Infant swings are units consisting of a frame and a mechanically powered device that allows the infant to swing in a securely restrained seat. Many parents and child care givers have found that infant swings are an excellent way to help keep a baby occupied and happy, and even lull them to sleep. The design of infant and baby swings has greatly improved over the years to include lights, sounds and mobiles to entertain the infant. Today’s infant swings are also available in a number of portable varieties to allow for easy transport.
The use of lead in paint was banned in the United States in 1978. Many overseas manufacturers still use lead paint in the surface coatings of many children’s products, including infant swings. A large amount of children’s products are manufactured overseas in countries such as China, Japan, or Turkey. Government regulations state that any product designed for children containing more than 0.06 percent lead content exceeds safety standards. Any children’s product containing a percentage of lead content above government regulations faces recall of the product.
Lead is commonly used in plastics as well as paint. The metal has the ability to soften plastic, allowing for flexibility in a product. Infant swings with plastic attachments may contain a level of lead content as a result. Though lead paint was banned in the United States, the use of lead in plastics was not. Regardless of the U.S. use of lead in plastics, government regulations still dictate that any item or product intended for children that possesses a lead content above 0.03 percent is subject to recall.
Young children under the age of 6 years old are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning. Infant swings manufactured overseas may contain lead paint, which can cause severe health and neurological problems in infants and young children. Exposure to lead paint could even result in death due to acute lead poisoning.
High contents of lead may accumulate over a number of years in children, making it difficult to attain exact statistics related to disorders associated with exposure to lead. In addition, a child may not exhibit any immediate symptoms or signs of lead poisoning. While it is difficult to compile direct statistics related to neurological or behavioral problems resulting from exposure to lead, studies have determined that there is a direct link between high levels of lead content in the bloodstreams of children and the onset of disorders such as ADHD, learning and behavioral problems, brain defects, and a number of other nervous and neurological disorders and other health problems.
Acute lead poisoning in a child could result in death. In March 2006, the death of a 4-year old girl was reported in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The cause of death was determined to be acute lead poisoning as a result of swallowing a heart-shaped charm attached to a bracelet that had been given away by Reebok with the purchase of a pair of Reebok shoes. The CPSC and Reebok immediately announced a recall on more than 3,000 charm bracelets that had been distributed during the promotion.
J.C. Penney recalled approximately 49,000 units of this play set because surface paints on items contained in the play sets exceeded government regulations for lead content percentages in children’s products. The play sets were imported by J.C. Penney of Plano, Texas, and were manufactured in China. Included in the 23- piece play set was an infant swing. The set was sold through the J.C. Penney Catalog, outlet stores across the nation, and the J.C. Penney Web site from August 2005 to August 2007.
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