Check Those Baby Clothes For Lead....What?

I heard about this on another discussion here and my opinion hasn't changed! It is downright stupid. It is going to hurt so many people, us included. I have 10 grandchildren that I normally when going to sales and such will look for to help out. We also have our 2 year old granddaughter that we have guardianship of. We are in no mean a well off to do family and actually count on thrift stores. Another thing is aren't clothing still made the same, same machines etc., If so wont lead still be in the clothing? Or did they come up with a new way of producing clothing? Or hey better yet, make rules and regulations for the companies and let the government test to see if they are following the laws and if not FINE their A$$es. I think that we are having it hard enough without having to worry about not being able to cloth our kids!

This has been a topic of conversation on many of the message boards I go to, especially FSOT boards where kids clothing is a big seller. From what I hear it will also extend over to adult clothing, supposedly because many kids wear adult's clothing. I find it all ridiculous. Toys and games I can understand, but not clothing.

I have not heard of this. Seems rather silly to me.

I never heard of this so I did some googling and it looks like it is going to be a nationwide law. I read on one news site it can cost up to 50,000 dollars to test one line (not item) of clothing. This is definitely put small businesses like children's boutiques out of business. What are we supposed to do with old toys and clothes that our kids outgrow? I usually have a yard sale or give to charity but now the charity will not be able to take the clothes or toys.

I've heard of it, and its a disgrace. While I understand being worried about children, the places that will be hit the hardest are the poorer parts. From what I understand about the law, its Federal, and applies to all sellers of things sold to anyone 12 and under. Including new. Its clothes, toys, footware, bedding etc. Everything has to be checked for lead prior to sale. The costs for lead testing runs several thousand dollars, so many of the small second-hand shops are not going to be able to afford those tests. And believe it or not, lead does get into children's clothing. It comes in on buttons, designs, and there have been traces found on the cloth itself. Another reason to bring our manufacturing back to America where we have *cough* rules on how to handle things. Cheap labor isn't so cheap now, is it?

When I read this all I think about is how the economey is a wreck and companies what a bail out. I know this is different from that, but I still see it coming down to the all mighty dollar. When I see this all I can think about is how many second hand stores, consignment stores and even goodwill stores that people shop at because streatching that dollar is hard. With this coming down, it would nearly kill some of these small, privately owned business mind you, that create jobs for local people. So these companies create these stipulations and then marekt it to people because it's not "safe" for children. What's a parent who isn't protecting their child, right? So this is the way for corporate American to continue to keep the middle and lower class people in slavery to their whims.

No I have not heard about this I hope it is not true as not everyone can afford Brand New

I haven't heard of it but I don't know how people are going to do all that, I think people will just stop donating if it becomes too much of a bother for them.

[i]Hi Rosekitty, this is very informative and alarming! hmm..I am behind and have no clue about this problem! I also heard about toys before but for clothes, I don't have really an idea! [/i]

Personally, I think it's ridiculous for the government to require individualized testing of items. A better way to address this "problem" would be to create a database of all products and test every product possible and list it in a database for resellers to check their inventory against, and if it's a hazard, discard it. If not, keep it. This new law is going to put a lot of businesses under.

Hi Rosekitty, This is the first I have heard of this and it will affect many low income families. I have always relied on hand me downs that from new born are like new and also pass all my stuff onto others too. Makes you wonder these days is anything safe. I survived lead paint on the side of my playpen and cot but we live in a sue sue sue society with so many rules and regs now sometimes I wonder if we really do have freedom. Yes safety is important but in some cases it is way over the top. Huggles. Ellie :D

I have heard that there a quite a few businesses that will close because of this law, small establishments that can't afford the testing. I think we should protect our children but surely there are methods that won't destroy businesses?

It's ridiculous - and a real shame. Even brand new clothes can be full of chemicals. In fact, older hand-me-downs have a far better chance of being safe for children. It's just another way of policing us and telling us what we can and can't do. Pathetic.

omg how could you test those things if your just a person doing a yard sale or something? i wouldnt even know how to go about it!! im glad i read this so i wont do any baby stuff on ebay anymore!!

omg, how do you check for lead? darn, now im worried. i just bought my new baby granddaughter a bunch of cute things for xmas.where will it ever end? why dont we have any more american made things. this sucks. government is doing nothing to get our own manufacturers back.

I don't think I've heard of this. Yes I've heard of lead being in toys and baby accessories but clothes? Does anyone else find it scary that our things are seemingly poisoned? I'm not saying it's on purpose but it's just plain scary. It just seems like nothings safe anymore.