Toys R Us Goes Green- Is it Enough?

In light of what happened with that Baby Einstein sun and the paint recall I learned about from Amber I am feeling very frustrated about toys in general. I am sick of all the recalls! I don't understand why products marketed for baby's and young children are so unsafe. I have decided I am going to make an effort to purchase more organic and green toys.

I was scouring the Internet and discovered Toys R Us is coming out with an Eco-friendly line. I googled it to see what I could uncover and here is the article I found. and now here is the gist of what I read for those of you who are spending there weekend doing more fun things and don't have time for reading articles. Starting on April 22 you will be able to purchase Natural Wooden Toys, Natural Cotton plush animals and Organic Cotton Dolls at Toys stores and online. The wooden toys are decorates using a wood burning technique. In addition, the packaging is made up of 70% recycled material.

I was thinking OK this is good until I found this article. The gist of this article is that most of the toys are still made in CHINA. The organic cotton doll are made in Egypt-but the rest of the toys are being manufactured China where as we know the regulations are weak at best.

I am very happy to see this change but I personally don't think it is enough. They openly admit that going green is more than a passing trends. I am happy to see the Eco-friendly products, but a few toys in recycled packaging hardly makes up for all of the other toys they sell that are harming the environment. I personally would like to see MORE of an effort on the part of Toys R Us.

Does anyone know if Toys is offering an alternative to plastic bags?

Check out Toy Tips for great product reviews, articles and tips on toys.

You wouldn't like me when I 'm angry!

OK. So I turned into the Hulk the other day (Tuesday) after coming home to discover my daughter almost choked on a pieced from her Baby Einstein blocks. OK I admit I am exaggerating a bit. The toy piece never made it into her mouth because my father grabbed it out of her hand before that could happen.

You have seen Eliza playing with these blocks in pictures I have posted on the blog. The yellow block has a tiny little mirror with a sun covering it. Eliza ripped off the sun piece and of course was about to jam it into her mouth as all babies her age do with anything and everything they can get in their little hands. These blocks are targeted for 0 months and up. I am a little disturbed that it came apart so easily. Eliza is pretty strong- but c'mon.

Here is a pic where you can see the sun piece. It is actually smaller than it appears in this picture. Now when I look at that stupid little smiling sun- I know it is just smirking at me- taunting me. GGGRRRRR

So I went into HULK mommy mode and wrote this not so nice e-mail to customer service.

I am writing this e-mail in great distress. Today while my 7 month old
daughter was playing with her Discover and Play blocks - the little
yellow sun came off in her hand. It is a good thing she was being
carefully supervised because she was about to put it in her mouth. I
don't even want to think about what could have happened had the
tiny piece blocked her airway. I am appalled at the poor quality of?this
toy. It is being marketed for baby's newborn and up. Your web site
describes it as a baby safe mirror. Doesn't seem so safe to me. I have
always been a supporter of your company but I am very upset.

This is the e-mail I received back today.

Dear Danielle,

Thank you for your e-mail. Your inquiry has been forwarded to The Walt
Disney Company Guest Services Team and they will be contacting you
directly. They can also be reached by calling 800-362-4695.

Sincerely,

Kristen

The Baby Einstein Company

They should be kissing my a** for letting them know about this issue. What if some other little baby does the same thing when no one is watching. The whole batch of toys could have been faulty.

anyhoo- I will let you know what happens next.

Has anyone had a similar experience?