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Posts: 2,203What do I need to make a child safe bear? I know a 3year old with cancer and I want to make her a bear. Jenn
PottersHouse BearsJenn,
I think the biggest things with child safe bears are the eyes and the nose. If you embroider a nose, that is no longer an issue. You need plastic safety eyes. If you don't have access to any, I have some I can send you. I think the joints can either be plastic (preferred) or lock nut. I also have some plastic joints if you need them. Hope this helps.
bears by beesley TMHi Jenn sweetie.
I totally agree with Millie. I have made child safe bears from the beginning but have not done any for some time.
If you like when I send little twinkles I will include eyes, nose if you like and joints for these bears. I have tons and all sizes of each. No charge of course because I have tons and they are not being used. I would just need to know what size of bear you would be making.
Hugs Louise
Past Time BearsI have lots of plastic eyes, too, if anybody needs some. I have them in all sizes . . . black and brown.
Baird'sBears
Is it true?
Are lock-nut joints considered childsafe? I've made my Progeria Gala bear with plastic safety joints, but I'm not at all sure I trust them!
Please advise . . . :pray:
Eileen
bears by beesley TMNo it is written by the "GODS OF BEAR MAKING" 
that the plastic joints are the only joints considered child safe. Hmmm...
Many Hugs Louise
Posts: 2,203Oh my Gosh You guys are so sweet! This little girl is going through Kemo therapy now. She needs a friend. Jenn
Just wondering... why are cotterpins not considered safe. I thought all I needed to get was some safety eyes so I can make my bambino a bear. I can use my mohair for it can't I??
Country BearsI know about the joints and eyes (plastic ones) but am interested to hear about the rest.
Are the plastic joints etc able to be washed too, where as the cotter pin/hardboard ones would disintegrate?
Bless this child, she'll love your bear Jenn.
Baird'sBears:hug: Thanks, Louise,
If locknuts were childsafe, I'd be tempted to take apart my bear and rejoint!
Kirsten,
Mohair is safe, since it's a washable natural fiber. Cotter pins are a no-no, because the bear has to be childsafe inside and out, as I understand it. I suppose the authorities are imagining a scenario that includes dismemberment and unstuffing! Who knows?
So far my plastic joints are holding . . .
Eileen
Posts: 2,203I looked at the pattern and it said 8mm eyes. So you think I need plastic joints? I will be using this pattern for the first few bears so I can get a feel for them. When that happens I can make my own. Jenn
I didn't realize that the plastic eyes and joints were baby-safe. I make my baby safe animals with no joints and I embroider the eyes and noses......Except for bears made from Vintage Fur Coats, mine are all made from imitation fur which I recommend surface washing, but no heat to dry them. I also use shaggy plush felt for some baby-safe which is machine wash and dry, but no joints in them. maybe I will re-consider as I make baby-safe......
Who says you can't teach an old dog (or bear) new tricks???? 
bears by beesley TMYes to the above! Plastic joints being the only joints considered child safe in a bear can be washed no problem. Mohair as mentioned is fine but could shrink if dryed and yes again to all of the above. I think the point here is if a bear is being marketed as child safe all child safe characteristics must be present in order to protect yourself from any backlash. This is why when we market our other bears we are so careful to mention that they are Adult Collectables Only and Not Child Safe. Cover your Bums!
Hugs Louise
Bears-a-Bruin!Does anyone know if there are plastic, childsafe eyes that can also be 'pulled' in to help shape the face? I haven't made any childsafe bears but would be interested in doing so, and have been reading this thread with interest! :dance:
Nova Scotia,CanadaThere are plastic eyes with a hole at the end of the prong (?? can't think of a better word) and you can thread through it and out of the head and pull in.Does that make sense?? Help someone,explain it better than I have,I'm too tired to express myself properly :redface: :redface:
:hug: Shari.
Bears-a-Bruin!Thanks Shari! Your description was clear, and I will go on a hunt across the internet later! When I was little, my 'bear-friend' was mohair, had glass eyes and cotter pin joints.....how times have changed, eh?! And despite how rough I was with him, his eyes and limbs are still intact!
Country BearsHi Helena,
Yes Shari's right, I've had some of those eyes before, in my practising days!! Like I'm STILL not!! :rolleyes:)Just the job!! 
Baird'sBears Helena,
I'm just finishing my first Childsafe bear. I used the non-looped plastic eyes, but had no trouble.
I did a trial stuffing first, just a softish stuff, to determine exactly where the eyes should go, and marked the spots. Once they were in, I had no trouble working around them to sink them into the head. I just had to be very careful about the placement of the stitches, so that I didn't produce unwanted dents!
Eileen
Bears-a-Bruin!I had a look around and realised it's an 'either/or' situation - either the plastic eyes have push-on backings, or they have the hole so they can be pulled into the head. I kind of vaguely thought there might be eyes that could do both, but thinking in more detail...it would probably be impossible! :lol:
Eileen, thanks for telling me (us) how you sunk your eyes. It must be safest to use the eyes with the backing, yes? So this sounds like the best way to me. Just got to be careful to hide the sculpting stitches, like you say. Thanks. 
Baird'sBears Helena,
I'm sure the locking eyes are safer. Anything with a threaded shank or loop could come off and get itself swallowed.
I'm fine with the safety eyes, but the joints freak me out a bit. They just don't look solid enough to hold, but my bear has been knocked about quite a bit, and his head's still on!! :teddybear:
Eileen
Baird'sBears Helena,
I found something even better on sinking plastic eyes. It's on Neysa's website. Brilliant, as usual!
http://www.purelyneysa.com/nsupplies/Eyes.PDF
Eileen
Bears-a-Bruin!Oooh, thanks again Eileen - I have some plastic eyes in my stash so I'll give this a go! :dance:
Just checked my plastic eyes...they all have a hole in the shank already. Never thought about why it was there, I guess I will try to sink the eyes in by using this hole. Glad I read this topic.
Nova Scotia,CanadaExactly what I was trying to say.Some of my plastic eyes that "lock" on have a hole some don't but I am assuming you can thread through it.
Sorry the pictures are fuzzy but ut's early and so an I. 
Hugs,Shari
Estelles canal bears and Tod TeddiesI use plastic eyes that dont have a loop, what I do is make loop of double strong thread arround the eye before i insert it ,and pass the thread through the hole and the saftey washer making sure its in one of the star shaped cut outs, press on the washer and there you have a standard safety eye with a nice strong thread to pull it into shape.
Hope yhat made sense.
