The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: SunPony on September 01, 2020, 07:43:47 PM
-
My friends are having a baby and so their current son is going to be a big brother. I'm making him a big brother pony-themed shirt, and I just had the idea that it would be fun to give him a big brother pony, too. But I don't want to give an actual G1 big brother because 1 - its hard to find one flawless enough to give that a kid wouldn't notice it was used or "dirty" and 2 - I have safety concerns about those old ponies leaking plasticizer and such and becoming a safety hazard. :whoa:
So I thought about getting one of the HQG1C ponies (either Dasher or one of the blanks and I would rehair it), but I don't know if they are really made with kids in mind safety-wise (I definitely chewed on my ponies as a kid...). Does anyone know if they have a recommended age, or if there is any kind of safety-testing of them?
Thanks in advance!
-
Nope. Not safe at all, the deviant little monsters will snatch that kid right outta the crib and whisk them away to lands unknown. All the while, the parents won't notice that their newborn child is suddenly sporting bright pink hair and neighs when they talk.
Joking aside, its fine to get it as a keepsake, but not as a newborn toy. Cloth covered baby rattles, soft toys, and practical gifts would be much better at this stage. Doesn't mean the kid can't play with it when they're 2-3 years old though.
-
I don't think anything with synthetic hair is great for newborns. They chew on everything and I would think eating synthetic hair would be bad for them (even if it's non-toxic.)
I agree with Leave A Whisper, try a rattle or something.
Edit: Oh wait, I reread the first post and it sounds like the toy is for their current son? Not the newborn? How old is he? :)
-
Yeah, I'd have to know the kiddo's age, personally! 2-3, ehh, debatable, just because they're still pretty mouthy then right? Maybe 4-5 would be a safer age. Either way, I'd suggest giving it a quick wash with some dish soap, sometimes they have a bit of a chemically smell, probably the release from the mold. And, y'know, JUST in case they want to put it in their mouth... :lmao:
I'd also suggest reinforcing the tail with an extra zip tie, when I brushed the tails of many of my HQG1C ponies they started falling apart! I think most of them are only made with one zip tie in the factory, and some of the ones I pulled out to replace were extremely loose!
-
Most likely, but you don't know for sure. They don't need to be made to any "safety standard" because they are not a toy on a store shelf.
For example, it's possible that they could have lead paint.
-
Ah, sorry, I think my grammar may have been confusing now that I reread it. The pony and shirt would be for the older child, the actual big brother in this situation. I think he will be about 3 1/2 years old when the baby is born. But it sounds like it might be best to skip it. That's okay, more ponies for me :lol: Maybe I can make him a little child-safe pony plush or something. ^.^
Thanks everyone for your thoughts!
-
I will leave the experts to answer this...
-
No I don't believe that the HQG1C go through any safety testing, because that process is so expensive, we would never have been able to have the items produced. It's tens of thousands of dollars to have this testing done on each and every bit of the materials. they ARE for collectors, after all, and not marketed to kids.
I would stick with actual Anniversary toys - like the Basic Fun ones. those definitely have had the testing.
-
Nope. Not safe at all, the deviant little monsters will snatch that kid right outta the crib and whisk them away to lands unknown. All the while, the parents won't notice that their newborn child is suddenly sporting bright pink hair and neighs when they talk.
Joking aside, its fine to get it as a keepsake, but not as a newborn toy. Cloth covered baby rattles, soft toys, and practical gifts would be much better at this stage. Doesn't mean the kid can't play with it when they're 2-3 years old though.
that’s....a little terrifying. Are you implying that the HQGIC’s are changelings?
-
As a keepsake 'Big Brother' item that his parents will put away for him, it would be a cute and thoughtful gift. But as a toy meant to be played with, I'd skip it. My son is 5 and the new g4 ponies I bought for him are trashed. HQG1Cs are a tad expensive for this purpose (especially since the Big Brother significance will fly right over his head at this age), I'd go with a Basic Fun pony or a plush.
