I took my son with me to Wal-Mart to start buying some of the things we still need for his new bedroom and his baby sister’s nursery. Lots to do before this baby arrives in 2-4 weeks.
My friend is having a baby this week — her 3-year-old and my son are best buds — so I wanted to get both of them a stuffed animal to bring to the hospital when we go to meet the baby. Thought it would be good for my son to see a gesture of good wishes for a new arrival, and one for his friend too.
While we were in the aisle of the stuffed animals my son gravitated to THE CUTEST red and white dog with a scarlet red heart-shaped nose. My intention was to buy one animal for each if his friend, her baby sister and one for my new baby (to be given from my son). I typically don’t break down when it comes to purchases. I’m not one of those parents who can’t say no to her child. I don’t buy things for him on a whim.
Until today.
I couldn’t resist buying that super-soft, $5 dog with the red hearts from Wal-Mart.
I couldn’t resist the smile he gave me when he gave that cute dog a hug.
I couldn’t resist.
Period.
I realize this will only make it harder the next time he asks for something that I am not prepared to buy, but for today I am going with the feeling that I just couldn’t resist.
A representative for Parents.com emailed me about a Toy and Recall finder that I think is pretty interesting for parents to learn about. The Web site put together a database and slide show detailing all the recent toy recalls — with pictures.
Searchable Database
The site uses an easy searchable database which allows you to search by a variety of ways:
Enter Product Name, Brand or Model Number
Choose a category (such as clothing, cribs and strollers)
Choose a date range (last month, last 6 months, last year or all of the above)
I decided to try out the databaseI’m looking for new booster seats for my son so I did a search on car seat recalls within the last year. The search results display a list of 9 car seats which have been recalled. Pretty cool for just a couple clicks. It’s a great resource for busy parents like me. Be sure to visit the site to find out about products you’re interested in.
I fear that moms across America will end up with no option but to throw toys in the trash. Perfectly good, previously loved, simply outgrown toys that previously would have gone to charity or have been sold on eBay or Craigslist.
New Legislation In Town
There is a new law pending approval that will require a special certification for toys to be sold or resold. While the intent of the new law is to protect children from tainted toys like those in recent recalls, it will affect so many other sectors of the toy system.
The new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act – passed hastily to bar poisonous foreign products – also will require millions of American homecrafters to have each of their products tested at huge cost, ranging from $500 to $4000 per product – including their old stock which was manufactured before this law had even been thought up.”
As stated above, the crafters who work so hard to hand make toys for children will also be affected. The people of Etsy and sites where they can set up shops to sell their wares? They will be effectively shut down. I’m sure there are plenty of WAHMs who rely on this income. This is seriously bad news for them.
Getting Rid of Stuff Will Be Harder
My mantra of less is more will be harder to deal with now. We will no longer be able to eBay or Craigslist toys that another child could love. We won’t even be able to give them away to charity because they won’t be able to resell them without the certificate. What’s a mom to do? I suspect swap parties will become popular, but who has time for that? What inevitably will happen is that busy moms will throw perfectly good toys in the trash — filling out landfills.
People in Need This also has the potential to cripple people who rely on buying toys second-hand. What about the mom who can’t afford to buy new toys for her kids’ birthdays? She relies on places like the Goodwill to stock her children’s toy boxes. Or the thrifty mom who doesn’t like to pay full price for toys knowing they have short lives in our homes. We will all be limited in how we can access toys from now on.
OK, this is totally cool. MomLogic did an article on a company that will transform your childs drawing into a customized stuffed animal — or whatever the drawing is.
There are photos of examples which show the drawing and the final stuffed product. You gotta see this. View the article and photos here.
I love this pad. It’s magic. You can write and write and write. Normally, I draw a thousand (and one) trains on it for my son. “One more, Mommy,” he says in his tiny, can’t-refuse-him voice. “Draw train Mommy.”
Of course I draw a train. And another, and another. I draw dogs, cats, houses, letters, numbers, our names. We trace each others hands, feet, legs. Everything evaporates. We draw again.
This magical pad folds up and works with a magic pen — just water. OMG, I just realized that I could use a paint brush on it! Yes, a paint brush would be magical fun. Must do that next time. Wonder what a train will look like painted with a brush? I will soon find out.
Our magic pad (aka the Aquadoodle Draw N’ Doodle Mat) was given to my son as a Christmas gift (Thanks, Padillas!) and it’s been a hit ever since. What I love about it is that you can use it and use it and use it, then forget about it and be totally mesmerized all over again when you try it again.
Go get one of these magic pads for yourself. I guarantee you’ll like it as much as your kid, maybe more.
Update: A reader (thanks AussieMummy) commented and let me know about a Thomas the Tank Engine version of this mat. You can draw railroad tracks and a battery-operated Thomas will follow the tracks! OK, I have to check this out. Here’s a link if you are interested in the Thomas version.
A representative for Parents.com emailed me about a Toy and Recall finder that I think is pretty interesting for parents to learn about. The Web site put together a database and slide show detailing all the recent toy recalls — with pictures.
I fear that moms across America will end up with no option but to throw toys in the trash. Perfectly good, previously loved, simply outgrown toys that previously would have gone to charity or have been sold on eBay or Craigslist.
