Magnetic Dart Board Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: FUN ‘N SAFE Magnetic Dart Boards
Units: About 250,000
Importer: Family Dollar, of Charlotte, N.C.
Hazard: Small magnets at the ends of the darts can detach. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The magnetic dart board is about 15 inches wide with a black, white, green, and red bulls eye checkered design and was sold with six 4-inch long magnetic darts. The darts magnetically adhere to the dart board when thrown. “Made in China” is embossed on the back of the board.


Sold Exclusively at: Family Dollar stores nationwide from January 2001 through January 2008 for about $5.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and return the board and all of the darts to a Family Dollar store for a refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Family Dollar at
(800) 547-0359 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.familydollar.com

Children's Metal Necklaces Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Children’s Metal Necklaces
Units: About 2,900
Manufacturer: Pecoware Co. Inc., of Chino, Calif.
Hazard: The children’s necklaces contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recalled necklaces include a cat with silver and pink rhinestones, a heart and lock with pink rhinestones, a silver colored heart with a rhinestone crown, and a silver colored lock and key. The necklaces hang from silver colored chains.


Sold at: Department and specialty stores nationwide from January 2006 through July 2007 (cat necklace), and from July 2007 through November 2007 (heart, heart and key, and lock and key necklaces) for about $13.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled necklaces away from children and contact Pecoware for instructions on returning the necklaces for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Pecoware at
(800) 456-7326 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.pecoware.com

Spiderman Water Bottle Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Spiderman® Water Bottles
Units: About 6,600
Manufacturer: Fast Forward LLC, of New York, N.Y.
Hazard: Screws under the bottle’s lid can come loose and fall into the cup, posing a choking hazard to children.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received three reports of screws coming loose under the water bottle’s lid. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recalled plastic water bottles have a Spiderman® picture on the cup and a Spiderman® figure on the screw-on lid. The water bottle is red, white, blue, and black and measures nine inches high.


Sold exclusively at: Sears stores nationwide from July 2007 through August 2007 for about $10.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled water bottles away from children and contact Fast Forward LLC for instructions on returning the water bottles for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact company toll-free at (877) 244-4433 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Charm Bracelet Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: A Life of Faith Charm Bracelet Sets
Units: About 11,000
Manufacturer: Mission City Press, of Franklin, Tenn.
Hazard: Surface paint on the pearl white beads of the bracelet, contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Incident/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recalled bracelets have a silver-colored chain and silver-colored charms, including a Bible, angel, cross, heart, and praying hands. The bracelets were sold with clear, crystal and pearl white beads. The recalled sets include a bracelet for a girl to wear, along with a smaller, matching bracelet for her doll.


Sold by: Specialty toy, book, and gift stores nationwide from October 2006 through November 2007 for about $15.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the bracelet sets (including the girl's bracelet and the doll's bracelet) away from children and return to the Mission City Press to receive a refund. If you received the bracelets for free, please dispose of them or remove the pearl white beads.

Return Address:
Mission City Press
Attn: Bracelet Refund
202 Second Ave.
South, Franklin, TN 37064

For refunds, please also include your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Mission City Press at
(800) 840-2641 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.alifeoffaith.com/bracelet_recall.html,
or e-mail the firm at customerservice@missioncitypress.com

Amber Alerts for Your Computer

http://codeamber.org/index-2.php

CodeAmber.org has some nice little tools to allow you to integrate Amber Alert notifications to your computer.

Websites can add the following section to their pages, and visiting the link above will take you to the download page if you'd like to install the program on your computer.

The box changes to a bright yellow background color in case of alerts.

Identical Twins Not Identical After All

http://www.ajhg.org/AJHG/abstract/S0002-9297(08)00102-X

The American Journal of Human Genetics is reporting that identical twins are not in fact perfectly identical, as was widely assumed to be the case.

While it seems at first trivial, this type of finding may pave the way toward isolating the underlying causes of certain medical conditions like Parkinsons. It reintroduces genetic factors as being possible causes, rather than assuming that the cause must be environmental for some of diseases suffered by one twin and not by another.

This also clarifies why sometimes even identical twins don't really look identical.

But those of us not deeply involved in the details of science can probably rest comfortably on the convention of calling them identical twins, even if it's not technically correct.

Twins Born to Celebrities Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/ENT/555516163

Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony became proud parents of twins on Friday, February 22, 2008. One girl, one boy, with the girl being first by a matter of minutes.

There have already been news rumors of $6 million being offered for exclusive rights to first pictures of the new babies.

Firstborn Children Get More Quality Time

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20080219/firstborns-get-more-quality-parent-time

The latest Journal of Human Resources includes a study that analyzed data collected by a US Department of Labor survey. The data showed that firstborn children get more quality time with their parents than children born after them.

