Poison Pets (Zhu Zhu)

[Purseval]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579551,00.html

I actually read about this on a site that had nothing to do with consumer safety, it was instead a slam on the fad itself:

http://market-ticker.org/archives/1701-The-Requisite-Poison-Toy-Scare.html

And this is the story.... why?

Let's play this one straight up the middle, ok?

A pet is a living thing. It breathes, it eats, it sleeps and it craps. You take care of it - thus, the term "pet" - because in the environment you keep it (whether in a house, in a cage, in an aquarium, etc) if you don't, it dies.

No, I'm not going to bag on Cepia, the creator of the latest piece of idiocy to hit our store shelves as a means of turning our children into "consumers" and "plastic chinese crap junkies."

Rather I'm going to bag on we the adults - the parents.

Exactly when was it that we all decided to blow off the concept of teaching our children responsibility by acquiring an actual pet? When did we decide that it was ok to call a piece of plastic trash out of China a "pet", even though it is inanimate and requires nothing from us?

I think those are the better questions - not whether there is some violation of a rule regarding the level of a toxic agent in the toy itself.

After all, isn't the real issue here poisoning your kids' minds and turning them into vapid consumers of trash, rather than sending them outside to build things with their hands and employ their imagination?

I think so.

 

[tinkercat]

Can't help myself....exactly how is this budget related?

 

[Purseval]

Can't help myself....exactly how is this budget related?

Look at all of the posts by people looking for these toys. They should have the option of knowing that they got bad reviews for their chemical content.

 

[Leajess99]

Personally, my family does not have time to deal with the responsibility of a pet as i have 3 children involved in sports and all in different age groups.

I also did not buy these for my kids (I had bought them but then returned them as I decided against selling them on ebay) as they are not interested in them. My kids love to play but they can also use their imagination inside with toys inside. My kids are very active and I intend to keep them that way but I won't take away their toys just because they don't go outside and build things with their hands. The toys they have can be used to spawn their imagination as well. For example, yesterday my 6 year old was playing with the My Little Ponies we have had for years. She had 20 of them at her grandma's house and took over the kitchen floor to play with them. My mom said she was using her imagination just fine.

Oh yeah and when it is only in the 20s/low30s I prefer my child stay inside where I know she can breathe.

 

[labdogs42]

Look at all of the posts by people looking for these toys. They should have the option of knowing that they got bad reviews for their chemical content.

and you should make rude editorial comments about their choice to buy these toys, too. Nice. I have 8 live pets (three dogs, five fish) in my home already. So, I'm not a pet hater. I do plan to give my son a Zhu Zhu "pet" for Christmas. I can also envision how he will play with these pets. He will play vet with them, I'm sure, talking to them, taking care of them, making them better and putting them in their playset to have some fun. I think that's a good thing. He loves animals and toy ones can be very fun. End of story.

 

[Justsyd2]

Thanks for the warning. It will be very sad to find out that these "pets" are poisoning kids! I'm interested in the developments in this story.

 

[bucket o' butter]

The last time I checked we lived in the United States and were free to buy whatever we want for our children. Sure, people (including myself) may make poor choices sometimes, but it is our choice. Cepia LLC (Zhu Zhu maker) is denying that Zhu Zhus are unsafe and have given their testing results to the company (Good Guide) that reported they were not. I am not buying any Zhu Zhus this year, but I have friends that are buying them. I am glad we live in a country where we can make our own decisions on what, when and where to buy things. Thank you to the men and women out there who are fighting to defend our country so we can make consumer choices, both wise and unwise. God Bless The USA!!!

 

[santa's surpriz]

and you should make rude editorial comments about their choice to buy these toys, too. Nice. I have 8 live pets (three dogs, five fish) in my home already. So, I'm not a pet hater. I do plan to give my son a Zhu Zhu "pet" for Christmas. I can also envision how he will play with these pets. He will play vet with them, I'm sure, talking to them, taking care of them, making them better and putting them in their playset to have some fun. I think that's a good thing. He loves animals and toy ones can be very fun. End of story.

You go girl! I agree with you 100%!

 

[tlh0726]

Anyone else think the OP just cannot find them in any local stores?


Seriously-
Not everyone is able to have live pets like people with allergies and people who rent.
There are enough unwanted pets that wind up in the shelters. They are cute when they are little but like all things they grow up. People do not take into consideration the time and energy it takes to care for a live pet.
I am glad that there are alternatives out there.


If the OP has a problem with zhu zhu's, what about the Fur Real items? That is a "fake" pet as well.
I guess we should ban stuffed animals as well. My daughter set up tea parties with all of her "fake" animals and our "real" cat joins in at times as well (he gets milk in his cup).


If anyone is still looking for them. Toysrus had the giant city playsets in stock on line this morning for $99.99 which includes patches and squiggles

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I got my DD7 one, but will be holding off on giving it to her till I hear more about the poisining. After going though DD10 lead poisining when she was a baby and now wondering if her focus issues are a result of that, I take this seriously.

HOWEVER... you have no idea why some people don't have real pets. We have a daughter and my DH with serious allergies. Last year my younger 2 girls wanted a puppy terribly. If it were only DH he would deal with the allergy for the sake of the kids, but I will not have one of my children living in misery to have a pet, I just won't do it. So Santa brought them Bisquit the dog. It was expensive, but they loved it. Was it at all the same as a real pet, of course not, but it was fun for them and did not bother their sister's breathing.

