No Recalls

This week's BCIA newsletter led with the wonderful news that they "are thrilled to announce that the recall crisis that threw us all together in 2010 has been averted."

So, Thank You babywearers! The combination of financial support for the BCIA and pressure placed on the CPSC by contacting your legislators and spreading the information to everyone you know worked. Over the past few weeks all 6 companies that were threatened by CPSC (re)investigation have received closure letters for their files. Unfortunatley, at least one of these companies was hit so hard by these events and the costs associated with them that they have closed their doors.

Although the loss of one babywearing business is a great one, this is definitely still a success story for babywearing as a whole.

Brace Yourself!

I'm copying this from The Babywearer and the original post can be seen here as well as on their FB page.

I'm sure you can imagine how upset I am. I don't really have much more to add as my thoughts just sound like this in my head: ARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! REALLY???? UUGUHHHHHHHHH!!!

And, if this isn't enough for you, I'll add a few interesting quotes from the comments and responses to the original posts.

From Krisi Hayes-Devlin (owner of Wrapsody by GypsyMama and a founding member of the BCIA) in response to some questions:

"It is unclear whether SSCs will be impacted. One concern the CPSC has is babies in contact with mother's bodies, so possibly."

Yup, you read that right. They're concerned about babies being in contact with mother's bodies! The safest place on earth for a baby to be and the want to regulate it away!

"Why isn't the BCIA releasing more details?

Answer: Most importantly, the company at issue has not wanted full details released publicly. We are working hard to stop or at least delay this recall. It is unjust and unwarranted and makes a farce of the recall process. If we can stop it, we do not want to have created public problems for the company in question. We are acting on the company's wishes as well as legal and PR advice from experts. "

And from TBW on their FB page: "TheBabywearer.com The real "proof" will unfortunately come with the verbiage of the impending recall. If we wait for that, it may be too late to do any good."


Brace Yourself!
Dear Babywearing Enthusiast:


It is time to BRACE YOURSELF!

A recall of a major baby carrier is being forced through this week. We want you to understand how this has been handled and to appreciate the immediacy of the problem!

•Company was informed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that, after several years, a closed investigation of their product was being reopened.
•Company was told by the CPSC to issue a recall of every product back more than ten years, and to discontinue sales, while admitting that there is no product flaw.
•Company stopped all sales, with the intention of clearing up the matter and reopening shortly.
•Company asked for the Health and Science report that the CPSC later claimed to have, indicating the need for a recall.
•CPSC has NEVER complied; inside word is that there is NOT a Health and Science report.
•Company was sent two draft press releases and asked to voluntarily recall their product or the CPSC would issue a unilateral recall (a forced recall) which included inflammatory language as well as a threat to pursue action against entire class of baby sling products.
•Company held fast, knowing that the product is safe and a benefit to babies and stated they would be willing to work with the CPSC on a public education campaign about sling safety.
•CPSC asked for Company’s financials.
•Company complied.
•CPSC said to company 'You are no longer in business, we don’t need your cooperation in order to recall! Prepare to DESTROY all product next week!'

Next week is International Babywearing week!
PLEASE NOTE: *THIS IS AFTER THE CPSC FORCED COMPANY TO STOP SELLING!

The CPSC has overstepped their bounds, and are bullying small, family businesses who make safe products!


This is only the beginning, according to the CPSC’s own words they want to eradicate the whole class of product!


A line has been drawn in the sand! Will you help fight the good fight with us? If you care that these products are available to you, to babies, to families across our country, ACT NOW!


If you are represented by any one of these legislators, please call and write to them NOW, before this recall happens. We are asking just a few simple things:


1. Stop all recall actions against baby sling companies until
2. We can finalize the ASTM voluntary sling standards (scheduled for November) and
3. Force the CPSC to follow their own internal procedures, stop using bullying tactics, and use sound science.