Even when parents are consciously trying to evenly divide their time, they may be unintentionally shortchanging the younger siblings.

Firstborns received an extra 20-25 minutes each day with dad, and 25-30 minutes each day with mom.

How Your Baby Sees The World

http://tinyeyes.com/tinyeyes/

Tiny Eyes is a cute little website with a fun tool that lets you upload a picture of something, or of yourself, and select the age of your baby and the vieiwing distance, then see what that picture looks like to the eyes of your little one!

2008 Infant Immunization Schedule Released

http://www.immunizationed.org/ImmunizationEDorg/ShotsOnline.aspx

The Group on Immunization Education has released their 2008 schedule in a great web-tool that is also available for loading onto your PDA.

The web tool shows the different vaccines recommended for each age, and clicking on the specific shot brings up all of the information about what the vaccine is for, when it should be administered, and why it should be given.

Bassettbaby Drop-Side Cribs Recalled

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08544.html



The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills Collection Drop-Side Cribs
Units: 18
Importer: Bassettbaby, of Bassett, Va.
Hazard: Spindles on the drop-side of the crib could loosen creating a gap that poses an entrapment and strangulation hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Bassettbaby has received three reports of spindles coming loose. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves a full-size, drop-side crib from the Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills collection, model number 5446-0504. The model number is located on the bottom rail of the headboard. The crib was sold in a Navajo Pine finish. No other models are included in this recall.
Sold at: Babies "R" Us stores nationwide from November 2007 through January 2008 for about $400.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the crib immediately and contact Bassettbaby for a free replacement or a full refund. The firm has contacted consumers directly.
Consumer Contact:For additional information, contact Bassettbaby toll-free at (800) 308-7485 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bassettbaby.com

Houston Mom Starts Toy Rental Service

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h3Dp-tGjegQfNd80jQ67EigvrZ2AD8UNLDV80

Lori Pope, a Houston mom with infant twin boys, has created a company called Baby Plays that allows parents or grandparents to sign up for toy rentals.

Similar to the Netflix method for movies, a parent can create a wishlist and hold onto a delivered toy for however long their child is interested in it - provided that they're still paying the monthly membership fee, of course.

The toys come fully assembled in most cases, and where that's not feasible for shipping it will come partially assembled with a screwdriver and instructions to finish assembly.

When your little one starts to tire of a toy you just send the toy back in the included postage paid envelope and a new toy from your list is sent to you. Available toys include popular brand names, and all toys are tested to meet both European and American standards for safety, including lead paint.

For parents looking to save some money on toys, avoid time spent in toy stores with fussy infants, or just to reduce the waste that buying so many toys creates the Baby Plays service is a great alternative.

Baby Brain Equals 60-year Old Capacity

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23165302-2,00.html

A study in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology has published results of an Australian study that determined pregnant women and new moms up to a year after birth had significantly impaired memory when extra effort was needed, such as memorizing a new phone number.

The study was an analysis of 14 other studies of over 1,000 women. The results showed memory impairment equivalent to what a 60-year old typically experiences.

Although the correlation has been statistically shown, there is still only speculation as to the actual cause of the impairment.

Children's Table and Chair Recalled by Netshops

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08543.html

Name of Product: Children's Table and Chair

Units: About 50

Distributor: Netshops, of Omaha, Neb.

Hazard: The surface paint on the children's table and chair sets contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled table and chair sets are natural colored. The table is either round or rectangular, has a shelf under the table and includes two chairs. Model number ALZ024-3 or ALZ023-3 is printed on the packaging.

Sold by: Netshops.com from November 2007 through December 2007 for between $100 and $130.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the table and chair set away from children. Netshops is offering consumers a full refund. Netshops has directly contacted consumers who purchased the table and chair sets.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Netshops toll-free at (866) 558-9485 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site www.netshops.com

Children's Sketchbooks Recalled by eeBoo Corp.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08184.html

eeBoo Corp in association with the CPSC has issued a recall of some sketchbooks with colored spirals due to an inappropriate level of lead paint in the spiral metal bindings.

Name of Product: Sketchbooks with Colored Spirals

Units: About 80,000

Distributor: eeBoo Corp., of New York, N.Y.

Hazard: The paint on the sketchbooks’ colored spiral metal bindings contains excessive levels of lead violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled children’s sketchbooks have colored spiral metal bindings, drawing paper, and cardboard covers in the following styles. “eeBoo” and the style name are printed on a sticker on the back cover.



