Recall: Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers not to use or purchase Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises, Inc. The problem is that while the label states that there is no need for mothers to remove the cream prior to nursing, the ingredients contained in the product may be harmful to infants.

Potentially harmful ingredients in Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream are chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol. Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause respiratory depression (slow or shallow breathing) in infants. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants. Chlorphenesin can also harm the mother by causing dermatitis, a skin condition that can worsen the drying and cracking of nipple skin.

Mothers and caregivers should watch for a decrease in an infant's appetite. More serious signs would be difficulty in awakening the child, limpness of extremities or a decrease in an infant's strength of grip and a change in skin color. Please seek immediate medical attention if your child is showing these signs and symptoms.

The FDA asks consumers to report any adverse events related to this product or any FDA approved product to MedWatch, the agency's voluntary reporting program, by e-mail at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm, or by phone at 800-332-1088.

Toy Recall

It seems like we had a nice quiet time where the recalls seemed to be a thing of the past. MEGA Brands America Inc. of Livingston, N.J. recalled about 2.4 million of its magnetic toys Monday. Magnets in the toys may come out, posing a choking risk. If children swallow more than one magnet, the magnets can attract each other and tear or block the digestive system.

The voluntary recall includes following:

1.3 million MagnaMan magnetic action figures
1.1 million Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. preschool magnetic toys

For the complete list go to www.megabrands.com/en/customerservice/recallinfo/index.php

For further assistance MEGA Brands can be reached by phone at 800-779-7122 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST M-F.

FDA Says No to Cough Meds

Back in October, drugmakers voluntarily pulled several children's cold medicines off the market based on the FDA investigation that was pending about their safety. Today reports are out that the FDA has made a decision. They are issuing a stern health advisory- to not to give babies under two years of age over-the-counter cold and cough medicine because of potentially "serious and life-threatening side effects." This includes decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines and cough suppressants.

The FDA is looking into OTC meds for children aged 2-11 and should come to a decision on safety by this spring.

Until then try these remedies. NPR asked doctors and reports:

- Always encourage a child by telling him or her that colds are usually short-lived, and that they will feel better in a few days.

- Products containing acetaminophen, such as Tylenol; or products containing ibuprofen, such as Motrin or Advil, can make a sick child more comfortable, when given in the proper dose.

- Saline nose drops or warm steam from a shower can help ease decongestion. Of decongestants and cough medicines on the market, Benjamin says, "There is not anything out there that is effective."

- Ensure the child drinks plenty of fluids.

- If the child is not getting better or is getting worse, reevaluate his or her condition.

- Doctors emphasize the importance of reassuring the child by providing affection, comfort, and understanding.

Not Sure? Test Your Toys!

An AP report on MSNBC today says that after tests by a coalition of environmental health groups found that of the more than 1,200 children’s products tested, 35% contained lead. Of those items, items deemed with "excessive lead levels" included a Hannah Montana card game case, a Go Diego Go! backpack and Circo brand shoes.

The Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys is available at
http://www.healthytoys.org

To buy lead tester kits try:
http://www.leadinspector.com/

For information on how to properly check toys for lead try:
http://www.leadtesttoys.com/howtotoys.aspx

First Lead Posioning, Now Comas?!

What has gotten into the toy market this year? First there are all those recalls for lead paint and now the Aqua Dots recall for GHB. This type of leak into the market is totally, absolutely unacceptable. What seems to be the funny part is that Wal-Mart had even selected it to be one of the top toys for the holiday season, and now it is being pulled from the shelves.

An advertisement for Aqua Dots (for those of you who haven't seem them) read:
Aqua Dots Super Studio is the super cool way to have fun! Wow your friends with unique designs using Aqua Dots beads. You be the artist! Arrange Aqua Dots in any pattern or design you want, spray with water and play! The secret is water magically makes the colorful dots stick together to create an awesome design! Simply make, spray and stay for hours of fun every day! They´re magic! No Heat, No glue, No Mess!



It does actually sound neat and fun, similar to those plastic beads that kids used to iron and melt together into different shapes and designs. But how on Earth did the manufactures manage to contaminate them with a compound that metabolizes into GHB?!

Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid is used illegally under street names like Juice, Liquid Ecstasy, and as a date rape drug. Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN was quoted in their article, "In higher doses, it can cause people to go into a coma. It can cause seizures. It can cause something known as hypotonia, where all your muscles just become very flaccid. And it can cause people to become amnestic, ... which is why it became a date-rape drug". If you have Aqua Dots throw them out immediately. I think it is fair to say that we all hope that sometime soon we can regain trust in our toy manufactures, until then go ahead and be skeptical and keep your eyes and ears open for anything that may seem suspect.

Chinese Year of the Recall

Not only the US, but countries world wide are forced to tell parents to check their homes for products sold with high levels of lead and small, powerful magnets that could fall out of the toys and be swallowed. 21 million products in total from Mattel are being recalled.

Baby bibs from Toys R Us are also being recalled for lead. The vinyl bibs were sold under store brand names Especially for Baby and Koala Baby. They feature a number of illustrations including baseball bats and soccer balls and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh characters.

Toys included in the recall are Barbie and her dog Tanner, Batman action figures, Polly Pocket play sets, Doggie Day Care sets and the army jeep Sarge from the movie Cars.

This is the 3rd post in the last two months about recalls. Just two weeks ago Mattel had announced a large recall of 300,000 toys in the US. In July another recall was issued for lead in for sorting toys sold at Wal-Mart, Target, Marshalls and Meijers. This is a bad trend we are seeing. Keep your eyes and ears open for we are likely to see more of these.

Another Toy Recall "Made in China"

China should soon see a hit in manufacturing if they continue on the way they have been going. The number of products made in China that have been recalled in the US has doubled in the past five years. Recalled toys are good for no one, manufacturer, retailer, consumer or business owner. New guide lines are desperately needed here.

So here it is:
Mattel announced today it is recalling nearly 1 million toys because of lead paint. This is the 2nd biggest recall of the year involving toys. The good news is that Mattel prevented more than two-thirds of the affected toys from ever reaching consumers. They contacted distribution centers and the toys never went on to retailers. That still leaves about 300,000 lead-laden toys out there. For a complete list go to mattel.com or cpsc.gov.

Recent Toy Recalls

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released two toy-related reports this week. The first is for Shape Sorting Toy Castles made by Infantion LLC of San Diego, CA. The problem lies in a plastic rod that can come loose, allowing the colored beans to slide off and pose a choking hazard. These castles have been on sale at Wal-Mart, Target, Marshalls and Meijers.

The second recall is for Essentials for Kids Jewelry Sets which were imported from China through Future Industries of Cliffwood Beach, NJ. These items are being recalled because of high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause a range of adverse health effects. The items include a necklace, bracelet and pair of earrings made of plastic beads, necklaces with painted metallic pendants in the shape of shoes, girls, blackboards with lettering or school buses. Also recalled are other jewelry sets with seven pendants, one for each day of the week.