New MomsRising.org and Healthy Toys Mobile Phone Tool!

How cool is this? The folks at MomsRising.org and Healthytoys.org teamed up to create a mobile phone tool to help you select toys while shopping.

Here is how to do it, emailed to my inbox today. I hope it helps you find safe toys for your little ones.



"Dear MomsRising.org member,

Sadly, one of the big stories this holiday season has been an epidemic of "toxic toys" -- exposing children to everything from lead to the date rape drug GHB. We've been horrified, not only at what this says about our national priorities, but also as moms we're left asking: "What toys are safe to buy for my own kids??"

Today, we're thrilled to tell you about a new tool to help you tell which toys are safe for your kids this holiday season. Our friends at HealthyToys.org1 tested over 1250 toys for common chemicals and have just made the results searchable online. Because the time you really want to know which toys are toxic is when you're shopping, we've partnered with them to make their database searchable via your mobile phone. Here's how it works:

Text healthytoys [toy name] to 41411

And we'll reply instantly with whether the toy tested "high" "med" or "low" for potentially dangerous toxins. Try it! Text "Healthytoys Elmo flashlight" to 41411. You'll get a reply right back to your phone with the test results for the Elmo flashlight by Sesame Street. Neat, eh? Take it with you shopping and tell your friends!

And then sign this petition to tell Congress, "We demand safe, lead-free toys for children. Congress must strengthen the agencies responsible for protecting kids from toxic products and remove the bureaucrats who are standing in the way." We should be able to buy our kids toys off the shelf without having to worry whether they're filled with dangerous chemicals.

Glad we're in this together,

-- Kristin, Joan, Katie, Donna, Roz, Mary and the whole MomsRising.org Team

[1] HealthyToys.org is a project of the Ecology Center in partnership with the Washington Toxics Coalition and: California • Center for Environmental Health • Connecticut - Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut • Maine - Environmental Health Strategy Center • Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine • Massachusetts - Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow • Michigan - Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health • Minnesota - Healthy Legacy • New York - JustGreen Partnership • Oregon - Oregon Environmental Council • Washington - Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition • National - Center for Health, Environment and Justice

P.S. SMS text wiz? Try a more complex search:

Text "healthytoys [high/med/low] [toy name]" to 41411 -- to limit your search results to only those toys with a high, med, or low toxins rating -- e.g. "healthytoys low slinky" will only return the Slinky that got a "low toxins" test rating by HealthyToys.org.


Text "healthytoys [retailer]" to 41411 -- to search for toys sold by a particular retailer -- e.g. "healthytoys low costco" will return the toys sold at Costco that got a "low toxins" test rating by HealthyToys.org.


Text "healthytoys [search term]" to 41411 -- to search for toys with that term in their name, description, brand, or retailer. In other words, you can search not only for a toy name but also for Costco, or Leap Frog, or bracelet, or fuzzy, or rattle, or Spider-man, or Disney -- and any toys with those words anywhere in their listing will be returned.


Too many results? Try typing the name of the toy just as it is printed on the packaging -- e.g. "healthytoys Disney Royal Shoes Set".


Don't forget to tell your friends!
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=2231"

Ronald McDonald on your Kid's Report Card--

My jaw hit the floor when I read that McDonald's has started advertising their incredibly unhealthy food to children and families on reports cards in some Florida schools.

I mean, I have read Fast Food Nation by Eric Slosser, (highly recommended, a nauseating read about the scary human health, social, and animal welfare concerns about eating fast food), and watched SuperSize Me, and would only go to a McDonald's kicking and screaming or for some sort of bladder or medical emergency. But where I live, it is cold outside most of the year. And sometimes those playplaces look inviting to me to get my girls some exercise-- but we will not be part of the branding of our girls minds (as much as possible). Already, when driving on the highway, my daughter yelled when she saw the golden arches, calling, "Mommy, an M!". Proud of the letter recognition, yes, but this was overshadowed by the feeling that the McDonald's corporation was creeping into my car.

But advertising on report cards? What school board thought this was a good idea? I understand they are probably hurting for money, but this is unethical and harmful to kids. The school and district is in a position of authority, and is saying through the report card that McDonald's is endorsed by the school, and is a good and healthy choice for your kids. The opposite is obviously true-- McDonald's and the like are major contributors to the obesity problem our nation (and world) faces, even though they have made an effort by downsizing some portions and including apples in a Happy Meal.

