toxic toys

We love our children. We want to protect them. We want them to grow up strong and healthy. They are not only our family, but our future. Our legacy to the world. They are the most important investment we will ever make.

And we give them toxic toys to play with.

Excuse my abruptness but it is true. Over the last few years we have heard of more and more recalls on toys made in China and other overseas factories due to "unacceptable levels of toxins."

Is there a such thing as an acceptable level of toxins?

How have we gotten so far away from demanding the highest level of quality in the products our children sleep in, play with, and even consume (jarred infant formula containing bits of glass, formula contaminated with salmonella...don't believe me? Check the FDA website).

I know. I know. Cheap labor, less manufacturing restrictions overseas, etc etc. But the bottom line is that our market is based on supply and demand. If there were no demand for these cheap toys and products these large manufacturers would be forced to change their standards or go out of business. It is quite simple. But, sadly, there is a demand. I cannot solely blame the toy manufacturers for exploiting our lack of diligence as parents. That is not to say that I agree with it, or like it, but I understand that they are simply meeting a demand. Why shouldn't they?

We are the consumers. We are the parents and caretakers. It is our job and our responsibility to demand higher standards for the products we use and allow our children to use.

To put it another way, imagine yourself walking up to a lemonade stand. The man has two different kinds of lemonade, one for $.10 per cup and one for $.25 per cup. When you ask him the difference, he explains that the cheaper cups of lemonade probably have some poison in them, hence the price difference. But don't worry, it is most likely an acceptable level of poison that will not hurt you... but he cannot really guarantee it. The more expensive lemonade is completely poison-free. Ok, I wouldn't buy any lemonade from this stand but for the sake of argument, which would you choose? Do you choose to pay the extra $.15 for the poison-free lemonade? Or do you take your chances with the less expensive, tainted drink? And should you get sick, who is more at fault, the man selling the lemonade, or you for buying it? Of course, to some degree both parties are responsible, there must be a level of ethics in business. But as long as there is a demand for cheap, tainted lemonade, all he is simply doing is fulfilling that demand. Take the demand away and his lemonade stand would be forced to sell only clean lemonade or shut down.

The point of the story is to illustrate the importance of personal responsibility. It extends to the well-being of our children.

I know many parents who take the stance "I can't be afraid of everything for my kids." It is not that these parents do not love their children, they do. But they are overwhelmed. I can understand and even relate to this. In a world full of information constantly being fed to us at every moment of the day we learn how unhealthy our environment, our food supply, our world is. You cannot possibly protect your child from everything. At some point you have to let go and let God work.

But as parents we are also bound by duty to protect our children from as much as we possibly can. How can we balance the insanity of worrying about every little (and big) thing, from diseases/vaccination complications to lead poisoning to our kid running out in the street, with real life?

I am guilty of not being diligent enough. Moose and Brax have a whole house full of toys with acceptable or unacceptable levels of toxins. I try to buy products made in the USA or work-at-home mom toys, but I will be the first to admit that I do not always. I will see a toy in Walmart that looks like great fun for the boys and find myself putting it in the cart despite the Made in China sticker on the back.

So now it is your turn...what do you do to protect your children from these toxic toys? Do you take a relaxed standpoint? Do you buy only organic toys made in the USA? Or are you like me, somewhere in between the two extremes?