Archive for the ‘Safety First’ Category

Update: This post was included here to help parents gain awareness of potential drawstring hazards in children’s clothing. It has been edited to remove speculations as to why the hazards exist and to focus on ways that you can identify and fix clothing products that may be unsafe.

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In 1996, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued guidelines recommending that parents or caregivers completely remove the hood and neck drawstrings from all children’s upper outerwear up to size 12, and that manufacturers follow voluntary guidelines to eliminate drawstrings or ensure that products meet certain safety requirements. Similar guidelines have been implemented by the ASTM standards organization and cover girls’ and boys’ clothing, such as jackets and sweatshirts, generally intended to be worn on the exterior of other clothing.

The safety concern is that drawstrings – even fake, non-functional drawstrings – pose strangulation, entrapment, and entanglement hazards that could seriously harm a child or lead to accidental death.

While these guidelines exist, there are still occasional risks. To find out what products have been recalled recently due to drawstring risks, go to: http://search.cpsc.gov/query.html and type in “drawstring + recall” into the search field.

If you find that one of your kid’s upper outer garments does come with loose drawstrings, the CPSC recommends that you remove the drawstrings in order to eliminate the hazard. Many manufacturers will also offer refunds on affected products.

For more information, see:

• * CPSC Handbook for Resale Stores and Product Resellers
• CSPC Drawstring Standard: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/208.pdf

It’s back to school time and clothing and shoes aren’t the only things you need to make sure fit your child well and last through the school year. Backpack fit and durability are just as important.

Where a backpack sits on a child’s back, how straps are adjusted, and how much a pack weighs can each have an impact on your child’s back, causing unnecessary pain or strain.

Tips for Buying Packs that Fit

Here are 4 tips from Consumer Reports to help you buy a school pack that fits:

1. One size does not fit all: Ideally, the bottom of the backpack should align with the curve of the lower back, and not more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack’s shoulder-strap anchor points should also rest 1 to 2 inches below the top of the shoulders.

2. Inspect before you invest: Things to look for on the inside and outside of a backpack before you buy it include.

• Sloppy stitching or loose threads, which can indicate poor manufacturing
• Raw, exposed fabric edges, which can fray and weaken the fabric, and possibly get stuck in the zipper
• Zippers without covering fabric flaps. In our rain test, zippers that were not protected by flaps of fabric allowed water to seep in.

3. Comfort, convenience, and safety are important: Features to look for include wide, padded, contoured shoulder straps that distribute the pack’s load over a large area of the shoulder, an abdominal strap, which can help distribute the pack’s weight evenly on the back, waist, and hips, and reflectors or reflective fabrics on the pack to add visibility when kids travel to and from school at dusk or dawn.

4. Prevent injury with a lighter load: To prevent discomfort and injury, load and wear the backpack correctly. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) recommends carrying no more than 15 percent of your body weight in a backpack. Visit the AOTA for more information on how to load a backpack and adjust the straps properly.

image credit: aota.org

The best way to make sure a pack will fit is to have your child try it on in the store. Adjust the straps, see where the bottom of the pack falls relative to her or his waistline, and inspect the pack’s quality. You might also want to think about the weight of your child’s school books and supplies. If the backpack is too heavy for them, consider using a book bag on wheels.

Sources:

Backpacks shopping and fitting guide, Consumer Reports, July 2009
Backpack Awareness for Students, AOTA

I drove down to Huntington, Utah this weekend to participate in a triathlon and then do some camping with my family. I had visions of warm sun and red desert landscapes. There was some of that – briefly – but, wouldn’t you know it, it rained. Not just a sprinkling, but buckets.

Before the torrents came, though, I had a chance to see the latest in children’s summer sports wear – from shorts and swimsuits, to life jackets and wetsuits – on the energetic boys and girls that swam, biked, and ran in the kids’ race. The most common accessory: sun screen!

Now that summer is here (for everyone, but those of us in Utah, it seems) and you’re out enjoying the weather, keep the sun in mind as you dress your child.

