Little Boy Blue.

I was walking through a book store, getting 'The Help' for my participation in the Awesomest Ever Book Club.  I was pushing The Boy in his car seat + a snap and go, and looking at shelf after shelf.  The Boy was happy and was playing with his baby toy.  When you're pushing a baby in a rear-facing car seat, you have ample opportunity to, uh, SEE him.  So, I look at him (playing with toy,) look at the shelves (can't find the book ANY FUCKING WHERE,) glance back at him and FREEZE IN HORROR.

WTF?

My boy's face, tongue and hands were COVERED in COBALT BLUE DYE.

Whaaa?

That's what I said.

Covered.

I was so shocked, I stood there for a second, trying to figure out how he'd gotten his hands on a blue slushy without my knowing.  I pulled the toy away from him and found that the ink on the tag had bled (from his SALIVA because he's a BABY and babies put EVERYTHING into their mouths and I'd assumed that a BABY TOY MANUFACTURER would've GOTTEN THE FUCKING MEMO on that one.)

I took out a wipe and started to (try to) clean up the mess, only to find that the dye was not only water (saliva) soluble, but also STAINING (of course it was.) So, my kid's hands and face stayed blue, as did my hands (and shirt, somehow, wtf?) And when the Electric Blue Shock wore off and he didn't go into The Anaphylaxsis, I started to get pissed.

Now, I am usually cool and collected when it comes to the bumps and bruises and what-not that happen to kids while they're trying to strike their very own Deal with Gravity. TLNG fell down the steps the other day and bit her tongue something fierce and I didn't lose my shit (or write a blog post about it.) But will all the fucked up shit that's been in our toys these days, I just couldn't IMAGINE that there would've been such an oversight on the part of a brand that specifically makes toys for infants.

I got home, called Poison Control (Hi Pharmacist Anthony!) just to be sure and then I fired off an email (fair and balanced and un-hysterical--SWEAR) to the company. And to the PR contact listed under 'press inquiries.'  Because if there's anything I've learned from blogging and being in the company of business-type go-getters and social media mavens (HA!) it's the Power of The PR.

I got an email back from the PR person that same day (on a Sunday morning--getting shit DONE, my sister was) and she ensured proper-person reception at the company.  I am hopeful that I'll hear something that will reassure me. So, we'll wait and see what says the company.  And then I'll let you know either way. 

Because although I KNOW it wasn't the BIGGEST deal in the world and he's fine, fine, FINE, it was still my little 3 month old baby.

Who ate and was stained with nasty blue dye.

And that's just not okay with me.

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After REPEATED wipings with the cloth

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Comments

[samantha jo campen]

That blows my mind. And those photos you took! It was everywhere! And it STAINED!

*fist of rage*

[Lisa]

Can't really add anything that hasn't been said above about the ridiculousness (word?) of the toy design . . .BUT, I have to say . .You DO have beautiful hands!

[Lippy]

What kills me it the well know fact that many babies love to chew on tags, thus the Taggie blankets. Ellie is obsesses, seriously obsessed with tags and she would have chewed the heck out of that. Gah, don't these toy makers know anything about babies?

[The Domestic Goddess]

WTF????

[mamatulip]

WOAH.

[Laura]

All I could think was HOLY CRAP when I was the pictures. That's no joke!

[kat]

Definite NOT OKAY! Let us know what the company says in response.

[Kader]

Yes--furious! Horrified! Furious! And, also, how could that much ink be on a tag. A TAG! Had they printed War and Peace there for good measure?

Please send update on company's response...

Poor The New Boy. At least he doesn't know what happened. There are benefits to babyness.

[jonniker]

Oh my GOODNESS. I am FURIOUS on your behalf. What IS that? FURRRRIOUS.

[Julie @ The Mom Slant]

Holy crap. Most definitely NOT OKAY.

Looking forward to an update on what you hear from the company in question.

[-R-]

Even after your story, I did not imagine that much ink. !!!!!

[slouchy]

OMFG. I'd be livid!

Hell, I AM livid!

[Stimey]

That's ca-razy. You would think there might have been some product testing that went into that before it got to this point.

[the new girl]

It wasn't the TOY that bled the dye. It was the TAG on the toy. The Man licked the tag, to be sure and came out with a blue dot on his tongue.

Him: 'It has a TASTE, I'll tell you that.'

Me: 'Was it the taste of POISON?'

Him: 'I think it might've been. Yeah. Might've been poison.'

[parkingathome]

What the hell toy was that?! I have heard of a recall on a fisher price ring toy because of blue dye, but I've never seen SO MUCH dye come off. Sheesh

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Um, well. You weren't kidding.

Jesus.

[6512 and growing]

That is disturbing.
Sad that the materials in our children's toys have been compromised for profits.

[She Likes Purple]

I would have lost my mind and done the exact same thing you did. I hope you hear back quickly and efficiently, too.

[Shannon]

Wow. you have far more control than I do. I would have Flipped. The. F*&#. OUT.

[Domestic Extraordinaire]

oh my goodness, I would have totally freaked out. I hope that they get back to you and soon.

[anne nahm]

D^: !!!!

I am making that face right now. What product?!

[RuthWells]

Holy frock. Good for you for making some noise (as per my most recent blog post, I'm all about the Taking Action!). Keep us posted -- and if they don't respond appropriately, go all Dooce/Maytag on their ass.

[Beth from SJ]

Jesus, that is unbelievable!!! My jaw literally fell open when I saw the pictures!!! Glad he is OK! Keep us posted!

[Anne]

Holy crap! I hope you sent pictures of all that dye to them along with your Strongly Worded Letter. I didn't scroll down far enough to see the pictures until after I read the whole post, and I was still SHOCKED at how much staining blue was all over, and how blue that wipe was.

[Clueless But Hopeful Mama]

OMFG. There are no words. I cannot believe it.

I'll be interested to hear what the company has to say for itself.

(Also: totally curious what toy it was. I am impressed with your lack of vengeance for not pointing it out to us in BIG RED ANGRY LETTERS but I am still curious what toy it was. [Also: Vengeance has an "a" in it!? Guess I NEVER type "vengeance".)

[BOSSY]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those exclamation points represent Bossy's anger at that company. Here comes more: !!!!!!!!!