Strollerderby : cpsc

Is Going Hard on Handmade Bad for Parents?

JeanneSager — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:36:00 GMT

After a year and a half of ominous warnings that toxins are lurking in our kids' toyboxes, you would think parents would be celebrating the feds' decision to move in and start busting heads.

So what's the problem here?

The over-generalized, blanket "reform" regulations of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) will be putting a lot of parents out of business.

Now who's guilty of making a broad, sweeping statement? Perhaps, but I'm not just talking about moms who make toy food and sell it on etsy. They are the parents who have spent countless hours tweeting updates on Twitter, blogging about the Handmade Toy Alliance fight, and urging us all to write to our Congressman (click here to find out how they voted on the issue, by the way, in the House and in the Senate). And there are a lot of them. I have friends who do the craft circuit for extra cash, and the "children" section on etsy has no less than one thundred fifty thousand items up for sale at the moment - most of them made by a parent. Throw in the kids clothing makers, diaper sewers, and the list goes on - even if it's highly unlikely to have lead to begin with (in organic cotton?), it will have to be tested and tagged - to show parents it doesn't.

Yes, this law will undoubtedly put these parents out of business. But I'm also talking about the parents who like to buy little doodads for their kids - be it on etsy or at the local craft fair - because they're better-crafted and often more intriguing for the little minds, because the clothes are will withstand the test of being crawled and jumped in (where do I get clothes, by the way? The CPSIA calls for anything kids can "reasonably put in their mouths" - for those of us with kids, that's everything but the kitchen sink . . . on second thought, she has tried to suck water from the spigot . . . ).

They're being given one choice now - head to the big box store and stock up on the toys and clothes every kid on the block will have under the Christmas tree. Oh, and because each and everything must be tested by an independent lab to ensure it's lead, phthalate and cootie-free, and those labs like to charge a pretty penny - the price of THOSE toys is going up too. Overall, the big manufacturers will be better able to stomach the costs, but they are sure to pass on any added processing fees to us - the big ol' saps who fall for their kids' wide-eyed, "please, oh pretty please, I want it sooooo bad, I'll be so good."

Should we be making efforts to keep toxins away from our kids? Absolutely. Lead poisioning as one mother said in TV interview I watched, does not discriminate. She said the federal government shouldn't either - at least not in their efforts to keep lead out of kids' systems. Unfortunately, the CPSIA discriminates against parents when it comes down on the side of big business. A lack of research has resulted in blanket legislation in what is supposedly a quick response to a nationwide problem (a year and a half later).

If the government wants to help parents, maybe they should check with a few before the write laws "for us."

Image: Homespuncity (an etsy buy for me - that my daughter has tried sucking on)

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Handmade; Organic; European Toy Producers at Risk

They Say – Most Toys Are Toxic

Teen Has Cancer and Lives in a Car

Handmade; Organic; European Toy Producers at Risk

Shannon LC Cate — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

I got tired of toxic toys even before it was cool. One Thomas train full of lead is one too many as far as I'm concerned and two years ago I abandoned big-box sources for big-brand toys and found myself a few web sources for toys made in countries with stricter safety standards than China or the United States; organic toys; toys made by small mom-and-pop producers and other sources I trust not to poison my children in the name of a profit. (Yes, natural, organic and artisan-produced toys cost more, thus my kids have fewer of them--a double blessing as far as I'm concerned!)

Like many parents, I am thrilled to see the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) taking action on the problem of toxic toys, but was horrified to learn that the proposed new rules are such a blunt instrument that they will decimate small toy makers and etsy.com artisans, while also forcing the European toy makers I love (Haba, Selecta, Plan, etc.) to pull out of the U.S. market.

Why? The new rules impose testing requirements that small producers simply can't afford. They also require those tests of producers exporting toys to the United States, even if the exporting country has higher safety standards than the United States and has tested the toys on their end already. Selecta has already stated that, following these regulations, it plans to stop selling its toys in the United States.

But we don't have to choose between no regulation or this regulation. The Handmade Toy Alliance has a statement with some practical changes to the rules that will protect small manufacturers while improving the safety standards for the big guys. Please read their suggestions and take a minute to write your congressional representative to improve the planned regulation.

Things Fall Apart: Two Infant Deaths Prompt Crib Recall

Shannon LC Cate — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:30:00 GMT

1.6 million cribs were recalled yesterday by Delta Enterprises, a company that makes baby gear. The largest recall of its type, ever, came after two 8 month old babies were strangled when a safety mechanism on the drop-down side of the crib failed, creating a dangerous gap.

