Let’s face it; we all want to expose our kids to interesting experiences so they can have some great memories.  We want to snap the perfect picture and show off what a fun time our kids have.  I think  that most new parents spend an awful lot of time looking for great places to take their kids in order to build up experiences for their babies and toddlers.  I know I was guilty of this – and still am to this day – just because I want my kids to see the world around them and to always see new things.

The problem is when parents get so frantic and determined about getting a great photo or exposing their kids to something interesting and different that they forget the reality of the situation.  I have a great example of this that I witnessed the other day.

Our city has one of the best zoos in the nation, so I take my kids there often.  It’s especially nice to walk through the jungle area during these cold winter months because we can shed our heavy coats and wander through a really good replica of various jungles throughout the globe.  One of the best things about the jungle at our zoo is the fact that some of the animals roam around relatively free; the zoo apparently knows how to keep certain animals back from the public using ponds and barriers, so it’s a really interactive experience that even the youngest kids can enjoy.

When we were there the other day we walked past a set of branches that had a monkey-type animal perched on top.  I’ve walked through this jungle about a million times with my kids so I knew right away that this wasn’t quite right.  Apparently the animal got past the barriers and found the walkway for visitors.  I immediately grabbed my kids and pulled them back, but a dad from the family behind us got all excited and shoved his young son up next to the animal.

First his son recoiled, then the dad pulled him back in front of the animal.  Then the animal swiped at his son, the son jumped away, and the dad actually pushed his son back so he could get a photo.  At this point we were scurrying away to make sure my kids didn’t get some bizarre primate injury that would be really hard to explain to the emergency room staff, but I was still amazed that this dad was so concerned about getting a picture of his son with the animal that he completely disregarded the obvious threat the animal posed.

I’m assuming the kid came out of it all okay because it seems to me a kid injured by a wayward zoo animal would make the news.

I think that sometimes parents get so excited at the prospect of getting a perfect picture or having the perfect experience that they might totally miss the bigger picture.  I would hope that I would never put my kids in harm’s way in an attempt to get a fantastic photo, but I can see how people can easily get carried away.

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.Name of Product: Children’s Table and Chair

Units: About 50

Distributor: Netshops, of Omaha, Neb.

Hazard: The surface paint on the children’s table and chair sets contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled table and chair sets are natural colored. The table is either round or rectangular, has a shelf under the table and includes two chairs. Model number ALZ024-3 or ALZ023-3 is printed on the packaging.

Sold by: Netshops.com from November 2007 through December 2007 for between $100 and $130.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the table and chair set away from children. Netshops is offering consumers a full refund. Netshops has directly contacted consumers who purchased the table and chair sets.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Netshops toll-free at (866) 558-9485 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm?s Web site www.netshops.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.Name of Product: Heart and Car Sterling Silver Teethers

Units: About 200

Importer: Elegant Baby and Baby Needs Inc., of Burlington, N.C.

Manufacturer: Angel Ortiz and Fracionamiento Lomas De Taxco S/N, of Mexico

Hazard: The hearts and cars on the teethers can break off, posing a choking hazard to infants.

Incidents/Injuries: Elegant Baby has received one report of a baby mouthing the heart when it broke off the teether and became lodged in his mouth.

Description: The sterling silver teethers are circle shaped with either a heart or car in the center. The teethers have beads inside. The teethers measure two inches in diameter.

Sold at: Independent infant clothing boutiques nationwide from February 2005 through September 2006 for about $50.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled teethers away from infants and contact the firm for instructions on returning the teethers for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Elegant Baby at (800) 334-5321 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, or visit the firm?s Web site at www.elegantbaby.com

The FDA on Friday has recognized the voluntary recall of canned green beans and garbanzo beans distributed by New Era Canning Co of Michigan due to the possibility of Clostridium botulinum contamination, which often leads to botulism. The recall is specifically for large 6.5 lb cans, and the FDA is urging consumers to use caution when disposing of these cans, as even a very small amount can lead to contamination.

Luckily, there have been no injuries so far!

Kash N’ Gold Recalls Tinker Bell Novelty Lamps Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Tinker Bell Lamps

Units: 60,000

Manufacturer: Kash N? Gold Ltd., of Deer Park, N.Y.

Hazard: The surface paint on the lamps contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled Tinker Bell lamp has model ?Tinker Bell Lamp? printed on the bottom of the lamp. The lamp has a sculpted Tinker Bell in a flower garden with an animation of Tinker Bell swaying back and forth while music plays when the light switch or demo button is depressed.

Sold at: Electronic and appliance retailers nationwide, including Lowe?s from January 2007 through October 2007 for about $40.

Manufactured in: Hong Kong

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lamps and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or contact the firm to receive a Kash N? Gold merchandise credit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Kash N? Gold at (800) 354-8785 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m Monday through Friday or visit the firm?s Web site at www.kngamerica.com

Shims Bargain Recalls Pacifiers Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: ?BabyTown? Pacifiers

Units: About 45,000

Importer/Distributor: Shims Bargain Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif.

Hazard: These pacifiers fail to meet federal safety standards for pacifiers. The pacifier shield is too small and could easily enter the mouth of an infant. Also, ventilation holes are too small and not placed to allow for the insertion of a tool to remove the pacifier when lodged in the mouth of a child. Finally, the package fails to display the required warning instructing consumers not to tie a pacifier around a child?s neck, which would present a strangulation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled pacifiers were sold in a 4-pack of assorted colors. ?BabyTown? and model #39864 are written on the product?s packaging.

Sold at: Dollar stores nationwide from March 2004 through December 2007 for $1.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take these pacifiers away from children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Shims Bargain toll-free at (866) 540?3334 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Coin Banks Recalled by TJ Promotions Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Fish Coin Banks

Units: About 1,300

Distributor: TJ Promotions, of South El Monte, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paint on the coin banks contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves coin banks made of plaster that are shaped as a fish. The coin banks are orange with white stripes.

Distribution: The coin banks were provided as a free gift to Coastal Federal Credit Union members in North Carolina from February 2006 through September 2007.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled coin bank away from children immediately and return it to where it was received for a free replacement as soon as one is available.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact T J Promotions toll-free at (866) 742-2493 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm?s Web site at www.tjpromo.com