So while I agree the constant commercials gearing these hard to find toys every year are annoying, if you don't like it you can always turn the TV off.

 

[The Iron Giant]

WOW

Why are you assuming that all people bought these things as "pets"?

They are toys in our house and nothing more. My daughter calls it a "pet" with the same conviction she calls her doll a "baby". She is 4 years old and using her imagination the same as she does with all of her other toys.

If a toy stimulates a child's imagination then I think that's a great thing. But we have an 80 lbs. chocolate lab and my daughter clearly knows which one is the real "pet" and which one is the toy.

Using your logic, I shouldn't buy my son any Thomas the Tank Engine trains because its not the same as buying him a real train and I'm depriving him of the experience of owning a real live locomotive.

Now... if your point is that people are basically sheep and everyone on this board is scrambling like idiots after these toys just because everyone has to have one, then I'm with you. But that happens every Christmas... its just the "hot" toy changes from year to year.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Anyone else think the OP just cannot find them in any local stores?


Seriously-
Not everyone is able to have live pets like people with allergies and people who rent.
There are enough unwanted pets that wind up in the shelters. They are cute when they are little but like all things they grow up. People do not take into consideration the time and energy it takes to care for a live pet.
I am glad that there are alternatives out there.


If the OP has a problem with zhu zhu's, what about the Fur Real items? That is a "fake" pet as well.
I guess we should ban stuffed animals as well. My daughter set up tea parties with all of her "fake" animals and our "real" cat joins in at times as well (he gets milk in his cup).


If anyone is still looking for them. Toysrus had the giant city playsets in stock on line this morning for $99.99 which includes patches and squiggles

Look at all of the posts by people looking for these toys. They should have the option of knowing that they got bad reviews for their chemical content.

Just saw a report on GMA it is not all Zhu zhu but only one that has yet unproven toxic levels of 1 metal, antimony, Mr Squiggles.

here is a link to wiki about Antimony.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimony

personally I think the op would have been better off just informing others and keeping their personal feelings to them selves, which is what I will do about what I think about the commentary

 

[blanq]

:...Just saw a report on GMA it is not all Zhu zhu but only one that has yet unproven toxic levels of 1 metal, antimony, Mr Squiggles.

here is a link to wiki about Antimony.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimony

CNN is reporting the toxicity issue this morning as well (caught it on the TV, but have not checked their web site).

 

[jacksmomma]

Wow OP...it is just a toy...breathe!

I have not purchased them as a "pet" for my son. We have a dog and until recently we had a fish, he can learn responsibility from those. This is for his enjoyment. All of his other Christmas presents are puzzles, books, and toys without batteries that require lots of imaginative play. Just because this toy has the potential to have limited imaginative play does not mean that in the hands of my child it will.

 

[mommapea]

I agree with the previous poster....you are making WAY too many assumptions about other people's lives. My first grader thought these were cool...just like her Webkinz are cool. HELLO...we have a cat and fish. This is NOT a substitute.

Quit hatin' on people, already, and MYOB...

 

[okeydokey]

We have many pets, always have. My kids have the responsibility of feeding and walking the dog, feeding the cats and doing litter box duty. I hardly think buying them a toy hamster makes them or me irresponsible. It's amazing what people will criticize others about in their attempt to feel superior.. Jeesh!

 

[luvmy3]

Well if I purchased a real pet hamster I'd be too afraid that my 2 cats would eat it. So I see these zhu zhu pets as a smart pet choice

J/K I got them for my dd because she loves animals and animal TOYS. I really don't believe anyone is thinking these things are to replace a real pets no matter how they are marketed

 

[skw444]

Did anyone look at the links the OP posted? They were posting the article from one of the links...not their personal opinion. I think the OP was just trying to make everyone aware that the pets could be harmful.

 

[SaraJayne]

The last time I checked we lived in the United States and were free to buy whatever we want for our children. Sure, people (including myself) may make poor choices sometimes, but it is our choice. Cepia LLC (Zhu Zhu maker) is denying that Zhu Zhus are unsafe and have given their testing results to the company (Good Guide) that reported they were not. I am not buying any Zhu Zhus this year, but I have friends that are buying them. I am glad we live in a country where we can make our own decisions on what, when and where to buy things. Thank you to the men and women out there who are fighting to defend our country so we can make consumer choices, both wise and unwise. God Bless The USA!!!

Seeing as this toy is the hottest thing since Tickle Me Elmo and Cabbage patch dolls, do you really think the designer of the "it" toy is going to admit the toys are toxic??

I don't think so.

And the OP is quoting from the article, not his/her own commentary.

And Cepia is not the maker of the toys ~ the toys are made/produced in China.

 

[kinntj]

I personally think kids can be imaginative with these toys. My husband wasn't really concerned when I told him about the Antimony chemical in these toys. He said just don't let the kids put them in their mouths and if the parents are worried, have the kids wash their hands when they are done playing with them.

The nice thing about it, is the news is out there and now it's time for the parents to make the choice to keep them or not.

As far as a fad goes, I can't comment... We didn't buy these toys, but I'm spending over $40 for a pair of boots for my DD7, so it's a trade off.