The AP reports that:

"The Delta Enterprises recall included 985,000 drop-side cribs of various models, because of the potential for missing safety pegs. These cribs were manufactured in Taiwan and Indonesia and sold by major retailers including Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target.com, between January 1995 and September 2007. The recall also included 600,000 cribs of various models with spring-loaded safety pegs. These cribs were manufactured in China and sold between January 2000 and January 2007. The recall doesn't affect any cribs now in retail inventory."

If you have one of these cribs, you must contact the company and you will be sent a retrofit safety kit.

As a result of the massive recall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering rewriting tighter regulations for cribs.

For more information, visit the recall website.

Things Fall Apart: Simplicity Bassinets Recall Still Expanding, Awkwardly

Miriam Axel-Lute — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:30:00 GMT

Amazing how complicated it can be to identify an unsafe bassinet and get kids out of them. It was late August when the Consumer Products Safety Commission first issued a safety alert warning caregivers not to use Simplicity 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 "close sleeper" bassinets, because when the fabric is detached to place it in "cosleeper" mode and not reattached properly, there is a gap under a metal bar that babies can slip under and strangle.

This was a clear danger, directly responsible for two infant deaths (one of which ocurred nearly a year before the safety alert, which has also raised some eyebrows). So you get them off the market pronto, right?

Enter the complications: First, Simplicity went out of business, and SFCA, the company that bought it, get this, bought only its assets, but not its liabilities. Sweet deal, huh? Sound like a certain Wall Street bailout to you? Anyhow, SFCA assumes no responsibility, and won't issue a recall, so the CPSC has been having to do it piecemeal with retailers.

Meanwhile, it took until late September for someone to figure out that the exact same products were being sold under the Graco and Disney brands as well, and those ought to be included in the recalls.

And then they realized that it was only older models that had the problem, and newer ones have the fabric permanently attached and are fine. Oy vey. Consumer Reports has a video that shows the difference if you're not sure. And the news is still spreading, with one news report just yesterday.

In amongst all this, the ongoing bias against cosleeping (I'll have more on that in detail in a few days) rears its head again: This dangerous product got to market because no one has bothered to set specific safety standards for cosleeping products. And even Consumer Reports disappointingly turns around and in its video uses that as an excuse to recommend the use of regular cribs over cosleepers at all times, even though other cosleepers, and even the later models of this one, don't have this dangerous flaw. The problem here was, in the CPSC's words "metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under the federal crib safety standard," not being a cosleeper.

Two lessons for safe sleeping: Follow instructions carefully, and if something looks dangerous, don't wait for a manufacturer or the CPSC to tell you it really is.

More by this author:

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Things Fall Apart: Time to Upgrade Baby's Toy Cell Phone

Madeline Holler — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:01:00 GMT

Better go dig out all those toy cell phones your baby loves flipping open and shut. Because about a million of them are being recalled due to a choking hazard. The hinge cover on the toys, made in China, can become detached and be swallowed by a voracious toy-gummer.

The toy cell phones in question are Little Tikes Chit 'N Chat toy cell phones, distributed by the Kids Station Toys International Ltd. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall warning.

The agency and the toy firm have received three reports of the phone breaking and one report of a child beginning to choke on the detached part. They were sold at drug and toy stores between June 2006 and March 2008 for about $8 each or $20 a set.

If you have one of these phones and it does NOT have the screw in the back (see picture), the CPSC instructs you to take the phone away and contact Kids Station about a free replacement.

Contact Info: Kids Station toll-free at (888) 620-0930 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidsstationtoys.com

Photos: Reuters

Beware of Dangerous Slings

Amy Kuras — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:19:00 GMT

Once used mostly by hippies and crunchies, slings have become an extra trendy way of carrying babies and toddlers.

But as convenient, cool and snuggly as slings are, they may not be the safest choice to carry a baby. According to the Consumer Reports safety blog, standards setting organization ASTM International is starting the process to create standards for sling carriers, at the request of manufacturers.

Improper use or ring failure can result in bruises, fractures or other injuries when a baby falls out of the sling, and the Consumer Products Safety Commission has found a risk of "positional asphyxia" when a baby's head is too far forward in the sling and their airway is cut off. CPSC has recalled slings in the past, including, last year, the Infantino pictured.