Sun protection essentials

• A sun hat with a wide brim and/or neck flap that covers ears and neck.
• Lightweight long-sleeved shirts, pants , and rompers. Many companies now make UV protective children’s clothing made from breathable, light-weight fabric that covers skin fully without causing overheating.
• UV protective swimwear is readily available with SPF protection. If you are planning a day at the beach, consider a a full-coverage sun or rash guard suit that is designed with longer arms and legs.
• Sunglasses and swim goggles can help protect your child’s eyes from damaging UV rays. Look for lenses with a UV rating
• Feet are often forgotten. Make sure to cover your child’s feet with aqua shoes or swim socks.

Resources

Here’s a list of companies that sell UPF and SPF protective kids clothing and swimwear.

Alex & Me Company

Coolibar

Sand Pail Kids!

Solartex

Sun Grubbies

Sun Precautions

Later this year, you will begin to see an additional label on your children’s clothing. Beginning August 14, 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) will require manufacturers of children’s products – from clothing to toys to bedding – to attach a label to these products that lets you track their origin.

What the Label Tells You

Tracking labels will be required for products if they are primarily intended for children 12 years of age or younger. The tracking label will allow you to see:

• The manufacturer or private labeler
• Location of production
• Date of production
• Cohort information
• The batch or run number

Most of this information will be more interesting than useful to you unless, somehow, an unsafe product slips through the testing cracks and your child is harmed. In this case, the labels would help in tracing the origin of a product, notifying other consumers that there is a problem with a certain batch of clothing, and – hopefully – correcting the problem at its source.

CPSIA Background

The CPSIA is a law created to establish consumer product safety standards and other safety requirements for products used by children under the age of 12. Many aspects of the law have been controversial with designers and manufacturers, particularly small business, because of concerns and costs related to putting the laws into practice.

Despite the numerous challenges involved in implementing the law, it is well-intentioned. At its most basic level, the law aims to protect children from toxic chemicals – such as lead and phthalates – and physical harm from toys, bedding, and clothing that were not produced with safety in mind. In other words, the law:

• Bans products containing lead and regulates use of phthalates in certain products
• Sets rigid safety standards for toy and nursery product design
• Requires third-party testing of products to confirm that they are safe
• Requires labeling of children’s products regarding origin or safety hazards

Section 103

Section 103 of the CPSIA deals specifically with tracking labels for children’s products.

It requires that the tracking label provide, “to the extent practicable,” marks that will enable consumers to see the manufacturer or private labeler, the location and date of production of the product and cohort information.

As a designer, Section 103 means that you have some things to consider this summer. You might want to check out Kate Fasinella’s recent post on the Fashion Incubator blog – CPSIA: Printable labels for August requirement – which provides information on how designers can affordably print labels to comply with the new law.

As a consumer, Section 103 gives you more information about the clothing you buy for your children. At the very least, having their name on a product gives manufacturers a reason to ensure that their products are safe.

The Pros and Cons of Subscribing

I’ve always been fascinated by subscription rental services – whether its DVDs, purses, or whatever. Like libraries, they fit with my idea of effective re-use and access to a variety of products that I plan to use for a limited amount of time. But, there are a number of reasons I haven’t actually tried one of these services – mainly because it’s sometimes easier to get them from stores in my community when I actually need them.

But, despite my bias, a lot of other people do find these services to be valuable. And a lot of these people also have children that grow out of things quickly. So, a handful of companies have recently cropped up to create subscription-based children’s clothing and toy rental services.

I first heard about the idea of clothing rental a couple of years ago, when I learned of the German company Lutte Leihen. They charge $40 or so per month to join, and parents receive as-needed shipments of 100% organic cotton clothing. Parents return clothes when their child outgrows them and then receives a shipment in the size they’ve requested.

In the U.S., there are similar organizations. New to the scene is the Wow Clothing Club, which specializes in little girls clothing from designer brands. Their subscriptions (or memberships) start at $47.99 a month – which includes return shipping – and range to $75.99 per month depending on the number of outfits you’d like to borrow each month.

Baby Plays has a similar program, but their focus is on toys for children aged 0-5 years. Different programs have different prices by quantity. Their toy selection appears to include a number of educational toys, wooden toys, and other high-quality items that are categorized by age. All toys are sanitized before being shipped to customers.

In general, the decision of whether to use one of these services boils down to how much you benefit from the “pros” and if the “cons” are acceptable.

Has anyone tried this? What has been your experience?