The ad says it will give kids a free happy meal for good grades, even though it promised to ban ads for kids under 12 (there's a way around everything, isn't there?)

Here is a news report about the report cards, McDonald's response.

Check out the Grist's take on this, here.

If you want to take action about this, visit the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood's website by clicking here.

Parent's Buying Guide (for body products for kids) from Environmental Working Group--

I love the Environmental Working Group (yes, I know how dorky that sounds but I just can't help it). For the several years, they have had a data base, called Skin Deep, where you can enter a cosmetic or body product, and see what rating it is given for its toxicity and health concerns. You can make a list of what products and brands you like and are rated the best, and head to the store.

To check it out, click here.

But I am a slacker. I want one brand to buy, or some simple recommendations to follow. I don't want to have to remember, along with the diaper backpack, hats, jackets, shoes, a snack, and my two girls, along with my purse, grocery bags, and keys (where are they, again?) this specific brand of baby lotion, that specific brand of baby soap, and so on. There is just not enough room in my brain or life for that kind of level of detail.

Fast forward a few years, and EWG has a new Parent's Buying Guide that makes things a little more simple. This is the mother load of information. They analyzed and researched shampoo and conditioner, body wash and liquid soap, toothpaste, sunscreen, baby wipes, lotion and moisturizers, diaper cream, baby powder and play makeup. You'll find recommendations for the best brands that are easily found (but still contain some ingredients to avoid), and the best brands that are harder to locate (but are free from ingredients to avoid). Yes, I still have to write it down, or remember, but at least it is narrowed down a bit.

And EWG is in no way saying these products are totally safe. The chemicals used in nearly all body care and cosmetic products remain untested. And most companies are using chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer, allergies, and hormone disruption. This has to be changed! You can take action to support the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, here.

To view the Parent's Buying Guide, click here.

In the coming weeks, I'll look at each of these categories and list my picks for each one, based on EWG's recommendations and what is available, simplifying things even more. My goal is to have one list I can take to the store, or look at enough that I will actually remember (umm, not sure when that will happen--) what to buy.

KidBean.com: Safe for Your Baby, the Planet and All Animals--

Up until today, I hadn't done anything related to the holidays. I'd looked, and thought, but hadn't found the ONE place that had most everything I was looking for. I wanted wood toys, with no finish so my orally fixated baby could chomp away without me worrying. I wanted a place that also sold organic cotton dolls, because that same baby squeals in a blissful delight when she grabs her sister's doll in the mere seconds that pass before my older daughter realizes she has it. I didn't want to order one thing from one website, and pay shipping, and then another from a different website and pay shipping again. And as much as I want to support the local economy, driving around the New England trying to locate these things in retail stores did not at all appeal to me. At all.

So it is with utter relief and joy today that I stumbled across KidBean's website. I have been seriously impressed with North Star toys, and was considering ordering some things from their website. But they use a petroleum based mineral oil finish (although food grade) on all their toys, and I wanted to avoid that. KidBean carries North Star toys, but just for them, they offer the same toys in unfinished wood! So I can still support North Star which has a wonderful environmental business ethic and whose products are made here in the U.S.

KidBean also has a socially responsible business focus that is impressive and inspiring. They committed to fair labor practices, environmental concerns and products that are vegan and made from materials that support sustainable living. And of course, this is a mama owned business, something we can all be proud to support.

KidBean also had a great selection of beautiful 100% organic dolls, made by hand by a stay at home mom who uses natural fibers and plant based dyes. There are many to choose from. The photo up at the top of this post is of Organic Cotton Nursing Doll which is adorable and looks like fun for little hands to play with (and support breastfeeding-- how many dolls to we see that come with little bottles?).

There were lots of other great items for kids, too, these are just the areas I was focusing on. They have organic stuffed animals, veggies and smaller dolls made by Under the Nile, and a few cooperative games for older kids.

This site also has bath and beauty products, cloth diapers, items for the home, nursing wear and clothing, homeopathic medicines, recycled gift wrap and cards, slings, organic cotton cloth for projects, and vegan shoes for kids. Whew! That is a lot, and I haven't explored these sections much yet.

They also have free shipping on orders over $100. So I found my gifts for the girls here and am quite happy. And I can stay out crowded malls with products imported from China and made from god knows what.