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Staying in the know about safety recalls

We all want our children to be safe, it is inevitable however that regardless of how informed we are. That there will be an item in our home, that at one point in time it will be recalled. But, during these last few months we have been faced with an increase of recalls on toys due to lead paint, as well as car seat manufacturers recalling their items. I can't tell you how I felt, after receiving a recall notice in the mail. Luckily the notice was about an older car seat that we had obtained, to replace yet another recalled infant seat. However that didn't change the fact, that I had a knot the size of a mountain in my stomach for the next two weeks. It brought up many questions inside my mind, mostly the what if's and why's of the situations.

Although I felt helpless, I set fourth to research the items that we have allowed in our homes. We should not be confined in allowing companies, and their monetary gain to control what is, and is not recalled from our homes. While some laws are set into place, to protect consumers and their families they tend to be a bit relaxed for my taste. I have taken it upon myself, as a concerned consumer, and mother to research everything before it comes into my home.
This is particularly so, with any items that will come in contact with my daughter. Whether it be food that she ingests, toys that she plays with, or items designed to keep her safe around the home, and within a moving vehicle. Throughout my research on toys, I have found that consumer reports are the most reliable source of information. You can expect to read either the most positive aspects of a toy, right down to the nitty gritty of why the toy is dangerous. Community is key for this to work however, as a consumer you not only have the ability to write consumer reports. But in my eyes, we all have an obligation to dig our heels in and tell the mass producers of poor quality goods, that we will not stand for their lack of attention to detail.

We also have more avenues available to us, when it comes to tattling on the big business of consumer driven companies. The Better Business Bureau provides an easy, and informative means of getting your point of disapproval across. However, the BBB should only be used in the most extreme of cases. IE: if your local store is still housing publically recalled items on their shelves, this is a deliberate and dangerous practice amung mass markets such as Wal-mart. While the big-wigs are usually the first to know, your local mom and pop shops may not have heard about the latest recalls. Bring in a printed flyer from the recall notice, and take it to the owners. This should provide the business with enough information, to pull the items from their shelves and possibly harming another child.

Last but certainly not least, never and I repeat, NEVER forget to have your child safety seat checked by an expert. This can be done at any local fire station, or police station if your community doesn't hold an annual safety seat month or week. This should also remind you to register your safety seat, and keep your address updated with any moves. They will send you a flyer, or call you with any recalls.

Staying in the know about safety recalls

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