Secondhand kids’ clothes could become harder to find
January 4th, 2009 | by mbhunter |I found an interesting article via The Simple Dollar: this piece from the Los Angeles Times regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.
The really short version of the main point of this post: Sellers of clothing for children aged 12 and under will have to submit these articles for testing for lead and phthalates (plasticizers often used to soften PVC) beginning February 10th of this year.
These tests are expensive, and businesses that sell clothing, particularly secondhand clothing, will likely be burdened with having their items blessed with this new stamp of approval. Which means, likely, they won’t burden themselves with it, and instead will either discard these articles, or just close up shop.
I won’t attempt to comment on why this law came about, because that’s not the real point. If this lead-phthalate thing never crossed your mind before, then you’re not alone (it didn’t cross my mind either) and I’m not really that concerned about the danger of picking up a pair of tainted socks that my child is going to outgrow in about six months anyway. If it were a real concern, it’s a wonder how we survived at all.
You may or may not share my (lack of) concern, but either way there’s still time to educate yourself about the potential for lead and phthalates in kids’ clothes that could be purchased at your local thrift store or consignment shop, and evaluate the risk to yourself and your family should you purchase them. If, and only if, you decide that you can accept the risk, then it might not be a bad idea to stock up. (The boldface is a reminder that you alone are responsible for what your kids wear.)
Entire kids’ clothing sections could be vanishing soon as a consequence of this law, and the kids clothing that remains will likely cost more.
10 Responses to “Secondhand kids’ clothes could become harder to find”
By stocks on Jan 4, 2009 | Reply
We have a bunch of baby clothes that we have been donating, almost done, now I feel bad for donating them before Feb, cause it seems like we are dumping them to avoid paying for the testing.. sigh
By thomas on Jan 4, 2009 | Reply
stocks – don’t feel bad for donating clothing. feel bad that we have a backwards government that is more concerned about protecting our children from tshirts rather than the huge deficit and uncontrolled spending they are placing upon them.
I smell a class action lawsuit coming around this topic. Won’t that get the gears of society moving…
By CPSIA Legal Challenge on Jan 5, 2009 | Reply
I am preparing a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the new law as it applies to second hand shops and resale stores. I can be contacted at 508-946-1165.
By CouponKing on Jan 7, 2009 | Reply
I had read something this recently.
Also, the drycleaning business is up. No joke.
By dawn f on Jan 8, 2009 | Reply
I saw on msn money this article that the feds were saying thrift stores & resale would be exempt
http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2009/01/08/feds-thrift-stores-don-t-have-to-test-kids-products.aspx
By Aravinda on Jan 8, 2009 | Reply
Remember the wise words of Thoreau: “Beware of any enterprise that requires new clothes.” Second-hand clothing is eco-friendly, labor friendly, kid-friendly, and a great tradition. With fewer kids per family, we require thrift stores, etc to give and receive hand-me-downs. Furthermore, these are the stores keeping main street alive where I live. We must protect and defend our second-hand stores!!!
By AP on Jan 8, 2009 | Reply
Thomas – excellent point. Pushing ppl to buy new clothes every year (or every season) and then have no easy way to pass them along is going to add to the economic and environmental disaster our children will be facing.
Question … I am not sure how lead / PVC gets onto clothes AFTER you have bought them (presumably lead-free when new?!?!) but if it did would it not wash out? I always wash clothes before donating them AND after buying them second hand.
By diane on Jan 10, 2009 | Reply
It appears that this legislation is very untimely given our current recession. Or is it a convenient stimulus package for our economy being that forcing people with children under 12 to shop for new clothes would certainly give retail a boost. Keeping in mind that these children require more clothing changes due to growth, and soiling, I’m sure someone sees a golden opportunity to recapture some money. Wouldn’t it make more sense to educate the Mothers about the hazards and let them (us) decide!
By Rachel Everline on Jan 27, 2009 | Reply
What I think makes no sense is what about all the clothes that has been sold over the years I have 3 young children under the age of 5 and all their clothes come from yard sales or second hand stores because retail prices are outragouse and I think think is all a gimmick to have us spend money at the the store and they don’t care that some of us have to pinch our money because they can’t fix our economy but they have the nerve to have us suffer with money we all don’t have. I think this is all a joke and it isn’t right as a mother and all mothers out there will agree
By Baby Clothes on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
I never tried about secondhand baby clothes. Its available – i want to see in which condition its available too. Thanks for sharing nice information.