Posted on 08/15/2007 7:53:38 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
(OTTAWA) - Fears of shoddy and dangerous toys pouring into Canada from China are prompting parents across the country to seek safer alternatives following a large-scale recall announced by Mattel this week. But many are finding it's a nearly impossible task because the majority of the world's toys come from China.
"It's really difficult to find anything," said Keely Dennis, mother of a one-year-old boy in Vancouver. "It's really hard to find toys that aren't made in China that are age-appropriate, and are just cool, that your kid will play with."
For the second time in two weeks, the toy giant began recalling millions of Chinese-made toys over concerns that small parts could pose choking hazards and that excessive amounts of lead may be present. This is the latest in a string of problems that are raising doubts over the safety and quality of Chinese products, including toothpaste and pet food.
But parents trying to avoid potentially risky imports are having a hard time keeping Chinese-made products out of their children's toy boxes. An estimated 80 per cent of the world's toys are made in China, and even many European or North American companies that appear to offer safer alternatives produce many of their toys in China.
Now even all-natural and organic toy retailers that tout their products as safe are finding out how hard it is to escape the ubiquitous made-in-China label.
"A lot of my toys do say that they're designed in a certain country but made in China," said Dana Johnson, who runs Florida-based Three Sisters Toys, which describes itself as an all-natural toy retailer. "Quite frankly, I'm still in the process of trying to get in touch with some of the manufacturers."
It was only after the recent spate of toy recalls that Baby Naturopathics, a Hamilton, Ont.-based online retailer specializing in natural and organic baby products, realized it's also selling products made in China.
"The manufacturers do not advertise this. They present themselves as being entirely made in Europe," said Cindy Cho, part-owner of the business. "Then, only when you look at the box do you realize that maybe that's not the case or if you do research online."
The company is now struggling to figure out what to do and is considering no longer buying products from any manufacturer that produces goods in China.
"Unfortunately, we found out that quite a few European toys are made in China as well," Cho said. "A few years ago that wasn't the case. Increasingly, more companies are making their products in China. We're going to have to re-evaluate."
Mattel's most recent toy recall is serving to fuel a larger backlash against products made in China, which could have a lasting impact on the economy if the situation doesn't improve, according to Paul Beamish, director of the Asian Management Institute at the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business in London, Ont.
"If this problem persists, if we see a whole lot of ongoing product recalls from China, then it has much greater implications for consumers because they will stop, at the extreme, or reduce their purchasing, or start looking for alternative sources," he said. "The big thing that has to change is more rigorous and vigorous enforcement of the quality standards that already exist."
For parents like Dennis, the recent safety scares involving Chinese-made products are both disheartening and frightening.
"The first thing it makes me think is these companies are only thinking about money. They want to make money, they're outsourcing their manufacturing and basically contributing to exploitation," Dennis said.
It's also frustrating that China is producing nearly all of the toys on store shelves in today's marketplace, even if they aren't meeting North American quality and safety standards. It's a reality she hopes will change soon.
"I think that if we can force these companies to change the way they manufacture and market their toys, other companies will follow suit as well," she said. "Unless you make the toys yourself, what are your kids going to play with?"
“They had built an addition to their home; Grandpa cut a bunch of the excess lumber into all kinds of shapes and sizes...there was a HUGE box...hundreds of pieces. Had a blast building things with those.”
Today even our lumber comes from china.
We had a box from a large screen TV that we had purchased. We cut a door and window into the box and kept in the family room for almost a year while the grandson played with it. Alot of fun!
.
LOL. I’m picturing my grandmom as a child playing with a sock compared to my kids with their rooms overflowing with toys. Maybe this whole China controversy will bring us all to some middleground... I know I’m going to use China as an excuse with my kids: “Look, guys, it’s Made in China. We have to get rid of this one. It could be dangerous!” I’ll have this house neat as a pin soon enough. LOL.
I picked up a copy a few months ago and absolutely love it. It has everything from how to build a great tree house (they recommend you get your dad involved for safety's sake) to making a world-class paper airplane and so much more.
I was going to get a copy for my sister and brother-in-law (they're on the list for adopting a boy sometime next year), but they saw my copy one night and stopped by the store on the way home and picked up a copy of their own.
Will check it out, thanks.
Awesome sources, thank you. I was in a bit of a panic over what to get for my nephew who is turning 4 in two weeks, your post has helped immeasurably. I am sure I will be referring back again when Christmas comes(2 kids of my own, 3 nieces/nephews!).
~bookmark~
I stopped buying my grandkids towys a long time ago. They get clothes or money.
if your gma sewed barbie clothes for you she is a saint
the arm holes must have been hard to do so she probably did a lot by hand... she must have really cared for you
Your more than welcome. Ps.-You can still find brick and mortar stores that sell USA shoes.
That’s our problem with my twin daughters. They are 10, and I’m not pushing the issue too much. I figure the problem will go away soon, and I will miss all of the stuffed animals.
Are Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs made in China now?
I had to buy some new Boy Scout pants for my son before he went to camp. Absolutely required. You guessed it. Made in China.
Shoes for my kids are a real problem, my daughters especially. My 10 year old already has a size 7 foot, so she is in adult shoes. Well, I don’t want her wearing high heals or other adult shoes, then to try to find ones not made in China. Ack.
Ha! How tall is your daughter? My 9 year old also wears a size 7. Her hands and feet are bigger than mine.
Oh, she cared for us! She actually did sew most of the armholes with the machine; finished the underarm part by hand, IIRC. I'm telling you, Barbie had the most amazing clothes...complete with mini ric-rac; tiny little lace trim; the works. She actually sewed fitted Barbie suits, with matching blouses; I even had two-piece pajama sets with little buttons.
Grandma's enclosed front porch was an unofficial "store." She used her scraps to make rugs, quilts, potholders, baby clothes, and Barbie clothes. The entire front porch was full of these items; the locals would stop in to purchase wedding, shower, and birthday gifts.
Her price on handmade quilts: $20-50; Barbie clothes starting at about $.25 (for undergarments...yes she sewed those as well.) Now that I'm older, I wish I'd have saved my money and bought all of the quilts.
FYI, we were always short on Barbie shoes...LOL...the standard 12 pack of shoes didn't always complement our array of hundreds of costumes.
My daughter’s feet are bigger than mine also. She’s about 5’ tall.
I also have very narrow feet, and my daughter’s are wide.
I hate trying to buy her anything but tennis shoes. She doesn’t like ballet slipper type shoes that are popular now.
She’s actually very tomboyish right now. I think she should have been born in the 50’s. It would fit her personality better: plainer clothes and more domestic.
We just got it! My son and daughter had a blast trying to outdo each other with designs for paper airplanes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.