Wholehearted Parents Blog

Recall: Kolcraft Recalls 1 Million Play Yards--Fall Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Kolcraft Enterprises is recalling about 1 million play yards. The names on the product are Kolcraft, Carter's Sesame Street, Jeep, Contours, Care Bear, and Eric Carle. The side rail can fail to latch properly, making it unlatch unexpectedly. There have been almost 400 reports of the play yard collapsing, resulting in 21 injuries.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Aqua-Leisure Industries' Inflatable Baby Floats--Drowning Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:48:00 +0000

Aqua-Leisure Industries is recalling their inflatable baby floats. The leg straps in the seat of the float can tear, causing children to fall into or under the water. Drowning may result.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Simplicity Drop Side Cribs--Risk of Death from Suffocation

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:50:00 +0000

Simplicity is recalling its drop side cribs. The crib's plastic hardware can deform or break. The result can be a malfunction of the crib, resulting in suffocation.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings by Winterbee--Strangulation Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:28:00 +0000

Winterbee Inc. is recalling their Speedy children's hooded zipper jackets. The jackets have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children.

Read the recall details here.

Homeschooling: the canary in the coal mine?

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:21:00 +0000

This editorial in the Las Vegas Review-Journal caught my attention. It's based around the fact that, as usual, the recent National Spelling Bee was dominated by kids who are homeschooled. (Although the winner attends public school.)

The "big idea" of the article was that growing numbers of parents are homeschooling not for religious reasons, but because they want to give their kids a higher quality of education. They call homeschooling the "canary in the coal mine" of public education.

Is this true? Is the rise of homeschooling (the number of homeschooled kids has doubled in a decade) a sign that there is something wrong with public education? I'd like to see what any parents who homeschool have to say. I'm also interested in some insight from people who work in public education.

Is there something really wrong with the public education system in the US?

Is McDonald's giving away a kids CD that features the "F" word?

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:47:00 +0000

This story from channel 8 in Honolulu talks about the music CD that McDonald's is giving away with their kid's meals. Some parents think they are hearing the infamous "F" word (no, not french fries, the other one) in one of the songs.

There's a link on the story page to the song in question. I can hear what they're talking about, but I think it might be the word "looking" instead of the other word. Listen for yourself, and let me know what you think.

I do find it hard to believe that McDonald's would give away something with that kind of language in it. But stranger things have happened...

Recall: Children’s Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings sold by Burlington Coat Factory--Strangulation Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:34:00 +0000

Some children's hooded sweatshirts sold by Burlington Coat Factory have been recalled. The drawstrings can pose a strangulation hazard. Consumers are encouraged to remove the drawstring, or return the garment to the place of purchase.

Read the recall details here.

Families slowing down because of the recession...

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:16:00 +0000

Over the weekend, I caught this story in the online version of the Newark, New Jersey Star Ledger. The writer talks about the fact that many families are cutting back on their activities because of the recession. In addition to doing fewer things, families are cutting back on unnecesary expenses.

One of the moms they talked to, Dana Slomkowski, said she felt guilty at first for the way the family had to cut back. But now, she says, "We have more time, we talk. We may not go anywhere, but at least we're all home together. Now I'm big on, 'go outside and play.'"

This may be one of the good things that comes out of the current economic mess. I've believed for a long time that the one thing kids need more than anything else is time. Time with their parents. Time to receive the love and acceptance that only comes with hanging out with their family.

I know a lot of people are hurting financially, and I feel bad for everyone who is suffering right now. But if the recession means that more families start investing time and energy into each other, then some good will come out of this bad situation...

Parents making do with less...

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:02:00 +0000

This article in the Tyler Morning Telegraph is a good read. The writer interviewed parents in the Tyler, TX area who are cutting back on their spending because of the current economic situation.

Of course, this isn't happening just in Texas. Parents all over are watching their money, and holding on to as much of it as they can. The moms they interviewed for this article have found different ways to save money. They go to consignment stores, they shop for sales, they use coupons.

For some of us, it's been a big transition. But really, it's a better way to live. Why spend more money than you need to?

What are some ways you have been saving money for your family?

Recall: “CARS” Children’s Shoes Sold Exclusively at Wal-Mart--Choking Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:03:00 +0000

Walmart is recalling fleece clog-type shoes that are shaped to resemble a car from the movie "Cars." The shoes have decorative wheels that can come off and pose a choking hazard.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Simplicity Play Yards Sold by Various Retailers--Fall and Entrapment Hazards

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Simplicity, Inc. is recall their Travel Tender Play Yards. The rails can collapse unexpectedly, posing a fall or entrapment hazard.

Read the recall details here.

