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Consumer Products Safety Commission: Children products

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) was created in 1972 and till now, it has taken charge of safeguarding consumers against the dangers of suffering injuries that results from the use of consumer products. In addition, Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was signed into the United States law to further strengthen the safety measures required in consumer products.

Most recently, through the law, the Commission has aimed to substantially reduce children’s exposure to lead. Lead poisoning may result in irreversible brain damage, kidney problems and may even be fatal. In the late 1970s, the problem was so serious, that there were millions of children in the United States with elevated blood lead levels that were deemed unhealthy!

The CPSC noticed the severity of the situation and have decided that any children product that consists more than 600 parts per million (ppm) of lead in any part of the product that is exposed to children would be deemed as hazardous. Which means that any children’s product from toys to baby nursery bedding which contains more than 600ppm would be dangerous for children under the CPSIA.

The CPSC has also defined that any individual younger than or at 12 years of age would be seen as children under the eyes of the law and all goods that were manufactured with the intention of selling mainly to the these group of children will have to comply to it.

This law also applies to all baby nursery bedding, nursery decoration, toys and children’s products that were manufactured before the date of the law that was implemented. Besides the CPSC has enforced that all goods that were manufactured after 90 days since the establishment of the rule to be tested by an accredited third party. This is to assure that the manufacturers comply to the safety regulations that the Commission has implemented.

Futhermore, the Commission has shown their determination in making all products non-toxic by planning to reduce the limits to 300ppm in August and further reduce it again in 2011 to a level which is seen reasonable according to the technology available by then. However, with the rapid advancement of technology, all toys and baby nursery bedding might contain only traces of lead and would be extremely safe for use in the near future.

Why many parents are outfitting their babies in organic clothing

These days it is easier than ever to find organic products. There are strict requirements in place in terms of the type of products that can be labeled organic. When a product is certified as organic you know that it is produced in a way that protects the earth and its inhabitants. Organic food is now available at just about every grocery store. This availability is the result of consumer demand.
 
 For many of us it is a matter of health. People who buy organic are often concerned with the health of the environment as well as the health of their family. When you buy organic products you help create a healthier world. There has been a slow learning curve in terms of the need for organic food and the hazards of many of the products used in the production of food. Thinking about organic in terms of clothing is a fairly new phenomenon. Cotton is the biggest crop out there when it comes to the production of clothing. Since cotton is not a crop that is consumed by people there is little to no regulation of the types of chemicals used in its production.
 
 Many of the chemicals used to produce a cotton crop leach into our water and impact other crops used for food. Many people do not even stop to think about the safety of famers and farm workers exposed to the various chemicals used to grow cotton. It has been estimated that a pound fertilizer used to create a cotton t-shirt and pair jeans. There are several other chemicals used when the cotton is being turning into cloth for clothes.
 
 Now think about the soft delicate skin of your baby. A baby’s skin is more porous than an adults and easily absorbs toxins. This means that baby’s will have a higher risk when placed in clothing made using hazardous chemicals. When dressing your children in organic clothing you will reduce their contact with numerous toxins. The cotton used to make baby organic clothing is farmed in a safe and sustainable way. This can improve the health of the earth and farm workers as well. By selecting baby organic clothes you are making a positive choice for your children and the earth.