Anyone else frustrated?

[heartlanddreams]

Thank you Kathleen! I am referencing your post and Jennifer's blog everywhere I go that wahm's congregate.

Do you happen to know if an Oko-Tex certificate (I have seen that word spelled so many different ways I have no idea if I have it right or not), would be sufficient to produce a general conformity certificate?

I do not know the specifics of what Oko-Tex certifies, so not sure if it is below the 600ppm lead limit or not. And also don't know if it addresses phthalates at all.

Thank you for all the wonderful information here!

Tina

[Frani]

I was confused yesterday reading the post and you guys going after dd for making the same statement Kathleen made in her post today. I had put my hope on xrf and I am glad to see I am not completely lost. Xrf is reasonable and if some of us get together in our tiny businesses to test, it should be the most cost effective way to show our products are lead free. It will buy us some time and I am glad dd brought it up. Maybe we should apologize to dd. Thanks Jennifer for clarifying in a very articulate easy to follow manner. javascript:emoticon('')

[Vesta]

Is dd around? If so, please PM me.

[Miracle]

[Vesta]

Jeez, did I mention I was up half the night? Sorry.

dd, please *email* me. Thanks.

[Kathleen F.]

I don't think they can email either. I'd have to log out to know for sure and I can't right now. dd can click through to your site tho and see your profile.

[Guest]

[Jennifer Taggart]

Sorry if I already said this - I've been up 2 nights in a row with a daughter with croup & had to turn in final manuscript for book to publisher (at 3:30 a.m. 12/10). And don't shoot me if this isn't allowed. I don't know what others charge - I charge by mail $5 per test item for the XRF analyzer, or $100 per hour in person. I'm happy to talk with anybody about a quote. I have a Niton XRF.

Jennifer
www.thesmartmama.com

[Kathleen F.]

Allowed and thanks very much. With that fee schedule, you're obviously not in it for the money.

[Guest]

Thank you for that Jennifer. I've had a couple people ask me for your contact info. I'm working on contigency plans and think I've come up with something that will work at least until Aug, and may be using your services.

I think I've read somewhere (maybe 2 somewheres) that thread is not considered an issue in the testing requirements (so if you change thread lots it doesn't require new testing). Does anyone know if this is true? What about if thread color changes?

[Shelagh]

Thanks for the offer, Jennifer. I may be in touch.

I personally know seven small manufacturers (all with under 10 employees) who have decided to throw in the towel or eliminate children's products from their lines entirely. The market is so fragile economically that many aren't able to justify any incremental spending, particularly when there is an air of uncertainty regarding what is/is not acceptable and what the future holds.

I've already started taking baby products off of my website, and will close for winter break to asses how I'll react. Perhaps doing time in law school makes me more a bit more paranoid about compliance than some, but I'm not willing to put myself or my family at risk.

None of the specialty boutiques who carry my products were aware of this. I have alerted them to the law, sent them links to Kathleen's posts...but the lack of awareness or media attention is surprising.

The irony is that most smaller domestic manufacturers cater to consumers and retailers seeking an alternative to imports made in sweatshops ~ yet our government is putting many of us out of business with this law.

[Kathleen F.]

[heartlanddreams]

Ok. Thanks Kathleen. Also, I am not looking for ways around the law, but simply a way I can stay in business past Feb, hoping something changes before Aug. If it doesn't, I'd be done then anyway.

Tina
(that guest about the thread was from me, I forgot to put in my username)

[Guest]

Oh, I have a question.
Flammability.
Do all childrens products (made of fabric) need to be flame retardant too? I thought that was only for sleepwear....

[Kathleen F.]