.

Exhibit B: Popcorn

After a 23 month old girl choked on popcorn and died her family sued the popcorn company because the warning label was small and printed on the bottom of the box and they were unaware it was a choking hazard. The family settled the lawsuit out of court, but popcorn companies have begun placing more visible warnings.

In this case, there was a label warning of the hazards of small children eating this product. However, the label itself was not enough. It was not large enough or placed in a way that was apparent to the consumer.

Exhibit C: Other Hazardous Foods

It seems that many consumers are unaware of which foods are hazardous to young children, and may need to be warned. Is this the company's responsibility or the parent's responsibility? According to the AAP, other high-risk foods include apples, chewing gum, chunks of peanut butter, hard candy, marshmallows, nuts, raw carrots, sausages, seeds and grapes. And if the AAP get its way, we will begin seeing warning labels on all of these products and perhaps more.

The Scoop

Again, I'm quite paranoid about my Darling Boys choking. Whether the offending object is food, a found object in the yard or a small toy, I am ever watchful and concerned about them choking. I do not take this subject matter lightly. However, I find it hard to believe that a parent or caregiver is not aware of the dangers in feeding a young child a marshmallow or carrot, etc.

Is it not common sense that a child with little experience eating/chewing/swallowing food might not be able to properly eat hard candy or a hot dog or popcorn, for example? Even if it isn't common sense, I have been given these warnings both verbally and in writing from the pediatrician since my Darlings were old enough to eat food of any kind. So, if it's not common sense and a parent either doesn't receive the warnings from the pediatrician or somehow misses that information, will that parent notice and read the warning labels on food packages? Is it necessary and helpful for the FDA to require these choking hazard warning labels on food items?

How do you feel about choking hazard warning labels on food? Do you notice and read warning labels? Drop me a line and tell me your thoughts. On Wednesday, I will post tips on preventing choking and what to do in the event your child does choke. Over and out….

 

Anna

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