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

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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We’ve been getting some great feedback from our testers of the Twilli Pie Podegi!! So I decided to post some action shots for you guys to see! And THANK YOU to everyone who has sent me action shots of you & your baby with your pod!

Please LEAVE A COMMENT and let us know what you think about the Twilli Pie Podegi!

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!

“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!

I recently gave birth to a new blog called “Design Sexiness“. This is the blog where I get to wax poetic about any form of what I refer to as design sexiness. It is several steps above clean, functional design. It has to be really special to warrant the “sexiness” label.

It will be about architecture, interior/decor, industrial design, furniture, art, graphic design, web design, user interface design, etc.

In my research, I have come across many things that could fit in this site as well. I thought it would be cool to do a regular feature, of applicable objects, here at 21stCenturyParenting.com. Sunday seems like a good day for this feature. Please leave a comment to let us know how often you would like to see these features!

So today, I give you the Candela Tooli lights – at Genius Jones Miami. Genius Jones is an AMAZING store for kids and babies. they carry beautiful, modern design. I visited the store when they were on Lincoln Road, in South Beach. The store owner was very friendly and down to earth. Now they have a location in the Miami Design District too! I need to make contact with them again, now that I have a Twilli.

Now I have to admit that I do not own this product. (I would be happy to do a more comprehensive review/shameless plug, if someone wants to send 1 or 2 of these guys my way!) So I can only guess how cool it would be to have these cordless, thus portable, lights for midnight diaper or potty duty! Plus they are rechargeable!

And I find the forms to be very friendly. I guess there will be SOME kid out there that screams in fear when he sees it. But I think Twilli would giggle when she saw it! Seems like this could be a good thing to “keep monsters away”. And it seems a lot safer than the traditional night light, with a glass bulb.

Some further research illuminates the fact that these come in a set of 2 lights – with one base, use LED lightbulbs, and automatically light up when removed from base, or if the power goes out. (That’s perfect! I can justify it as hurricane supplies!) Oh, and they claim to have a battery life of 8 hours.

Do any of you have these? Please leave a comment to tell us what you think. Are they worth it?