Ok, this CSPIA stuff is scary! But there is some light at the end of this crazy tunnel. I’m posting something I wrote on TBW so more people (that means YOU) can act.

If you are not on TBW, you can check out what the mama sent, which explains the CSPC’s request for comments, as well as their protocol for receiving these comments, here. (Please note, this is an Acrobat PDF file.)

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YOU CAN HELP!!!! Please make your voice heard. I found this info from this TBW thread: http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3287907. One of the mamas that works for another governmental agency clarified the fact that CSPC MUST read every comment that they receive!

But the deadline for comments about COMPONENT TESTING, which will basically make or break EVERYTHING for many of our beloved BW vendors is TOMORROW!

PLEASE send an email or fax TODAY!!!

Here is a copy of what I sent, for your reference. (Feel free to use any/all of the language. I wanted to write something from a personal, rather than form-letter, perspective.)

Thanks in advance!
renee

To: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov
Subject: Section 102 Mandatory Third- Party Testing of Component Parts

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Sirs and Madams,

I am one of MANY WAHMs (work at home mom) who will essentially be put OUT OF BUSINESS, and thus OUT OF INCOME FOR MY FAMILY unless this legislation is amended to make the testing/compliance standards accessible for micro-businesses.

In many cases, these children’s products are either one-of-a-kind, or in such a small LOT, that individual testing of each FINISHED PRODUCT would be either cost prohibitive or utterly impossible.

If manufacturers are allowed to present third-party certification of compliance of COMPONENTS, it will be much more feasible for these small businesses, that make up the fabric of our culture, to continue to thrive AND insure they are producing SAFE PRODUCTS!

This legislation is intended for the SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN. But parents who suddenly LOSE ALL INCOME because they cannot adhere to the requirements of the law are putting their families (not ONLY the children) in EXTREME PERIL! Please act swiftly and ALLOW COMPONENT (as opposed to strictly finished product) TESTING!

Regards,
renee holiday

Today is the official CSPIA BLOG-IN. As someone with a fledgling handmade baby carrier business, I am exponentially more concerned than I would be ordinarily. 8-/ I have signed a few petitions and send emails to my representatives. But I feel like there should be MORE to do… Therefore, I share this with you.

ETSY – Craftivism: CSPIA Action Kit

National Bankruptcy Day – (be prepared to get depressed at this site!)

Fashion-Incubator: the leader posts some EXCELLENT info. most encouraging IMHO is a link to a letter written by 2 TN Congress Members requesting that FABRIC & YARN BE EXEMPTED.

(Please note: I am not the author of the text below. But it is a great starting point to find out WAY MORE than you probably WANTED to know.)

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As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They’re banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we’ve seen in decades. I’d like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren’t originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children’s books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there’s always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it’s passed testing. It won’t even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can’t sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can’t even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children’s items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you’ll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you’d better start buying now because it’s all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren’t certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

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…an entire BABYWEARING STASH!!! Visit Along For The Ride, at the link below. You get only one entry. But you can get a second one if you post a link on your blog/website. Good luck! (Of course, I’m crossing my fingers that *I* win! But you guys at least deserve a chance! hehehe)

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

Anyone who started reading the blog at the wee beginning knows that we practice EC: Elimination Communication or IPT: Infant Potty Training, at least on a part-time basis. So I wanted to do a quick update.

We had what I guess to be about 50-60% “success” rate of catching potties. And we were only having to change a dirty diaper about every 2-3 days, since Twilli does most of her poops in the toilet, first thing in the a.m.

While we were out of town, we really relied mostly on the diaper. But I still took Twilli to the potty in the morning to do her daily “business”. Since the schedule was wacky, she wasn’t as regular as usual. So we were having at least one dirty diaper about 5 out of 7 days.

Since we’ve been home, I’m proud to say that Twilli is doing really well with it again! I think we’ve only had 1 or 2 dirty diapers in the 6 days we’ve been back!

We’re also happy to be starting the transition to cloth diapers! We picked up a small, 1 day supply of 6 unbleached Indian cotton prefolds and 3 covers. I decided to scrounge up enough funds to do that in order to support a lovely mama of triplets, who decided to amp her efforts from an online store to a p/t brick & mortar store.

Cutie Tooties - CLOTH DIAPERS and more

Sunny was SOOOO helpful about making it possible for us to get the BARE BONES minimum “starter” set. Her store is lovely! I wish her the best of luck and hope all of the natural parents in Knoxville support her!

Those prefolds are SOOOOOO soft!!! And I truly believe that wearing the cloth diapers is going to accelerate the EC, since Twilli definitely feels the effect of the wet diaper and definitely TELLS US about it! (She’s always been very laid back about the wet disposables. At least they do their job of pulling the moisture off baby’s bum.)

I somehow feel like we’ve taken an inside out approach to all of this! Everything I read recommended combining EC w/cloth diapering. But my Westernized “modern” ways sometimes hang on with a vengeance! lol

Please leave a comment and let us know if you have any experience with EC or CLOTH DIAPERS.

