http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2341&e=detail&pid=30407&pcat=bulnl  .......

 

 I have very worrisome safety concerns regarding Sleep Sheep and also Learning Puppy!   I am a non-accredited EMF/EMR researcher/activist with approximately 18 years' experience.   Recently, I evaluated the bedroom of an infant whose mom reported poor quality sleep, frequent ear infections and worries about the possiblity of autism-spectrum disorder symptoms.  

 

Sleep Sheep was one of the items mounted in the corner of the infant's crib.   I measured very high magnetic fields on Sleep Sheep.   Three associates and I attempted to determine why my gaussmeter measured readings well over the 4.0 mg level cited in the 2002 EMF California Report regarding links to brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Leukemia and miscarriage.    Occasional readings of 60.0 mg and 80.0 mg and even over 100.0 mg were recorded over a number of days.    Readings were repeated numerous times while batteries were in place with switches in on and off positions and also, readings over the speaker magnet remained high over the magnet  even after batteries were removed.    It appears the magnet may be acting as a transceiver.    Readings over the magnet that was no longer being powered by batteries were recorded over several days and the magnetic field levels did not change overall from readings when batteries were in place.

 

We believe the same applies to Laugh and Learn Learning Puppy since the removable sound box for that toy also has a magnet that appears to be retaining its' magnetic field albeit  lower, on average, due to slightly more distant placement of the magnet within the sound box.     Frequent movement of the switches did increase the number of  magnetic field readings of 50.0 and 60.0 mg with one spike as high as 190.0 mg.  Our Laugh and Learn Learning Puppy was purchased in order to confirm or disprove findings re Sleep Sheep.    Since we were able to record many magnetic field readings well over 10.0 mg on  Laugh and Learn Learning Puppy and considering the toy is promoted as "cuddly," as well as the fact an infant or toddler more likely than not would hold the toy close to his or her body while playing, we consider the toy to be particularly hazardous due to the magnet that appears to be acting as a transceiver in a similar manner as that of Sleep Sheep.

 

Comparisons have also been made of other battery-operated infant/toddler toys.   Several of the toys without speakers and therefor, apparentely not containing "magnets," do exhibit elevated magnetic fields in the range of 6.0 mg to 12.0 mg with occasional spikes or bursts of 20.0 mg readings (while lighting up and/or playing music), however, the readings typically are more or less in a range between 1.5 mg and 3.0 mg and the fluctuations are not nearly as erratic as the items that have speakers and therefor "magnets."  . 

 

 Dr. George Carlo,  Science & Public Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. wrote on July 17, 2008, that he   "......is hearing of other instances [I had provided initial report re DC high magnetic fields -- "infant comfort objects" ]  where there seems to be 'phantom' readings floating about -- coming and going, with no apparent explanation.   We have seen instances where some phones, for example, that are off, are actually acting as 'repeaters' for cell phone signals -- the iPhone is one of those.  Very insidious and dangerous."   .   Dr. Carlo's Home Page:  http://www.sppionline.org/  ..........

 

In the meantime, almost a month has gone by since removing Sleep Sheep, a mobile consisting of a battery box that was fastened to crib mattress and a battery-operated night light from the crib.  I measured 50.0 mg on the mobile.   A 5.8 ghz monitor had been removed from the nursery a couple of weeks prior to measuring the battery-operated crib objects.  It was necessary to remove the three battery-operated infant toys from the crib before positive changes were observed.   The infant is reported to now being able to sleep through-the-night, he also "cuddles" with his mom and others, he has had no more ear infections, and has a greatly improved disposition overall.  

 

Because Sleep Sheep is an item that might be held close to an infant's body in lieu of placing in the corner of the crib (even tho that use also appears to be very dangerous) as well as other possible "comfort uses," I strongly recommend warnings be issued to the general public that infant and toddler toys that have speakers and therefor, "magnets," should be immediately removed from nurseries and play areas.  

 

We know that autism is literally "exploding!"    Can we afford to continue to expose infants and toddlers to that which amounts to experimentation?    All infant and toddler equipment whether powered by electricity or batteries, IF the item has a speaker and therefor, "a magnet," needs to be taken out-of-use while science catches up with merchandising! 

 

We also know in cases said to be SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) or SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood) that an electric shock or large doses of drugs are the only likely explanations for cardiac arrest.      I am including information from the Mayo Clinic website below: