Got Quads?

A new law set to take effect in February has me scratching my head and looking helplessly at my wallet. New regulations under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act could very well mean the end of thrift store/re-sale shopping as we know it. In an effort to keep products with lead away from children the regulation  mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger — including clothing — be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven’t been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead. (Click here to read one of the dozens of articles I found about this on the web ).

I’m all for safety, but I’m a little concerned about what this means for me as a parent… and not just a parent of multiples. These regulations could shut down re-sale shops, meaning, at a time when the economy has us all pinching pennies, we’re going to be shelling out more money to clothe our kids. I rely on second hand stores for a lot of things, especially school clothes and shoes for my daughters. Kids grow out of shoes fast . I can typically find shoes in good condition for my daughters for just a few bucks (ok, it’s usually my stepmom who finds these bargains, but the concept is the same). Yes, my daughters have new clothes, too, but most of the clothing they wear to school is second hand. I would rather have them spill paint on a $2 shirt than a $20 shirt, not that I typically spend $20 on a shirt for them. 

According to one article I read, high levels of lead were found on clothing tested at various resale shops, so I understand the potential need for the regulations. I just hope something can be done so we can still have second hand shopping in some form.

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