Other styles of sketchbooks with colored or plain metal spiral bindings are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Specialty and gift stores nationwide from September 2005 through January 2008 for about $6.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled sketchbooks away from children and contact eeBoo Corp. to receive a free replacement sketchbook with a plain metal spiral.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact eeBoo Corp. at
(800) 791-5619 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.eeBoo.com

Stress During Pregnancy May Increase Schizophrenia Risk

http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20080204/pregnancy-stress-schizophrenia-linked

A study in the February issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry, partly authored by Kathryn M. Abel, PhD of the University of Manchester studied the statistics of nearly 1.4 million Danish children and whether the mothers experienced a death in the family, a major health diagnosis, or had a major health complication during the mother's first trimester.

Among their results they found that there is a 67% increase in the risk of schizophrenia if a mother had a close relative die during her first trimester.

Premature Babies Needing More Medical Attention

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/04/AR2008020401440.html

A new study in the February issue of Pediatrics by Dr. C. Jason Wang from Boston University's Schools of Medicine and Public Health shows that premature babies are not always getting the medical attention and followup care that they need.

The study focuses on South Carolina Medicaid patients, since the state keeps good records, and finds that very low birth-weight babies born to low-income women failed to get critical followup care within the first two years of life.

Baby Survives Being Thrown 400 Feet By Tornado

http://www.wsmv.com/news/15247334/detail.html

A baby whose mother was killed by the deadly tornadoes in Tennessee this week was found by rescue workers 2 hours later. The baby was found 400 feet from the remains of the family's home, and suffered only a few mild scratches and scrapes.

Anti-HIV Medicine Reduces Risk From Breastfeeding

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204164025.htm

Giving small daily doses of an anti-HIV medicine to breastfeeding infants was able to reduce the number of infections by almost half.

Breastfeeding is still a leading cause of HIV infection in much of the developing world. Breastfeeding in those cultures is a cultural indication of being uninfected with HIV, and so even infected mothers feel pressure to breastfeed instead of using formula.

Not only that, but in many of these same places formula is unavailable, or prohibitively expensive.

Fortunately, extending the dose of the anti-HIV medicine already used to try to protect the baby from infection during birth has been shown to dramatically reduce the possibility of infection during breastfeeding!

Tiny Anti-Clotting Doses Help Infants with Heart Troubles

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=86748

The January 29, 2008 issue of Circulation publishes a study showing that very small doses of anti-clotting drugs can help infants with heart problems.

The doses were smaller than even the researches had expected, only about 20% of what would have been expected. This further shows that it's simply not possible to extrapolate an effective dose of a medicine for infants based on how it affects adults.

Sterling Silver Teether Recall from Elegant Baby

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08178.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Heart and Car Sterling Silver Teethers

Units: About 200

Importer: Elegant Baby and Baby Needs Inc., of Burlington, N.C.

Manufacturer: Angel Ortiz and Fracionamiento Lomas De Taxco S/N, of Mexico

Hazard: The hearts and cars on the teethers can break off, posing a choking hazard to infants.

Incidents/Injuries: Elegant Baby has received one report of a baby mouthing the heart when it broke off the teether and became lodged in his mouth.

Description: The sterling silver teethers are circle shaped with either a heart or car in the center. The teethers have beads inside. The teethers measure two inches in diameter.

Sold at: Independent infant clothing boutiques nationwide from February 2005 through September 2006 for about $50.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled teethers away from infants and contact the firm for instructions on returning the teethers for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Elegant Baby at
(800) 334-5321 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.elegantbaby.com

Smoking While Pregnant Increases SIDS Risk

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080129125422.htm

Science Daily is presenting information from a McMaster University study to appear in the print version of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in May 2008 explaining why there is an increase in the odds of SIDS if the mother smoked during pregnancy.

Babies have a natural "safety mechanism" that triggers movement during oxygen deprivation, from having a face stuffed into a pillow or blanket, for example. This backup process is turned off naturally after more fully developed nervous control is established.

Nicotine during pregnancy causes this safety system to turn off early. So if the baby never experiences oxygen deprivation there's no problem. If such a terrible event does occur, however, a baby doesn't have the development to know to move its head. Without the "backup system" that triggers that movement, the unfortunate result is SIDS.

Nothing in the Science Daily article makes reference to nicotine patches for smokers who need help quitting during pregnancy, but it does indicate that second-hand smoke may also be at risk.

Car Seat Recall - EvenFlo Discovery Seat

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of 1 million Evenflo Discovery car seats. The concern is that these car seats do not provide enough protection in a high-impact side collision.

Models 390, 391, 534, & 552 made between April of 2005 and January 2008 are affected, and you can tell if yours is one of them by checking the white label at the bottom of the car seat.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2008/02/evenflo-recalls.html

The Administration says that parents should contact Evenflo to get a supplemental fastener to ensure that the seat does not separate from the base in the event of a high-impact side collision.

"Owners of the affected seats can contact Evenflo toll-free at 800-356-2229 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST or visit its Web site."

In the meantime, you should continue to use your Evenflo Discovery car seat while waiting for the new fastener to arrive.