The Top Ten Toys for Christmas 2010, according to the Duracell Toy Report

1. Apple iPhone 4
2. Apple iPod touch
3. Apple iPad
4. Kinect for Xbox
5. Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters/Kung Zhu Hamsters
6. Flip Video Camera
7. Toy Story 3 Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear
8. PlayStation Move
9. Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 Video Game
10. Barbie Video Girl

Happy Shopping!!! 

Mark & Mandy

The recent drama over whether or not Zhu Zhu Pets are toxic has raised some questions about the chemical in question: Antimony.

Antimony is a chemical used in electronics and fireproofing. It’s found in paints, rubber, ceramics, enamels, drugs to treat parasites, and various alloys. Antimony is found in the earth’s crust.

The largest mine is in China. Very little is mined in the U.S..

The claim made on Mr. Snuggles, one of the Zhu Zhu Pets is that in tests, his fur contained 93 parts per million and his nose contained 106 parts per million. The allowable amount is 60 parts per million. The company that manufactures Zhu Zhu Pets is combating the results by showing internal test, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating. This news comes as over 6 million Zhu Zhu Pets have been purchased for children this holiday season.

Antimony cannot be destroyed in the environment, it can only change form or become attached to other particles, especially those that contain iron, manganese, or aluminum.

Many foods that we eat and drink contain antimony. The average person drinks about 5 millionth of a gram every day. Antimony used for fire protection is so attached to the material that it does not expose humans to antimony.

Antimony is toxic. Health hazards include:
1. eye irritation
2. lung irritation
3. breathing problems
4. skin irritation
5. heart problems
6. stomach pain
7. diarrhea
8. vomiting
9. stomach ulcers
10. joint and muscle pain
11. anemia

It is not known if antimony causes cancer, birth defects, reproductive problems, or other anomalies in humans. It has not been classified as a carcinogen by the Department of Health and Human Services, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or the Environmental Protection Agency.

In studies on rats, it has caused death, hair loss, and organ damage. It causes heart and fertility problems, weight loss, and diarrhea in dogs. Antimony caused eye irritation in rabbits, and death when it got on their skin.

Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) have set federal regulations for antimony in lakes, streams, industry to protect people and workers from antimony poisoning.

If you would like more information on Antimony, or any other toxic substance, contact your state health or environmental quality department.

Sears’ top toys of the year

Top 5 big toys
Convertible wagon/sleigh
Power Wheels Ford/Mustang (Red)
Power Wheels Barbie Ford Mustang
Power Wheels Ford F-150 Pick Up
VTech Jungle Gym Bouncing Colours Turtle

Top 5 Toys under 100 bucks
Whoopsie Doo
Bakugan 7 in 1
Zero Gravity Laser
Rocky the Robot
Liv Dolls

Walmart Canada’s top 10 toys for the 2009 holiday season:
Monopoly City
The Monopoly family branches again, this time building a city on the inside of the board as you play. Instead of property deeds, players acquire permits for the zones marked by the properties in the traditional Monopoly layout. Players build from a selection of 80 3D buildings in the center of the board. Monopoly City still uses “cold hard cash”, but also makes use of an electronic device to assert the economic conditions in the game.

Transformers Deluxe
The new figures are not the blocky, angular chunks of plastic that kids grew up with in the 1980′s, but are now sleek and intricate transforming works of art with an astounding level of detail indicative of today’s action figures.

Raider Nerf Strike
Featuring a 35 dart magazine, it’s Nerf’s highest-capacity gun to date. It has a clear window so you can see how many bullets are left as well as a pump-action handle and two “blasting modes” — single or multi-shot.

Buzz Lightyear
definitely seeing the retro trend this year, notably with the re-emergence of Buzz Lightyear from the popular “Toy Story” movie franchise.
“We haven’t seen Buzz on the toy shelves for a while and he’s out this Christmas which is great.. (for) a lot of kids who didn’t know who Buzz Lightyear was before.”
The talking action figure, which features light and sound effects and pop-out wings.

Baby Alive Whoopsie Poopsie Doll
Pretending to be mommy is more fun than ever with the Baby Alive Whoopsie Poopsie doll. This amazing lifelike doll “eats” and “poops” just like a real baby. Girls can feed her or give her a bottle, and then get ready to change her messy diaper. The Baby Alive Whoopsie Poopsie doll is ready to play, laugh and talk to your little girl. The doll allows girls to experience the joy of feeding, diapering and nurturing their very own baby doll.

Lego Millennium Falcon

http://shop.lego.com/Product/?p=10179

Rocky the Robot

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3558991

One of Parent’s Magazine’s Best Toys of the Year 2009

Matchbox Rocky the Robot Truck is a hard-working, interactive dump truck is ready to roll with sensors, motorized movements and 100 phrases. Quickly becoming any child’s best friend, Rocky tells jokes, dances and flashes his headlights as he speaks. With a rugged design and a full-tilting bed, kids can even use Rocky for construction projects like loading up, moving out, hauling and dumping. When the work is done, Rocky even sleeps and snores. 4 C batteries required (included).

Zero Gravity Laser
This all new Zero Gravity puts a new spin on RC. Vehicle chases light beams on the wall or ceiling! Simple to steer, just point the light beam and watch the vehicle follow it. Turn it to ‘ground mode’ or ‘wall mode’ for different effects. It’s fun and easy to control and has amazing speed and control! You really have to see it to believe it.

http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=3639792#prod_prodinfo

Bakugan 7 in 1 Combine

http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=3639343&cp=3891417&parentPage=family

Liv Dolls

http://www.livworld.com/

Want a hot a toy for your kids’ Christmas?

Better start looking now.

The Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster is almost impossible to find these days and it’s likely to get worse.

Industry insiders say the hamster could be this holiday’s season Tickle Me Elmo.

The hamsters squeak and move around.

They sell for around 10 bucks.

Wal-Mart official Laura Phillips says they sell out of the Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters even before they put them on the shelves.