Sickening

I recently wrote a very tongue in check post about the recalled trains. And no, I still don't have all the trains I sent back. But this is getting beyond trains. Recalls have gone from possible lead paint exposure, to toddlers going into to comas because their toy contains the date rape drug.

When will it end. Yes, I think recalling cold medicine because parents can't read instructions is over reaching. But roofies, in our kids toys?

It's time for us, as parents, to band together. No more cheap toys. No more poorly made toys. And maybe, as a shout out to Allison, no more character toys. If we stop buying the crap, they will be forced to make better toys.

Look, I know that money is tight, and trust me, I'm not in any different position than anyone else. I'd rather Michael have less, high quality toys, than toys I'm going to have to take away from him. Before the painters came I gave bags and bags of toys to a consignment store and the salvation army. Less stuff is okay, stuff with lead in it is not.

I'm specifically asking for no China made toys for the holidays. Yes, it's annoying. Yes, it's even presumptuous. But, I refuse to give companies that don't care about my child's safety money anymore.

So, I'm asking the blogosphere to join me in a blog bast condemning the recent avoidable recalls if there was just more oversight. But I'd like to do more than that. I'd like to start a no China campaign. Join with me and promise not to purchase any toys made in China. Let's hit them where it hurts, in the pocketbook. Leave me a comment that you are in and we will figure out the best way to do it. (Doug is going to make buttons!)

One organization has already started, Consumers Union -- an expert, independent, nonprofit organization, whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers (best known, of course, for Consumer Reports), is taking a stab at the toy recalls with their "Get the Lead Out This Holiday Season" campaign, encouraging 12 Days of Safe Shopping (11/23 to 12/4) with parents sending letters to Congress and making their local stores aware of their concerns by becoming "safe shoppers."

Cross posted at DC Metro Moms.