Baby Loves Disco is a new trend that I’ve heard a lot about lately. Basically it’s a chance for families to come hang out in a nightclub, with child-friendly environment, with cool music, snacks and even a chill-out room. (I’m flashing back to my days as a rave dj. I’m sure it won’t be quite THAT crazy… but hey, I haven’t been “out” in a LONG time!)

I’m glad that the Baby Loves Disco wave is sweeping over Fort Lauderdale! I’m surprised we don’t have to drive to Miami to catch something like this. (I know Twilli would LOVE some good Salsa dancing. But I’m not able to move that way! hehehe)

Also, a super cool chic from one of our local Meetup playgroups, is one of the sponsors. (Maybe we’ll bring home some cool SWAG!) Nicole is the head chef and chief bpa-free bottle washer for Rockin Mamaz – for Moms who ROCK the Cradle with the Flyest Gear and Coolest Clothes. Bringing you Hip and Funky Maternity and Infants to Big Kids Apparel. Unique toys, BPA- Free Glass Bottles, Sippy Cups and so much more. I immediately resonated with Nicole when we first met. I can’t wait to see what she’s put together for her shop!

Twilli LOVES music! And she loves to dance! Right now, it looks more like HEAD-BANGIN’ than anything else. Actually, that’s part of the humor! Twilli looks too sweet to be a head-banger! But she loves when Au-teen plays metal on guitar, too! I guess she inherited some of her daddy’s taste in music. Oh, and she looks great in black! lol

Hopefully, Elliott will shoot LOTS of photos of everyone shakin’ it to the Village People! lol And maybe we’ll post a video or two of head-bangin’ Twilli!

Photo: 1′Up

Hello everyone. Long time… I JUST NOW got DSL hooked up at my parents’ house in TN. Yea! So I should be posting with a bit more frequency now.

I returned from the Babywearing Conference in Chicago on Sunday. The conference was amazing! I learned so much and met SO MANY wonderful people! It is amazing to see so many like-minded people in one place. And it was very refreshing to be in an environment where I can wear and nurse my baby at any time, and still be part of the goings-on! Twilli responded REALLY well to everyone there too! She got to play with a lot of little babies and toddlers.

The TWILLI PIE PODEGIs were well received! I will be requesting testers soon, so please contact me if you are interested.

I met SOOOOO many influential people in the babywearing and attachment parenting realm! I probably don’t know the HALF of it! I plan to continue seeking wisdom from these people who have “walked the walk” and continue to share with us relative newbies!

It was awesome to traverse the city via public transit. (Gas was $4.47 – $4.89 per gallon there. Eeek!) And I did a LOT of walking! Babywearing makes a HUGE difference in that regard. And I was very pleasantly surprised at how much people helped me with my luggage on the train or in the train station/transfers! I guess I was quite a spectacle with a baby strapped to me, a backpack, a diaper bag/purse, and my suitcase pulled behind it all! lol

I will write more about the conference in the next few days. But I wanted to touch base and let everyone know that we are still alive and kickin’!

“Moms Rock” Diaper Bag – at Hip Mama Couture

First up on FRIDAY FUN FINDS we have a hip leather and canvas diaper bag with leather applique that says, “Moms Rock”.

This super cute find is designed exclusively for Hip Mama Couture by purse designer Sadiet Uganza. I didn’t see the bag in person when I visited the store lately, but I’ll have to check it out next time I head down there. Hip Mama Couture is a GREAT little shop! It is primarily a maternity boutique, but has something for every mama, pregnant or not.

Textile Balls Necklace

This funky necklace, by London based designer Veronica Martens, is made of silk threads formed into beads. Each of the pieces in the collection are more works of art than jewelry. And it is all eco-friendly because the designer uses recycled materials such as leather, wool, cotton, glass, paper, stones, buttons and seeds.

If you’re looking for a great, unique gift, look no further than Etsy.com. (Yes, I know it sounds like a paid endorsement. Believe me. It’s not. lol)

That’s all for this week. Please leave a comment about some cool Friday Fun Finds that you have discovered (or created). Maybe we’ll feature it next week!

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Check out the FORT LAUDERDALE/MIAMI CHANGING TABLES MAP here. This will have to be a community effort. So PLEASE COMMENT about your favorite places to hang out, in the Greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale area, and how they fare on the changing table scale. And I’ll add the places (and your link, if you like) to our new changing tables Google map.

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DH and I had an appointment at the chiropractor. So after the appointment we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at Boston Market. The food is wonderful! (I LOVE the turkey with gravy, plus creamed spinach and sweet potato casserole!) But much to our chagrin, they have NO CHANGING TABLE. (And the ladies room has no counter top large enough to improvise.)

How can a national chain restaurant that offers kid menus NOT accommodate those of us with babies, who decide to eat in? There are just some days when it’s not conducive to grab a meal TO GO!

Here’s a list of places, in Greater Fort Lauderdale, that I’ve visited recently without changing tables.

• Boston Market – Margate, FL
• CiCi’s Pizza – Margate, FL
• Arby’s – Davie, FL

Please send comments about your local places of business that need a wake-up call. We will compile a list and maybe start a petition. (This is, of course, if we get enough response.)