According to the blog, "Most of the sling carriers demonstrated at the ASTM meeting seemed complicated to put on and prone to user error. Clear instructions and perhaps video demonstrations might help prevent mistakes."

Hah, I say. The brand of sling I use has video demonstrations right on its website. Do you know what they use to demonstrate? A doll. Which is smaller, lighter, and a hell of a lot less wiggly and floppy than any infant I've ever met.

What worked for me is always putting the baby in the sling over a soft surface like the couch or bed, so if I do slip up their fall will be cushioned. Also, I tend not to use the sling a lot until they are a little older and have more head control. And getting a friend who both uses the same kind of sling you do and has a lick of sense about positioning the baby in it is really helpful, since "complicated to put on" is a bit of an understatement for even the simple pouch sling I use.

Things Fall Apart: The Longest List Yet

Karen Murphy — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:32:00 GMT

See what happens when I take a week off from this feature? Aqua-Dots. That's what happens. I could have had fun with that one. But that's not all. No, there's Curious Gearge. Again. And ducks, LOTS of ducks. And cars. And tops. And sunglasses. And folding chairs (just go with it). And wagons. And robots. And cribs. Something for everyone! And here's the gory details:

Curious George Plush Dolls. I love me some George, but I'm not liking the lead factor. These 12-inch plush dolls came in various outfits remininscent of the Village People and have plastic faces, and have been sold for aboout two years now. Full refund available.

Duck Family Collectable Tin Wind-Up Toys. Yeah. Covered with lead. Cute, though! Sold since January for about 8 bucks, and you can get a refund or replacement item.

Dizzy Ducks Music Box. I like ducks, but not this much. Take these back, please! Sold since March for about $12, and like the duck family (same importer) you can receive a refund or replacement item.

Pull-Back Action Dollar Store Cars. From the dollar store; do you need to know more? Sold in 4-packs of Super Wheels or 2-packs of Super Racers. Whatever.

Winnie-the-Pooh Spinning Tin Tops. Sold waaay back in 2003. Which means your kid's been sucking on that lead-laden handle for four years. I just thought I should point that out. You can get your $12 refunded or pick out another lead-covered toy, your choice.

Yellow Dollar Store Kid's Sunglasses. Sold for, well, a dollar. At you-know-where. Go ahead, ask for your refund, I dare you. But only for the yellow ones.

Folding Chairs . Kids could sit on these. Well, they could! Like next week, at the kid's table at Thanksgiving. Right? Am I right? But these chairs, they collapse. So you will not want that. They were sold at office supply stores for about $30 from August 2005 through July 2007. If you have some you can get a free repair kit.

"Big Red" Wagons. Sold at Northern Tool & Equipment for about $60 from July 2007 through September 2007. They're metal with removeable wooden sides. Lead paint. Get your replacements while they're hot!

"Robot 2000" Battery-Operated Tin Robots. Twelve inches tall with a red light on its head. I kind of want one. Sold for the oast year for about $25, you can get a refund or replacement toy.

Wendy Bellissimo Collection Convertible Cribs . Imported by Bassetbaby for Babies 'R Us, sold from July 2005 through October 2007 for about $500.The bolts at the top corners of the crib can come loose and create a severe entrapment hazard. You can get a free repair kit.

That's it. I'm tired now.

Crib Bumpers: Just Say No

Karen Murphy — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:26:00 GMT

I hate crib bumpers. Oh, I get what they're good for. They're good for ~~keeping precious babies from bumping their precious heads~~ babies to use to amuse themselves, either by untying them and sucking on the strings so they're all spitty or by untying them and piling them up in the crib in order to use to effect an escape. I've always said that crib bumpers were bad news and now I've managed to make the New York Times listen.

The power I have, it's incredible.

Because there's a new study that claims that the risk of death due to crib bumpers outweighs the benefit. In the 10 years from 1995 to 2005, 27 babies died from strangling on those damned ties on crib bumpers. Mine were far too short for any but the most pencil-necked baby to strangle on, but apparently 27 were longer than that.

However the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association claims that "the Consumer Product Safety Commission had assured the group that 'there was no direct causal connection with properly made traditional crib bumpers and any risk of fatality' and that the new study might therefore 'contain inaccurate conclusions and data.'" But of course, they would say that. Being so impartial and all.

So while the numbers are relatively small (less than 3 babies died per year of the study), are you willing to take that chance that your baby isn't the one in a zillion?

