Got any of these? Then you’ve got lead paint.
Argh.
We have one — just one — that my toddler plays with all the time. In fact, when we downloaded this file (from NYfriend), Widget exclaimed gleefully at the picture and went running to find the little red engine. Um, not what I had hoped. But we did play the matching game! Yes, unfortunately, it matched.
A quick handwashing and a bit of disappointment later, the red engine (“James”) is now safely put away and awaiting the mailman.
Explanation of the recall, from the CPSC: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07212.html
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They are great my nephew absolutely adores trains and Thomas the tank engine. he goes off into his own little world when playing with them its great to watch.
Our James and his tender were packaged up today as well…
My first reaction: Oh, God, I don’t even want to know.
My second: Thank you.
Hi,
I was really worried about my little boy too – until I found out that the recalled items are not coated with lead paint – but one batch of paint got contaminated with a tiny amount of lead. It seems My boy would have to eat a thousand trains or more to have any bad effect. He loves his trains and I’m going to keep buying them. I think they’ve done the right thing performing a recall they really didn’t have to !
Tina
If Tina is right (and I hope she is), then there probably isn’t anything to worry about. While I applaude the voluntary recall, I wasn’t too impressed with the amount of information RC2 supplied. It looked to me like what they really wanted parents to do is send them back any evidence (i.e., chewed up trains) that might have supported a legal claim against them. Assuming Tina got her information by calling the CDC or RC2, I hope they knew what they were talking about and were being honest. It’s probably really not a problem, but I may still may have my son tested before I go sending RC2 the trains back.
Great perspectives, Tina and Mark! I’ll have to look into that. There’s another change to highlight too — the company will now reimburse parents for retun shipping. Worth knowing!
I’ve been amazed at the interest that has been shown in this recall. Hundreds of new visitors have come to my blog today, and I want to welcome every one! Feel free to poke around and stay a while.
[…] Thomas Recall! Got any of these? Then you’ve got lead paint. Argh. We have one — just one — that my toddler […] […]
I worked for the company in Chicago – a nasty story. Parents who buy toys made in China like Thomas the Train by Learning Curve deserve what they get.
When I worked for the company under the old management, they were getting recalls about some of their products like Lamaze; and, they didn’t seem to care. Why should you parents care what happens to your children when you buy these toys made overseas, nor just Learning Curves garbage, when you know that these countries don’t have any regulatory agency.
Next time your precious little darling gets sick or hurt by these toys put together by people earning about $2.00 an hour – too bad.
Nancy Davidson you are an idiot. 80% of all toys sold in this country are made in China.
By your own assessment it looks like the problem is not (just) a lack of Chinese bureaucracies but a lack of proper management with the US firm – and the inability of its workers (read: you) to do the right thing.
You say the solution is boycott everything coming from China? You’re an idiot.
I hope Tina’s right too – but her post really sounds like PR-clean-up by the Thomas and Friends firm or perhaps a pr agency they hired to stamp out the fire?
Sounds fake to me… Tina can you elaborate on your sources? If you cannot I’ll have to stay skeptical.
Just because it’s on the web doesn’t make it true!
Well, I had heard about this recall and did a quick search and this was the first page I looked at. I work as a Safety Professional and am always interested in this sort of thing, especially this one because my 3 year old son lives and breathes Thomas. If what Tina said is true, the potential risk is low, but you also have to remember that all children have the potential of reacting differently. I’ve decided to air on the side of caution anyway.
Also, while I’m here I’d like to comment on Nancy Davidson’s post. I’m absolutely disgusted by your comments. You clearly aren’t a parent. And unless you live in a grass hut that you built yourself and walk everywhere, chances are you are supporting the problem just as much as the rest of us. Don’t use the welfare of peoples’ children as an outlet to support your views you hypocrite. “Why should you parents care what happens to your children…” What kind of an idiotic comment is that?