How do we know what is safe for our children?

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?

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