Yeah, me neither. Which is why the bumpers came off after the second baby.

CPSC Says Home Lead Tests May Not Be Accurate for Toys

Karen Murphy — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 12:22:00 GMT

Understandably, sales of home lead tests have increased lately, with concerned parents looking to test the contents of the toy-box rather than rely on the continuous parade of recalls that's been alternating from trickle to deluge to trickle again. But the Consumers Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is dubious about the results of these home tests.

According to a report published on the CPSC site, these tests can result in false positives or false negatives, making the results rather inconclusive. The CPSC concludes that the only truly effective testing method is via an approved laboratory, stating, in part, "Laboratory testing by a qualified laboratory using proper techniques and interpretation of the results by qualified toxicologists is the only way to accurately assess the potential risk posed by a consumer product that may contain lead."

Have a look at the CPSC's Evaluation of Consumer Products for Lead report, just published. If you'd still like to test for lead at home, here's a wrap-up of some lead testing kits that are available.

Though you can always have that pushy next-door kid go around and lick everything. That might work.

http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/leadguide.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118843139888012856.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Things Fall Apart: Killer Jacket Edition

Melissa Summers — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:01:00 GMT

Nordstrom is recalling around 1900 jackets sold between November 2006 through April 2007 and made by Pine Peak Blues because the zipper pull can detach and lodge itself in a small child's windpipe. Not really but the small piece can become a choking hazard when detached from the jacket.

The jackets were sold in infant, toddler and youth sizes in navy with long sleeves. They have an embroidered flag of England on the front and an "England" patch on the chest. All of this isn't dangerous, England's a lovely place, but there are two zippers in addition to the front zipper....three ways for your baby to choke to death.

Return the coat to Nordstrom for a full refund or call Nordstrom toll-free at (800) 933-3365 anytime for more information.

Heely's says, "Nuh-Uh, We Are Too Safe."

Melissa Summers — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:07:00 GMT

Heely's has responded to a recent study claiming Heelys WILL KILL YOUR CHILD. They now say, "Okay, they can hurt people but other stuff is way worse." The company which makes Heelys hired Heiden Authorities, a risk assessment company, to analyze the CPSC's numbers. The data confirms that wheeled shoes are still the safest among "popular wheeled sports" and also points out accidents involving wheeled shoes have actually decreased in the last 15 months.

Heelys are, according to Heiden's analysis of the CPSC numbers, 39 times safer than bicycles, 24 times safer than skateboards, 9 times safer than scooters and 7 times safer than inline skates. My own personal analysis of the data found that Heelys are 53 times more annoying than any other wheeled activity, except unicycling which is around 57 times more annoying.

Use at your own risk.

Rules For Playground Safety Every Kid Should Know

Karen Murphy — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:26:00 GMT

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, the folks who bring us our never-ending Things Fall Apart series on product recalls, have published a list of things to know when it comes to playground safety. Things like, Never Attach Ropes to the Equipment, and Always Supervise Young Children. But clearly, the CPSC, while well-meaning, left a few items out. The Strollerderby crew has come up with some extra tips to make your playground time this year the best ever:

1. Stay away from men in trenchcoats.

2. Those hyperdermic needles in the sand do not make good guns.

3. If the other "kids" playing at the playground have beards and are as tall as your dad, it's time to go home.

4. Don't eat the gum stuck to the underside of the slide.

5. No, you don't know where anybody's lost puppy went.

6. Think of the grass around fire hydrants as the same as "yellow snow".

[photo credit: Adobe.com]

Things Fall Apart: Life is Good (until you strangle) Sweatshirts

Melissa Summers — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:31:00 GMT

Oh the irony is stifling. Children's sweatshirts from Independent Trading Co. are being recalled because the drawstring through the hood is a strangulation hazard. The shirts were sold at RedEnvelope from March 2006 through March 2007 for about $35. In February 1996 the consumer product safety commission issued guidelines to help prevent children from being strangled.

The sweatshirts have "Life Is Good" sewn on the front and come in blue or light blue. If you have one of these sweatshirts remove the drawstring from the hood immediately and contact Red Envelope for a retrofit kit which includes additional letters to be sewn onto the sweatshirt making it read: "Life Is Good Unless You're Wearing A Sweatshirt Which Could Kill You." Or, you know, you could just get a full refund by calling Red Envelope at (877) 733-3683 or via their website.

