2009 Kids Preferred Asthma & Allergy Friendly

Asthma or Allergies in Your House?
Kids Preferred Allows All Children to Cuddle and Sleep Like a Mouse!

Cuddling under the covers with a favorite plush buddy seems like a no-brainer but it is actually a no-no if a child suffers with asthma or allergies. Adorable stuffed animals could harbor dust mites and other substances that trigger little mites and other substances that trigger little ones symptoms of coughs and sneezes.

The search for reduced allergen plush started in 2005 when Kids Preferred launched their first products with the aid of Allergy Standards Limited (ASL). Dr. John McKeon, who along with peer Dr. Bruce Mitchell, founded Allergy Standards Limited, worked on reduced allergen bedding before tackling toys. In 2006, ASL partnered with the not-for-profit Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to start the asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification Program. This program scientifically tests and certifies a variety of consumer products that are more suitable for those with asthma and allergy sensitivities. McKeon noted that dust mites thrived in carpets, mattresses and pillows - many of the same places children tended to put down their plush toys. So when the children went to sleep at night, clutching their favorite stuffed animal, they couldn't stop wheezing because of the allergens that triggered an asthma attack.

"Physicians go to extremes and tell parents to remove all plush toys or to put them through a rigorous cleaning." McKeon said. "But patients were coming back after going into retail stores and not finding appropriate toys."

Kids Preferred Plush has achieved asthma friendly® Certification on a range of plush toys because they meet the asthma friendly® standards according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The quality and workmanship of the Kids Preferred products that are asthma friendly® certified allow for the recommended allergen reduction procedure to freeze, wash and dry while meeting or exceeding all EN71 and ASTMF963 safety requirements. What does that mean? It means that you can be sure the allergen levels are brought to safe limits after each wash and opposed to the vast majority of plush products on the planet that fade, shrink or fall apart when washed; these stuffed animals have been designed to withstand wash after wash after wash and like and feel like new!

Each stuffed toy comes with instructions on how to keep the product in a low allergen state, which requires the freeze/wash/dry process to be repeated on an average of every four to eight weeks, depending on the item. The asthma friendly® testing standards and methods were developed by Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), a physician led organization, and adopted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the leading patient advocacy group for people with asthma and allergies in the United States. Toy products that have been tested and meet the standards qualify for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America asthma friendly® Joint Seal.

Dr. John O'Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer for Allergy Standards Limited, believes that Kids Preferred has done an excellent job designing and manufacturing plush that complies with these high standards. "Without a manufacturer like Kids Preferred, it is unlikely that you would fine asthma friendly® certified toys in the marketplace today. Kids Preferred should be truly proud of this accomplishment and I know that those with asthma and allergies will be grateful too."

With almost two dozen stuffed toys under the Kids Preferred label that meet the rigorous certification standards, parents can now buy a certified asthma & allergy friendly™ toy with confidence.

New toys for 2009 include:

Buttercup Doll - Measuring 11" tall, this sweet dolly gets her name from her buttery yellow outfit complete with yellow cap. The inviting smile and soft features make this doll the perfect companion for a snuggle, a car ride or tucked under the covers all night.

Available at Amazon

Floppy Froggie - He's green and yellow and will make baby mellow with 12" of huggable softness. Like all these dolls, Froggie is machine washable.

Available at Amazon

Floppy Monkey - Hold on to his tail or grab his hand and take this monkey everywhere a baby can go. Floppy Monkey is made with soft brown and white plush that is guaranteed to be asthma and allergy friendly.

Available at Amazon

On-The-Go Puppy & Elephant - Choose between these adorable stuffed animals that feature an attachable clip for the stroller, car seat or crib. Blue and white elephant has a teether ring and rattle perfect for grasping. Pink and white puppy has a contrasting purple and pink ring, rattle and textured teether. Both on-the-go pals measure 8".

Kids Preferred toys are available online at KazooToys.com.

Recommended for ages newborn and older.

About Allergy Standards Limited

Allergy Standards Limited is a physician led global certification company that prepares independent standards for testing a wide range of products to determine their suitability for asthmatics and individuals with associated allergies. ASL's management team possesses specialist skills in a variety of medical fields including asthma and other allergic diseases. Through the application of internationally recognized asthma and allergy trigger avoidance recommendations, (including both allergens and irritants), ASL has devised a series of proprietary testing protocols and suitability specifications for products to meet in order to be eligible for the asthma friendly® Certification Program. To learn more visit the website at http://www.aafa.org.

About the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1953, is the leading patient organizations for people with asthma and allergies in the U.S. AAFA provides practical information, community based services and support through a national network of chapters and support groups. AAFA develops health education, organizes state and national advocacy efforts and funds research to find better treatments and cures. Learn more about asthma and allergies at www.aafa.org.

About Kids Preferred™

Kids Preferred, LLC is an award-winning division of Kids Preferred, Inc., which was founded in 1983 and is one of the largest plush toy manufacturers in the U.S. Known for its superior quality and unique designs, Kids Preferred, LLC serves the specialty, juvenile, gift, and better department store trade by distributing soft toys and gifts under its private label and licensed brands including amazing baby™, asthma friendly®, Build-A-Bear Workshop™, Guess How Much I Love You™, Harley-Davidson®, NASCAR™, and The Snowman™. For more information contact Kids Preferred at 1-866-Soft Toy or go to www.kidspreferred.com.

Media resources courtesy of KidStuff Public Relations.

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2009 Kids Preferred Asthma & Allergy Friendly

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A Cybernautic Guide to the Internet