Recal: Pacifiers Made by Healthtex--Choking Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Zoo pacifiers made by Healthtex are being recalled by the manufacturer. The nipples separate easily from the base, posing a choking hazard.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: SunKids Convertible Cribs Manufactured by Suntech Enterprises--Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:06:00 +0000

Suntech Enterprises has issued a recall for their SunKids convertible cribs. The design of the crib can allow a young child to become trapped between the side of the crib and the mattress, risking suffocation.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Horizon Hobby Inc. recalls radio transmitters for model aircraft--impact and laceration hazards

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:02:00 +0000

Horizon Hobby Inc, has issued a recall warning for their radio transmitters that are used for model aircraft. The transmitters are defective, and can cause the aircraft to fall from the sky and injure someone on the ground. The transmitters can also cause propellers to spin unexpectedly, and cause lacerations.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Evenflo's Envision™ High Chairs--Fall and Choking Hazards

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:57:00 +0000

Evenflo has issued a recall for its Envision high chairs. Screws and fasteners can fall out of the chairs, causing the seatback to detach or recline suddenly.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Evenflo Expands Recall of Majestic™ High Chairs--Fall and Choking Hazards

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:57:00 +0000

Evenflo has expanded their recall of Majestic high chairs. (Some chairs were recalled in December, 2008.) The screws on both sides of the high chairs can loosen and fall out. This allows the seatback to suddenly fall back or detach from the high chair.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: La Jolla Sport's Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings--Strangulation Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:40:00 +0000

La Jolla Sports is recalling some of their children's hooded sweatshirts. The hood's drawstring can pose a strangulation hazard to children.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Golden Grove Trading's Children’s Hooded Fleece Jackets with Drawstrings--Strangulation Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:39:00 +0000

Golden Glove Trading (also known as Crystal Castle) is recalling some of their children's hooded sweatshirts. The hood's drawstring can pose a strangulation hazard to children.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: OKK Trading Pacifiers--Choking Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:19:00 +0000

OKK Trading has recalled some of their Baby Necessities pacifiers. These pacifiers have failed federal safety tests. The pacifier's nipple can separate from the base, causing a choking hazard.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Fisher-Price 3-in-1 High Chairs--Fall Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Fisher Price is recalling some of their 3-in-1 high chairs. The seat can fall backward if it is not attached properly, causing a fall hazard.

Read the recall details here.

A toy seller's perspective on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act...

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:48:00 +0000

I ran across this blog post today. It's a letter to Rep. John Dingell, Democratic congressman from Michigan. The letter was written by a woman who runs a company that sells handmade toys over the internet. It seems these toys are mostly handcrafted by artists.

As you can imagine, it would be prohibitively expensive for these toy artists to test every item they make for lead. That could mean that these people who make high-quality alternatives to mass-produced toys might find themselves out of business. That would be very sad.

She makes 4 common-sense suggestions for improving the CPSIA. They are:

1. Focus on items that pose a risk such as paint and cheap jewelry, and exempt all other items.
2. Allow for use of certain finishes that do not pose a risk (for example milk paint, beeswax, tung oil, vegetable oils etc.)
3. Allow certification of materials to suffice for proof of compliance (component testing), and remove the requirement that finished products be tested.
4. Exempt small producers from batch labeling or make it voluntary.

That seems pretty reasonable, as does the part of the letter that complains about the new rules that make it illegal to sell books printed before 1985. There are so many great books that would be lost to kids if we get rid of old books.

Jennifer and I both kept a lot of books from our childhood, and we've passed them down to our kids. It's such a great legacy for our kids. It would be a shame to lose that because lawmakers overreacted to the legitimate fear caused by concerns over lead paint and other safety issues.

Recall: Educational Craft Kits by FloraCraft--Violation of Lead Paint Standard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:37:00 +0000

FloraCraft is recalling its Solar System and DNA Educational Craft Kits. The surface coating on the educational kit's wires can contain excessive levels of lead, which violates federal lead paint standard.

Read the recall details here.

Recall: Nordstrom Girl’s Shoes--Violation of Lead Paint Standard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:25:00 +0000

Nordstrom's announced that it is recalling some of its girls' shoes. The surface paint on the outer sole of these shoes contains excessive levels of lead, violating federal lead paint standard.

Read the recall details here.

The staggering numbers of single parents...

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:02:00 +0000

I ran across this story from Breitbart.com, and I don't know what to make of it. According to some federal researchers, about forty percent of babies are now born to single mothers. They list several reasons for this, including the fact that it's now more culturally acceptable for single women to have children than it was a few decades ago.

I guess I have mixed feelings about it because of my own experience. My mom was a single mother after she and my father divorced when I was two. She did a pretty good job raising me (and I wasn't easy to raise). But it was really difficult. She raised me, and worked hard to keep us clothed and fed. She spent most of my growing up years exhausted from all the things she had to do.

We were lucky in that we had a lot of family around to support us, emotionally and spiritually, if not financially. I guess my real concern is for the parents (because dads can be single parents too) who don't have that kind of support system. I don't know how they can handle everything that comes at you as a single parent.

I want to be clear: I think that most single parents are doing everything they know how to do to make their kids' lives as normal as possible. I just don't see how "normal" life can be, unless you do have a large, solid support system around you.

I think most people agree that it's best to bring up children in a loving, two-parent home. But when that isn't possible, the next best thing is to have a bunch of family and friends to pick up the slack.

I still think the most difficult job in the world to do well is single parent. But being a child of a single parent can be a pretty tough job too...

ecall (U.S. and Canada): State Farm Good Neigh Bears--Choking Hazard

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:25:00 +0000

State Farm is recalling some of the stuffed bears it gave away between September, 2005 and March, 2007. The eyes on these bears can come off, posing a choking hazard.

Read the recall details here.