-
Echoing that anniversary ponies would be the best bet out of all of them, but it's a shame no Big Brothers are made yet. Perhaps it could be a bonding thing go pick one out at the store. ^.^
Oh, also, My HQG1C have Poly hair yeah? I don't think it's the best for running fingers through. I think a kid would get more hair fun out of a nylon one.
-
Whoops sorry! I didn't catch the part about being for the older sibling. :redface: Reading comprehension! What is it good for? Honestly, I'd ask the parents what he's into.
-
I don't know much about developmental ages of kids so I'll leave that discussion to everyone else . . . But I will say, you can still buy "blank" G3s:
https://www.amazon.com/LITTLE-Decorate-Pony-Custom-Figure/dp/B00AHJN27M
https://wickedskinny.storenvy.com/products/16210125-hasbro-4-decorate-your-own-diy-my-little-pony
A fun project could be having the little kid decorate his own pony by coloring it with markers. (Acrylic paint is not going to stand up to a 3.5 year old's play IMO.) Probably it will not end up looking very professional or beautiful to adults, but I'll bet he would love the project and the pony, and that's what's important. :) And if he decides his art pony is a boy, then it's a boy. The parents could even cut the hair short if that's what the kid wants. :)
The art ponies are designed to be craft projects so it's not like something expensive or rare is being altered.
I think the Basic Fun ponies are also a great suggestion! :) I don't think the lack of Big Brother molds matters at all--the G1 pony molds are very unisex, they're just horses. The only feature that looks "feminine coded" are the long eyelashes . . . which the Big Brother ponies also have. :P
And there are a lot of Basic Fun ponies who aren't in "feminine associated" colors--Applejack, Bubbles, Sparkler, Gusty, Flutterbye. (Assuming the little boy even cares about any of that . . .)
-
they are safe for kids, but are generally for collectors use. The factory sends out their plastics to get safety tested (not specially for each pony made) and then used for their productions. They technically are not allowed to be made if there is not testing involved and of course pass all qualifications. Eventually I would like to get each character tested when we made more. The hair, paint and plastic these are made from, are shared from many larger known toy lines that the factory makes and sells worldwide.
-
they are safe for kids, but are generally for collectors use. The factory sends out their plastics to get safety tested (not specially for each pony made) and then used for their productions. They technically are not allowed to be made if there is not testing involved and of course pass all qualifications. Eventually I would like to get each character tested when we made more. The hair, paint and plastic these are made from, are shared from many larger known toy lines that the factory makes and sells worldwide.
I think your response still makes me think "most likely"..
But since you are unable to individually test, then theres still a small question mark in my mind. Just a tiny one.
-
Generally hasbro has deemed MLP to be for ages 3 and up. While I don't see a huge problem with giving a 2 year old a MLP, I think there is something to consider since babies tend to put 'EVERYTHING' in their mouths. That's why most infant toys are made the way they are and you don't see a lot of the synthetic hair on toys for babies/infants.
Maybe give it as a gift and the parents can either use it as baby room decoration or put the pony away till the child is old enough to have a mlp.
-
I like the idea of making him a plush, but then I read LM's suggestion and honestly, I think that's the best one. Getting a blank he can draw on and make his own pony as a 'big brother' would be an awesome idea.
It doesn't have to be a boy pony pose, since as LM says, the kid can decide that for himself.
-
they are safe for kids, but are generally for collectors use. The factory sends out their plastics to get safety tested (not specially for each pony made) and then used for their productions. They technically are not allowed to be made if there is not testing involved and of course pass all qualifications. Eventually I would like to get each character tested when we made more. The hair, paint and plastic these are made from, are shared from many larger known toy lines that the factory makes and sells worldwide.
Ah ha! Thanks for this information! That's good to know.
And thank you everyone for your thoughts and suggestions :) :) :)