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 »

If you buy at thrift stores, here are some tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to help you make safer purchases:

Cribs

— Make sure cribs meet national safety standards and are in good condition. Check that crib slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Crib mattresses should fit snugly.

If crib slats are too far apart, infants can slip between them and strangle. If the mattress doesn’t fit snugly, infants can become entrapped and suffocate.

Clothing drawstrings

— Be sure there are no drawstrings around the hood and neck of children’s upper outerwear clothing, such as sweatshirts. Other types of clothing fasteners, such as snaps, zippers, or hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro), should be used. Drawstrings at the waist should not extend more than 3 inches.

Drawstrings can catch on playground and other equipment and can strangle young children.

Playpens and play yards

— Check that playpens and play yards have not been recalled. Recalled products include play yards with protruding hardware or rotating top rails that don?t properly lock into place.

Children can strangle if pacifier strings or clothing become entangled on protruding hardware. Children can be entrapped by folding play yards that collapse.

Car seat carriers

— Check to make sure the infant car seat carrier you are buying has not been recalled at www.recalls.gov. Car seat carrier handle locks on recalled models can unexpectedly release when used as a carrier outside of a car.

Infants can fall forward and strike the ground if the handle disengages.

Accordion-style safety gates

— Do not buy older accordion-style child safety gates. Make sure that newer-style child safety gates are used to keep children away from potentially dangerous areas, especially stairs.

Older child safety gates that do not meet current safety standards can present strangulation and other hazards to young children.

For information about hazardous products, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (800) 638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov

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, safety for used items, thrift store
Posted in Safety | | No Comments »