This Baby Outfit Provides A Disturbing Vision Of The FutureIs "Someday I'll get trashed at prom" an appropriate slogan for a baby t-shirt or onesie? How about "future cougar?" Sure, we at Consumerist like over-the-top humor as much as more than anyone, but can kids' shirts go too far? Or does it matter all that much when the wearer can't even talk yet, let alone read? That's what Brian wonders about this outfit from Wry Baby available at Babies 'R' Us. Brian writes: “I'm all for funny shirts, but even this seems a little over the top, especially for such a mainstream store as Babies-R-Us.” So what do you think? Read the full post.
This Is What Kids Did For Fun In The 80sJosh at GeekSix unearthed a comic book ad that might be familiar to you if you were a kid in the 80s. Olympic Sales Club was one of those door-to-door greeting card companies that enlisted kids across the country to sell crap to neighbors in exchange for merch your parents wouldn't buy you. For adults, multi-page direct mail letters tend to get good response rates; Olympic figured out how to get a similar response from kids. Read the full post.
And see our related reports on babies' and children's clothing and toys.
Painting is the easiest way to give any room a new look without remodeling. Want to warm up the space? Consider painting it a mellow hue like mustard yellow or pale gold. Does baby’s bedroom feel more like a closet? Painting the walls a lighter color really does make small spaces seem more spacious.
Even better news: Our tests show that the best paints should cover old paint in just one coat. The top brand, Behr, says its Premium Plus Ultra paint even eliminates the need to prime bare wallboard and wood. And you can buy great paints for as little as $15 a gallon, saving lots of cash, especially if you’re used to paying $40 or more. Store brands from Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart beat out Benjamin Moore, Dutch Boy, Sherwin-Williams, and other big brands. (See our paints buying guide and Ratings.)
And for the first time in our tests, all but two of our top picks are low in volatile organic compounds—noxious fumes linked to pollution, smog, and respiratory problems. (The exceptions: Benjamin Moore Regal Eggshell and Semi-Gloss, which we included for their fade resistance; the brand’s low-VOC Natura and Aura lines are also very good, but they’re pricey.) In fact, many of the paints we now test are low- or even no-VOC. (Learn more about how we tested low-VOC interior paints.)
Not so hot. Mythic Low-luster, Flat , and Semigloss, $44 to $48. Mythic is billed as a “stronger, safer, smarter paint” with zero VOCs. But it was only so-so at covering an old finish with one coat and subpar at fending off sun fading. The semigloss left a less-than-smooth finish, and the low-luster stayed tacky even when dry. Those letdowns helped put this pricey paint behind a slew of better, less-expensive paints in our tests. If you want a greener paint that’s durable and can save you time and money, go with Behr Premium Plus Ultra.
This content originally appeared in the April 2010 issue of ShopSmart magazine.
Recall: More than 90,000 drawstring hoodies due to strangulation hazard. Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of 23,000 children’s sweatshirts with drawstrings that had been sold at Burlington Coat Factory. Since last May, there have been 13 recalls for drawstring hazards on clothing sold at Burlington Coat Factory totaling 80,275 hoodies, jackets, and sweatshirts that shouldn't be on the market. (See removing drawstrings from children's clothing.) On March 24, the CPSC announced three more recalls of drawstring clothing sold at the Burlington Coat Factory totaling 13,000 items. Drawstrings on children’s outwear aren't a hidden hazard. They’re easy to spot by any shopper, clothing retailer or CPSC enforcement official. The agency issued drawstring guidelines in 1996 to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts. In 1997, the clothing industry adopted a voluntary standard for drawstrings that incorporated the CPSC guidelines. And in May 2006, the CPSC’s Office of Compliance announced that children’s upper outerwear with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be regarded as defective and subject to recall. Learn more in the full Safety blog.
Long Island toddler dies after strangling on window blind chain. A two-year-old Long Island boy died earlier this month after getting his neck caught in the chain of vertical blinds in the family home. According to local news reports, the boy was playing with another child when he became tangled in the chain. His father and medical professionals were unable to revive him. This sad event underscores the dangers that the cords and chains on blinds and shades pose to young children. (Learn more about positioning your child's crib safely and other safe sleep tips.) Last December, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Window Covering Safety Council joined together to "recall for repair" 50 million Roman shades and roll-up blinds. Learn more in the full Safety blog.
Evenflo has recalled 183,000 top-of-stair wooden safety gates after getting reports of multiple injuries when slats in the gates broke or detached. Evenflo has received 142 reports of slats breaking and/or detaching. Three children gained access to the stairs. One of them fell through the gate and down five steps; another fell down one step. Injuries included four children who sustained bumps and bruises to the head and seven who suffered scratches, scrapes and bruises. (See our full safety gate guide.)
