How Do I Get “Baby Bargains for Clothes, Furniture, Toys and More?

Is anyone familiar with H.R. 4040, the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)? You can find the complete document here: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf. It’s a 62-page government legal-ease document so it is very difficult to read. From a general search on the Internet I am finding lots of discussion. It was signed into law back in Aug 2008 to protect children by requiring all goods for children under 12 to be tested for lead. In theory, this is very good. However, according to what I have read so far, no distinction is made between larger manufacturers and individual resellers. This means no more yard sales, ebay, craigslist, etc. without first having your used baby clothes and toys tested for lead. According to http://www.boutiquecafe.com/home/tag/cpsia/, she contacted one of the 14 labs in the US and they charge $75 per garment component, which meant a single shirt she wanted to give away would cost her $625… Plus $50-$100 per component for fireproof testing to add another $400-$800 for a grand total $1025-$1425 to test each cotton panel and button that makes up the Little Red Riding Hood shirt. Crafts at fairs, schools, and churches will have to be tested. Clothing from yard sales, online, church winter coat drives, the Salvation Army, Good Will – everything will need to be tested before being given away or resold if it is for a child under 12.

Think about all the small businesses in this area around the country. This will shut them down. How many more millions of dollars will be taken out of the already ailing economy. How many bargain hunters will be forced to pay retail and possibly even high retail to cover the cost of the testing? I found a list of options at http://www.boutiquecafe.com/home/tag/cpsia/ of actions we can take to get this law amended.

What can you do?
1) Email or call the CPSIA – the office of the CPSC ombudsman 888-531-9070.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx
Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.
mailto:Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov.

2) Email or snail mail your representatives.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476

3) Call your representatives. For their contact information just enter your zip code.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

4) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue. The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

5) Sign the petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

6) Spread the word! Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

7) Join others in fighting this cause.
Facebook group
Twitter search
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/notes/Notes_Home%3Cbr%20/%3E

Join the etsy community in the virtual chat with CPSIA Small Business Ombudsmen or send a handmade children’s item that will become “hazardous goods” as of 2/9/09 to Bobby Rush, founder of H.R. 4040.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/
Etsy Thread

9) Read more about this legislation and its ramifications:
Fashion Incubator

Handmade Toy Alliance

National Bankruptcy Day

YouTube video

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

5 Minutes for Mom

Cool Mom Picks

The Smart Mama

blogher

Apparel and Footwear.org

Toy Association.org

Cafe Mom

Safety and Compliance

Zrecommends

SleepingBaby.net

Freshly Baked Blog

If you want to be notified when our Ultimate Guide to the Best Baby Bargains is available please send an email to josh@mommydaddysavers.com

Tags: Baby Bargains, CPSIA
Posted in Philisophical Ramblings, Safety | | No Comments »

There is an enormous discussion that has erupted in the days since Sarah Palin was named the Republican VP running mate of John McCain. I’ve read articles and blogs cheering on her decision to breastfeed her new baby while on the campaign trail.  If true, that is one of the best Baby Bargains and most beneficial to the baby we can all hope for. I’ve seen people questioning her decision to run for higher office when she has a special needs baby that needs extra care from her.

What do you think? If a woman is financially able – should she automatically be a stay-at-home mom? Is that the way things “should” be? Or is that an out-dated archaic way of looking at females? Does having a special needs baby change this in any way?

Shauna and I have discussed this many times over the 11 years we’ve been together. When we were dating she often said she did not want to be a “Susy-Homemaker”. She was getting her college degree and she was going to use it. I always questioned that if we were financially able – why wouldn’t she want to do so? What job could possibly be more important than that of raising children?  Fast forward 11 years and 1 child (weeks away from 2), and Shauna would LOVE to stay home with our boys. Maybe one day soon we will be in a position to do that, but it’s amazing to me how much perspective changes depending on where you are right now in your life.

Back to our original question – SHOULD a mother stay home if she can? I would have to say, after seeing the special bond between mother and child, that staying home would be the ultimate calling of a mother. But that does not automatically mean that those who choose to have a career are any less of a mother. If that were true then all the working moms who HAVE to work are somehow less of a mother. I can attest that my wife, even while working, is the BEST MOTHER to our son.

Click below to share your comments. Thanks for reading.

If you want to be notified when our Guide to the Best Baby Bargains is available please send an email to josh@mommydaddysavers.com.

Tags: Baby Bargains, Palin Children, Stay-at-home moms
Posted in Philisophical Ramblings | | No Comments »