Things Fall Apart: Disney Princess Easter Baskets

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:04:00 GMT

Were you at Wal-Mart recently? Did your kid spy the Disney Princess Easter basket on an end cap and demand to have it? Did you buy it even though it was $10 just so they'd shut the hell up? Well, now you have a reason to burn that mofo: It's a choking hazard and is being recalled.

The ribbons and silver bells can come off and pose a potential choking hazard. About 8,500 of these suckers were sold so I know there are going to be quite a few pissed off kids come Easter. Oh, well! That's life!

Things Fall Apart: Four Million Children's Bracelets Recalled

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:32:00 GMT

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the paint on four million "Groovy Grabber" bracelets sold in vending machine poses a risk of lead poisoning.

The bracelets come in various colors and designs, including smiley faces, Chinese symbols, dogs, cats, aliens, checker boards and flames. The products were sold in vending machines located in malls and discount stores nationwide, priced at 25 cents each.

But what you need to know is:

LEAD BAD! TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOUR KID NOW!!!

New Recalls: Children's Rings and Jewelry

Karen Murphy — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:03:00 GMT

Why, oh why, do manufacturers insist on making jewelry for children that's chock-full of lead? Here's a new lineup of recalls issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission: children's "birthstone" necklace and earring sets, sold exclusively at Kmart (known for its fine jewelry) and ugly Vegas-style children's "pinkie" rings, sold at Big Lots (another fine jewelry purveyor), each bearing toxic amounts of lead. Yummy! If you own these, the CPSC advises taking the item away from your children immediately! Or sooner! And then take it to the store for a refund. Check the links for more information.

Lead Lunch Boxes Safe Again? Only for Brunch

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:56:00 GMT

The Associated Press story yesterday about lead-tainted lunch boxes has left the government agency in charge of lead testing in a furor. "We are not evil-doers!" the agency shrieked. OK, maybe not. Still, they're pissed.

The story said the agency, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, tested lunch boxes, found high levels of lead in some but then gave the go ahead to fill them up with Twinkies and Suzie-Qs (mmmm Suzie-Qs). The Food and Drug Administration got into the act, telling manufacturers to stop killing children and baby seals. Even Wal-Mart banned some boxes.

Plain Jane Mom pointed out the agency's response to the uproar. The CPSC said its testing showed all was well with the lunch boxes and that it wasn't covering up anything for political or nefarious purposes. The agency backed up its record for getting medieval on lead in toys, clothes, etc. -- a well-documented fact -- but I'm still not going to buy any vinyl lunch boxes for my kid. They may not have found lead at "hazardous levels" -- but limiting lead at any level is my concern.

Hasbro Recalls Easy-Bake Ovens

thezeroboss — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:09:00 GMT

Eek! I'm betting a number of us have one of these injury-making machines in our houses. If you do, better lock it up until you can give the manufacturer a ring. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Hasbro have announced that the company is recalling its pink and blue Easy-Bake Ovens due to 29 reports of kids getting their fingers caught and burned in the devices. The models in question have model number 65805, and were manufactured on or after May 2006. Owners of this malfunctioning device can call Hasbro Customer Service at (800) 601-8418, and get a "retro-fit" kit that will make the toy a little more friendly and a lot less dangerous.

Strollerderby : cpsc

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Your Mother-in-Law Really Is Bad For Your Health

Handmade; Organic; European Toy Producers at Risk

They Say – Most Toys Are Toxic

Teen Has Cancer and Lives in a Car

Handmade; Organic; European Toy Producers at Risk

Things Fall Apart: Two Infant Deaths Prompt Crib Recall

Things Fall Apart: Simplicity Bassinets Recall Still Expanding, Awkwardly

Things Fall Apart: Time to Upgrade Baby's Toy Cell Phone

Beware of Dangerous Slings

Things Fall Apart: The Longest List Yet

Crib Bumpers: Just Say No

CPSC Says Home Lead Tests May Not Be Accurate for Toys

Things Fall Apart: Killer Jacket Edition

Heely's says, "Nuh-Uh, We Are Too Safe."

Rules For Playground Safety Every Kid Should Know

Things Fall Apart: Life is Good (until you strangle) Sweatshirts

Things Fall Apart: Disney Princess Easter Baskets

Things Fall Apart: Four Million Children's Bracelets Recalled

New Recalls: Children's Rings and Jewelry

Lead Lunch Boxes Safe Again? Only for Brunch

Hasbro Recalls Easy-Bake Ovens