The recall involves two models, 10502 and 10512, made from October 2007 through July 2009. The model number is on the bottom rail. The gates were sold at Toys “R” Us, Burlington Baby Depot, Kmart and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide in the U.S. and Canada, and on the Web at Amazon.com and other online retailers from October 2007 through March 2010 for about $40.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is telling consumers to stop using the gates and to contact Evenflo to obtain a free newer model (10503 or 10513) as a replacement. Call Evenflo at (800) 233-5921 or visit the firm’s Web site at safety.evenflo.com. The gates were also recalled in Canada.
See the full Safety blog post. And see safety gates: where you need them, how to install them.
If spring cleaning is on your agenda, keep your child's safety in mind with these handy tips.
Poisons come in solid, liquid, or sprayable forms, and some are even invisible. Teach your child that poisons come in all shapes and sizes, and even in bright and appealing colors, like fruit-tinted cleaning products. A poison can taste, smell, or look good—for example, mouthwash or perfume. Invisible poisons can be found in something burning, such as fumes from your vehicle exhaust.
Poisons don’t have to be ingested to be dangerous. Many household cleaners are dangerous if ingested, inhaled, or splashed. If poison is splashed, rinse the area with water for 15 minutes. And no matter what type of contact your child has had with one of those substances, call the poison center immediately.
Don’t breathe vapors. Never sniff containers to determine what’s inside. This could lead to poisoning from inhaling. Before you start using household and chemical products, turn on fans and open window to ventilate the room to avoid inhaling dangerous chemicals. If your child breathes in poisonous vapors, get him fresh air and call the poison center.
Every household product should be in its original container with the label intact. In the event of a poisoning, you will need to give the poison-control center vital information listed on the container and on the label.
Proper storage is key to prevent poisoning. Store household products and medicines in locked cabinets that your child can’t reach. Do not store them over stoves or ovens. Keep medicines in child-resistant containers.
Don’t give syrup of Ipecac for poisoning. If your child ingests a poisonous substance or one you suspect is poisonous, do not give him syrup of Ipecac or anything that will make him throw up the poison. Call the poison control center first. The substance he ingested might do more harm coming back up than it did going down.
At Toy Fair this year, we had no choice but to learn what child-oriented movies were debuting in 2010, because the showrooms overflowed with tie-in products. (Learn more about Toy Fair and hot outdoor toys.)
Here are just a few items you may see in stores or advertised this year:
For kids excited about Iron Man 2, Hasbro will introduce various Iron Man 2-themed products, but that one that caught our eye was the radio-controlled Walking Iron Man. At the show, we saw him move and we saw him shoot—what else do you need? The approximate retail price is $50.
If your kids already love dressing up as their favorite characters, then they may appreciate the Iron Man 2 & Toy Story 3 movie-themed costumes from Jakks Pacific. Rapunzel products were also featured around Toy Fair. Two products that we saw from Mattel were the Rapunzel Fairy-Tale Tower ($100) and the Rapunzel Braiding Friends Hair Braider $30—complete with a doll and friends, all removable from the pedestal. (And I did see it braid Rapunzel’s hair).
Alice in Wonderland (AIW) fans were not left out in the cold, either. We spied some pricey AIW movie character figures for the serious collectors. And even some board games like Yahtzee and Monopoly plan to introduce AIW-themed games.
Finally we made it to Lego, where we learned that they’re rolling out Toy Story 3 sets and figures in May 2010 that range in price from $20-80. Lego will also introduce Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows character and building sets, ranging in price from $11-130, in October 2010.
—Ina Gozenpud and Courtney Pennicooke (pictured above), associate product analysts, product intelligence
This morning, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada recalled more than one million Infantino baby slings. The CPSC knows of three infants who died in these slings in 2009: A 7-week-old infant in Philadelphia; a 6-day-old infant from Salem, OR; and a 3-month-old infant in Cincinnati all died of anoxia, or lack of oxygen, after being carried in an Infantino SlingRider. Two models are being recalled: Infantino SlingRider and the similar Wendy Bellisimo, which was sold exclusively at Babies “R” Us. The slings were for sale in the U.S. and Canada from January 2003 through March 2010 at Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory, Target, Babies “R” Us, BJ’s Wholesale, Amazon.com, and various other retailers for $25 to $30. The slings were also recalled in Canada. The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the sling immediately for infants younger than four months old. Babies that young often don't have neck muscles strong enough to hold their head up or turn if their breathing is blocked, so there's a risk of suffocation. Infantino is offering sling owners a choice of replacement products that they may or may not want. See the recall notice for details. Consumers can contact Infantino at 866-860-1361 or at www.infantino.com. Read the full Safety blog post.
See our tips for how to safely use a soft infant front carrier—a safer alternative to a sling
What would you do in the name of fun?
Here at Consumer Reports, it means scouting out the latest toys to find the ones most likely to make kids—and their parents—happy. To do just that, we headed to New York City last month to attend what is described as the “largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere”: the annual American International Toy Fair, a gargantuan, four-day epoch that takes place every year.
Not only did we get to see the newest toys, but we found out which 2010 movies manufacturers were betting on to sell their tie-in toys. But with more than 100,000 products on display—including those from the major retailers!—it was nearly impossible to view it all. (See our toys buying guide.)
