Tuesday, March 9, 2010

How do we know what is safe for our children?

infantino_sling This afternoon I read this article about a safety warning the government is working on regarding baby slings. They specifically discuss THE EXACT SLING that I used with my two girls. Apparently, there have been several incidents of infant suffocation in this sling.



The blood in my veins went ice cold. The very thought that I could have lost one of my babies because I used a product for convenience....I can't even go there.



Recalls. Warnings. Notices. Is there any such thing as a perfectly safe childen's product? How are we supposed to know what products are, or are not, safe for us to use with our children? When you walk into The Big Baby Box Store, should there not be some guarantee of safety? They are BABIES for crying out loud.



When I was a Product Manager in the juvenile products industry, part of my job was making sure that the products we distributed exceeded every relevant safety standard applicable. I learned that there are very few mandatory safety standards that apply to children's products. Seriously? The products that our children sleep in, play in, bathe in, and eat in aren't required to prove their safety. Doesn't that sound backward to you?



JPMACertifiedPromoLogo There are voluntary safety standards for twenty different categories of children's products. In my opinion, I would rather buy a product that I know was at least tested than one that was not. The Juvenile Product Manufacturer's Association certifies products that pass the voluntary safety standards, and their certification logo is printed on the box of the certified products. You can also view the complete list here.



Another way to stay informed is to sign up for recall notices on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's web site. Any time there is a recall (you can select which category of products you are interested in), you will receive an email with all the details. It takes 30 seconds to sign up, and 30 seconds to review the emails to see if anything applies to you.



As a Mom, the child safety issue is extremely important to me. I am going to start using this blog to write about the great, and the not so great products that I come across. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please don't hesitate to ask.



Erin

11 comments:

Erin Lane said...

Good for you chica!!!

Kmama said...

I think you just figured out your "niche" for your blog. I know I will appreciate reading what you have to say!!

Unknown said...

Oh my! Thank you for sharing! I will be sure to share this with my readers as well- With reference to you of course :)

Cheryl said...

Wow, this is really scary. I have bought so many baby gifts in the past five years, and I (naively) was of the opinion that if it wasn't safe, they wouldn't sell it. Thank you for helping to educate us!

Unknown said...

Um, honey? I couldn't agree more. It sickens me to think of recall this, recall that, mail in for a replacement piece...

I love that you are doing this, Erin--THANK YOU!!

xo

Judy@grammyreads.com said...

I was shocked and saddened to hear about the slings. I am even more shocked to hear of the lack of regulation.

Lesley said...

I don't think there will ever be anything 100% safe....I think we just have to be aware...and observant...and educated....

Happy SITS day!

Small Burst said...

You'll be a great resource for all moms. Thanks!

Confessions From A Work-At-Home Mom said...

Please please pleeeeeeease don't tell me that the sling pictured is the sling you're referring to with the safety concerns... because that's ALSO the one I used for G! She was in it all the time! Now I'm counting my blessings (again).

~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom

Anonymous said...

I too used a sling, although not this model. I'd use my sling again. While it's important to be vigilant, and, yes, I want be aware of any dangers of a product, I also know that everything has risk and it's up to me to be aware of my child at all times. Impossible? Yes...but, then, mothers are tasked with impossible jobs all the time. :-)

Margot said...

JPMA's goal is to get safe products in the hands of parents and caregivers, and we thank you for sharing this message about juvenile product safety!

- JPMA Public Relations