The Ongoing Battle with Lead

If you aren't familiar with this issue, here is a rundown of the basics.

-Lead is used in tons of consumer products (found in paints, plastics, and glass) that are being sold in America.   Most of these objects are being manufactured in China (thanks to Chinese slave labor!) Lead is a cheap filler and many areas in China are completely contaminated with lead.  Lead can also contaminate water, air, and food. 

-Lead poisoning is a medical condition particularly dangerous to children since it first handedly poisons the body effecting the central nervous system, bones, heart, reproductive system, and other organs of the body.   

-Learning and Behavioral Disorders are directly connected to lead exposure /poisoning.  Anyone notice the rise in Autism, ADD, ADHD? Could this be a culprit? 

-Lead Paint was also used in many older homes causing health risks to home owners and renters. 

How to Prevent or Reduce Lead Exposure: 

-Stop buying toys that are made in China! Buy American made toys, craft materials, teethers, stuffed animals, clothing, bedding, and other things that your kids use, touch, chew on.  Below is a list of toy companies that carry all or some American-made products, many being eco-friendly as well.  

-If you must buy a product from a company who manufactures overseas, look on their website to see what measures they take in regards to lead testing their products.  Fisher-Price and Mattel have been known in the past to have recalled MILLIONS of toys due to lead.  

-When doing renovations in older homes, make sure to take your child out of the home during renovations as the chipping paint and dust particles could be of major risk to your child's health.  

Toy companies that carry all or some American-made products: 

• Child Trek (some)
• Hazelnut Kids (some) 
• Step 2 (some)
• Poof Slinky
• K'NEX
• The Little Tykes Company
• Green Toys (all)

Buyer Beware! 

What is this about?

Okay, so I got to thinking... 
I'm always posting on facebook what some would consider 'a little too serious' for the everyday facebooker and I realized that perhaps a blog would be better.  I like asking other moms (and dads) for advice and also giving advice as well, because when it comes to parenting, all parents have different styles and ways of doing things.  So here it is, a blog where we can talk about parenting, 'green living', and important [and sometimes controversial] issues.  Maybe some of these issues are things that you don't normally think about, but in reality we've got to start thinking about them for the sake of our kids.  What do I mean? Toxins and chemicals in our food, our air, our toys, lies we are told, recalls, information that is not on the front page of the newspaper, how to go greener, how to make our kids care about the Earth, how to teach our kids compassion, to overcome hate and prejudice, and whatever else you think is important.  The generation of ignorance is in the past! We now know that there are tons-of cancer-causing agents in the things we eat, touch, use.  I want to hear what other mommies and daddies think.  Any impact is better than none and ignorance is not bliss!  Knowledge is power and I want the next generation of kids to be 'The Generation of Eco-Kids'.
Let's Do It!