Heads Up On Children's Products!

I'm really not sure what to think about all this. According to this article in the LA Times a new regulation "will take effect Feb. 10 under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which was passed by Congress last year in response to widespread recalls of products that posed a threat to children, including toys made with lead or lead-based paint".

Everything sold for children 12 and younger will have to be tested for lead and phthalates, and anything that isn’t tested [or that fails] will be considered hazardous and can't be sold.

This could have huge ramifications on re-sell stores and thrift shops because testing for these things can be extremely costly. In fact, many thrift shops across the nation have stopped taking donations on children's items from what I hear.

In the LA Times article, Shauna Sloan, founder of the Kid to Kid franchise [which I have shopped at numerous times] states, "We will have to lock our doors and file for bankruptcy."

This is just sad. On the one hand I can see the benefits for improved products, but on the other hand I believe it will make toys and clothing much more expensive and if it does end up eliminating the re-sell market, it will hurt a lot of people who rely on it to remain frugal.

If this concerns you too, then Trent at The Simple Dollar has some good suggestions about contacting your Representatives and start hitting the shops to stock up while you still can.