In case you've been busy chasing a toddler or holding a sick baby or just trying to find enough time in your day to get a shower and have missed the news, the toy Aqua Dots was recalled yesterday.
Why? you ask. Because the dots contain a chemical that turns into the date-rape drug GHB if they're ingested. Five kids in the U.S. and Australia have gotten sick; the two kids in the U.S. both went into comas for several days.
Are you kidding me? There's a roofie in my kid's toy? A ROOFIE? I had Aqua Dots on my list of stuff to get her for Christmas because I know it's something she'd love to do: design her own crazy animals, then get to pick them up and play with them. It's a great idea for a toy.
I understand they're dangerous only when ingested. I get that. But even at 4 1/2, Sam's got stuff in her mouth all the time. Today, I had to take a pink leopard-print stretchy headband from her because she kept putting it halfway in her mouth and shaking her head like a dog. Cute, yes. Choking hazard, totally.
So yeah, I'm sure she'd at least lick a few. Maybe taste a couple. A few dozen, like the kids who got sick? Maybe, if they tasted like grape or strawberry or bubble gum.
I am now officially terrified to buy toys. So far, I haven't had any of the recalled stuff in my house, at least not out for Sam to be playing with. I've got bags of toys in the attic, however, that I'm just about to bring down for little Mr. Noah's arrival, and I can guarantee you I'm going to be going through them with a wary but informed eye.
Have you had any of the millions of recalled toys in your house? What did you do with them? Are you changing your holiday shopping lists because of the recalls?
Also terrified to buy toys and think long and hard before picking something up for Syd. She's getting a My First Leap Pad this year. That has to be safe right? In other words, no 'new' toys here, just ones that have been around for a while so I'm comfortable with their safety.