Let Your Children Help You Garden - But Keep Them Safe From Lead

The lure of videogames, television and computer definitely compete for your child’s time for the outdoors. There are several ways to get your child outside including starting a family garden. Planting fruits, vegetables, and flowers that your child will enjoy taking care of is easy enough to do, but make sure your children’s garden supplies aren’t on the lead recall list.

The CPSC has a database of product recalls that is available on www.cpsc.gov. At bluedominoes, we have compiled children’s products that were recalled due to lead. The list is available here.

So what items should you check for before using them this summer? Here’s what the CPSC reported as violating safe lead levels. Further information can be found on their database at www.cpsc.gov. Suggestions for lead free brands are at the end of this article.

1.  Children’s Toy Gardening Rakes was recalled by Downeast Concepts.   The paint on the gardening tool hand rake contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal standard on lead in paint on toys.  Contact Downeast Concepts toll-free at (800) 343-2424 or www.backyard-beyond.com

 2. Metal Toy Wagons by Tricam. The surface paint on the wagon bucket contains excessive levels of lead. For additional information, call (800) 867-6763 or visit their website at www.tricam.com

3. Children’s Toy Gardening Tools sold at JoAnn Fabrics. The Surface paint on the handle of the toy gardening tools can contain excessive levels of lead paint. They were sold between January and September of 2007. They should be returned to Jo Ann Fabrics for a full refund.

 4. Happy Giddy Gardening Tools and Children’s Sunny Patch Chairs sold at Target. The surface paint of all the items are excessive and have been recalled. The items ranged in price from $3 - $10 and were sold through August 2007. Families are advised to not let their children play with these toys. They can be returned directly to Target for a full refund. For more information, call (800) 440-0680.

5. Children’s Water Can sold at JoAnn Fabrics. The beak of the watering can contains lead in the paint. "Robbie Ducky™ Garden Collection Duck Watering Can" is printed on a sticker on the bottom of the watering can.

6. Budding Gardener Complete Gardening Set. The stamp-painted logo on the backside of the gardening gloves contains high levels of lead. These gloves were part of a set that included a wheel barrel, watering can, gardening gloves, hand tools, and seeds. The set sold for around $50. Call (888) 848-6038 for more information.

7. Surface paint on the handle of this rake sold at JoAnn Fabrics exceeds the acceptable level. The rake can be returned at any JoAnn Fabrics store for a full refund. The rakes sold for around $7.

8. The final gardening recall involves another wagon. This one was sold by Northern Tools and Equipment for around $60. The wagons can be returned at any of their stores and you can phone (800) 222-5381 or visit www.northerntool.com for more information.

Looking for Lead-free Garden Tools?

There are some manufacturers who state their children’s gardening tools are lead free. Ames Gardening Tools are made in the USA and according to the manufacturer are also lead-free. In addition, wackyworldsof.com offers tools that are manufactured according to U.S. standards and pre-tested for safety.