Here are some interesting products we found in the outdoor category (also known as the please-go-and-play-outside or get-your-kid-off-the-couch-and/or-away-from-the-electronic-device category):
Our first stop was Razor, which introduced a new brand called Sole Skate—a sort of mini-skateboard—which Razor describes as a three-wheeled, single skate design (see image, above). In our past kid-tests, Razor products—including the RipStik and others—have been a hit. The Sole Skate also looked like fun, and we thought its light weight (less than 3 pounds) and portability were big pluses. The Sole Skate is recommended for kids 8+ and is now available, for approximately $50.
We moved right along to Street Surfing, the company famous for The Wave—a traditional casterboard. (You may not be familiar with this product, but your kids probably are!) Their new toy, Whiplash, is a mix between a casterboard and scooter, so a child can just ride it or propel it. The Whiplash is in stores and costs about $70.
If your kids aren’t in the mood to cruise around on wheels, they can go on a Backyard Safari instead! This brand is probably best recognized for their toy bug vacuums and habitats, but they offer various other gadgets that may get your kids interested in nature. A child can don a safari vest, and choose a variety of outdoor equipment to carry, such as field binoculars, a flashlight, a grabber, a magnifier and other outdoorsy items. Most items are in the $10-$20 price range, and are currently available in stores.
Just in time for the warm weather, Nerf and Super Soaker are joining forces to release the Nerf Super Soaker Shot Blast water blaster, due in stores this spring to sell for $20. It claims to be able to soak your (former) friends from up to 25 feet away, and is recommended for ages 6+.
Nerf also says their newest dart blaster, to be released in September 2010, will be the most “awesome and exciting” blaster in the Nerf brand's 40-year history. No images or other details are being released, in order to build up suspense. We’ll have to wait to see whether the product lives up to the hype.
Stay tuned for more categories of hot 2010 toys, appearing in upcoming posts.
—Ina Gozenpud and Courtney Pennicooke (pictured), associate product analysts, product intelligence
In light of last week's recall of 1.2 million Graco Harmony high chairs (pictured at right), it's important to keep some safety checks in mind when shopping for a high chair. We suggest visiting the baby store near you that has the broadest selection. Then put the chairs through their paces with these simple tests. (See our high chair ratings, available to subscribers.)
Open and close the fastener on the seat's safety harness. Try it one-handed to make sure it's easy to use. If it's not, you might be tempted not to use it every time your child is in the seat—which is a must. Although the current voluntary industry standard set by ASTM International doesn't call for a five-point harness (waist and crotch restraint with shoulder straps), a three-point harness (waist and crotch restraint) is required for certification. On some chairs, you can convert a five-point harness to a three-point harness, but we don't recommend it. Five-point harnesses are safer because they can prevent a child from standing up in a high chair and possibly falling. (See more news about baby product problems.)
Test the tray. It should be easy for you to engage and disengage, but not for your baby. Ideally, tray latches shouldn't be accessible or visible to your baby.
Check for a crotch post. The voluntary industry standard requires high chairs to have a passive crotch restraint, which is usually a fixed crotch post that may be attached to the tray or the seat of the chair.
Adjust the seat height to see how well that mechanism works. Not all chairs have this feature, but some come with as many as eight possible heights. Adjustable seat heights can accommodate parents of varying heights and allow the high chair to be used at the level of your dining room table, so that your baby can eat with the rest of the family.
Assess the seat cover. Look for a chair with upholstery made to last. It should feel substantial, not flimsy. Make sure that upholstery seams won't scratch your baby's legs. Seat covers should wipe clean (preferred) or be machine washable.
Make sure that wheels can be locked. If you're buying a model with wheels, they should lock or become immobilized by the weight of your baby in the seat.
Watch out for rough edges. Examine the underside of the feeding tray to make sure there's nothing sharp that could scratch your baby. Look for small holes or hinges that could trap little fingers.
Check for small parts. Make sure the caps or plugs that cover the ends of metal tubing are well secured. Parts small enough for a child to swallow or inhale are a choking hazard.
Try folding it. If you plan to fold up your high chair as often as every day, practice in the store. Some chairs that claim to be foldable can have stiff folding mechanisms. Technically they may be foldable, but they're not user-friendly.
Give the chair a good shake. Push contenders around to see how well they hold their ground. A chair should feel stable and sturdy, not wobbly. Look for a high chair with a wide base for stability.
See our high chairs buying guide for more information.
As part of a community-wide effort, we are helping to spread the word!
As you may, or may not have heard, we have an opportunity to have Google put in ultra high speed internet wiring for free in Redding. They are doing it for only a handful of communities. Part of their determination will focus on how supportive and engaged the community is toward the project.
Your effort of a few minutes can make a big difference in the economic prosperity of our city. Having ultra high speed internet can mean the difference between a major employer coming to the area or going elsewhere.
Please take the time to read the attachment from the Chamber and follow the instructions at the end on how to lend your support.
Chamber Report (PDF, 212 kb)
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