To refuse old stuffed toys

[Hyperquiet]

A relative has given my baby some stuffed animals that are decades old possibly 20 years plus old.

I was iffy about the stuffing of them as I wasn't sure they'd be ok for baby sitting for that long even though they looked OK on the outside even if we had put them through the washing machine.

I dont mind other toys but I just felt iffy so refused them possibly to some offence.

Was I being unfair I'm not too sure?

Anything with no safety info on tags would be a no from me, like you said who knows what toys back then might have been stuffed with, even just from a fire retardant aspect if not carcinogenic etc. Plus if they're damaged, are there small parts a baby might choke on if it detached, loose threads that could wrap round tiny fingers etc .

20 years ago was 2005 .. we weren’t stuffing toys with nails and barbed wire.

Well, exactly…. Carcinogenic? Wtf?

I mean sure, if they were from the 1940s or something, but around the year 2000+ I think you'll be fine 😉

There are many know carcinogens in our food, beauty products etc even today so its a fair concern imo

My kids have some of my old teddies that my mum kept which are shock horror from about 1987 😱😱😱😱 I’ve never once considered that they shouldn’t have them

Make sure they aren’t stuffed with Asbestos

I’m in DS’ nursery eyeing the Werebears in his teddy hammock that DP has had since about 1988. Will unpick the seams to check for asbestos, knives and ground glass and report back.

When you said 20 years ago I was thinking 1980s 😂
It was 2005, it'll be fine for goodness sake.

bit OTT

Probably a bit rude, yeah. Is it too late to apologise / thank them for the offer

No not too late have kept them now. Will run them through the washing machine.

I remember getting the weekend/home bear from nursery. I have no idea where or when that bear was from. I was too scared to put him through the washing machine incase he fell apart!! My kids all survived his visit.

I still have my teddy bear from my childhood 66 years ago. Presumably stuffed with the plague.

DD has my rabbit from 50 years ago. She was given it as a newborn 25 years ago.

I best call and check on her

My teddy is from pre 2000! Not killed me yet!

@Adelstrop thank you. That comment made me properly laugh after a hard day at school 😅

The killer teddies thread has sent me. I belive there is one with a holstered gun upstairs in my sons room.

My children are still alive and have managed to grow up into healthy adults, despite them playing the hugely life threatening game of teddy bears picnics with my stuffed bears from the 1960s.

Call Social Services, I might have murdered them with ancient bacteria.

give them a good wash and hang them out in the fresh air, check any eyes are securely fastened & they'll be fine

Adelstrop That made me laugh. DHs bear is over 70, I occasionally give him (the bear) a hug without donning a full hazmat suit. Maybe that is reckless of me?

I have a 49 year old stuffed toy called Panda. It took me 40 years to realise it's actually a badger!

Give them a wash and then all the microplastics can end up in the water supply and poison your baby that way.