SENATE: Mark Pryor – Chairman, AR (202) 224-2353
Byron L. Dorgan, ND (202) 224-2551
Barbara Boxer, CA (202) 224-3553
Bill Nelson, FL (202) 224-5274
Claire McCaskill, MO (202) 224-6154
Amy Klobuchar, MN (202) 224-3244
Tom Udall, NM (202) 224-5941
Roger Wicker – Ranking Member, MS (202) 224-6253
Olympia J. Snowe, ME (202) 224-5344
Jim DeMint, SC (202) 224-6121
John Thune, SD (202) 224-2321
Johnny Isakson, GA (202) 224-3643
David Vitter, LA (202) 224-4623


HOUSE: Bobby L. Rush, IL, Chairman 202-225-4372; 773-224-6500
Jan Schakowsky, IL, Vice Chair 202-225-2111; 773-506-7100
Ed Whitfield, KY, Ranking Member 202-225-3115; 270-885-8079
John P. Sarbanes, MD 202-225-4016; 410-832-8890
George Radanovich, CA 202-225-4540; 559-449-2490
Betty Sutton, OH 202-225-2266; 330-865-8450
Cliff Stearns, FL 202-225-5744; 352-351-8777
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ 202-225-4671; 732-571-1140
Joseph R. Pitts, PA 202-225-2411; 717-303-0667
Bart Gordon, TN 202-225-4231; 615-896-1986
Mary Bono Mack, CA 202-225-5330; 760-320-1076
Bart Stupak, MI 202-225-4735; 231-348-0657
Lee Terry, NE 202-225-4155; 402-397-9944
Gene Green, TX 202-225-1688; 281-999-5879
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC 202-225-1976; 704-362-1060
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX 202-225-3236; 210-472-6195
Tim Murphy, PA 202-225-2301; 412-344-5583
Anthony D. Weiner, NY 202-225-6616; 718-520-9001
Phil Gingrey, GA 202-225-2931; 770-429-1776
Jim Matheson, UT 202-225-3011; 801-486-1236
Steve Scalise, LA 202-225-3015; 504-837-1259
G. K. Butterfield, NC 202-225-3101; 252-237-9816
Robert E. Latta, OH 202-225-6405; 419-668-0206
John Barrow, GA 202-225-2823; 912-354-7282
Joe Barton, TX 202-225-2002; 817-543-1000


Why I do what I do

Apparently it's been over 2 years since I started this blog. I have no idea how that happened. Father Time did not ask my permission for time to move on or my babies to become big kids.

Way back when, I posted an introduction to my babywearing journey here . For me, it was like yesterday. My first baby is now 9 1/2 - a bright, loving, wonderful, maddening girl who loves animals and will nurse and wear her babies as naturally as she will breathe. My second baby is 4 1/2 now - a strong, smart, snuggly, kissy boy who likes the color pink, Star Wars and anything he can "sword" you with. He wears his babies and wants to be just like his sister.

A little later in my journey, I posted this about how babywearing has changed me. It's given me a reason to come out of my shell. It's changed my life to such a degree that even though I don't have any more babies to wear (unless a certain big boy gives in for a short ride with his nostalgic mama or someone invents a way to comfortably carry a 9 1/2 year old) I'm still continuing on my babywearing journey. I've taken the Babywearing Institute's Beginner and Advanced courses and will soon be a Certified Babywearing Educator. I may even go a step further and become a teacher's teacher - creating more Certified Babywearing Educators to spread the babywearing love.

I'm continuing on my babywearing journey because babywearing holds such an important place in my heart. I want mamas to follow their instincts to wear their babies. I want wearing your baby to be as normal to everyone as kissing their warm, soft cheeks. I want you to know how to wear your little ones safely, comfortably, practically. I want you to have access to good, accurate information - and find it more easily than I did. I want my babies to wear their babies because...well, that's just what parents do. I want them to have access to wonderful, soft, squishy, safe slings and wraps and Mei Tais.

And now, at this point in my babywearing journey, I'm writing posts and making calls; writing emails and sending letters to make sure that these things will even be a possibility. You've seen my posts (and those of many others, I'm sure) about some vague and cryptic threats to our babywearing futures - to our choices in carriers - to our rights as parents to wear our babies. What's the big deal lately? Well, the specifics will come in the next week or so - the specifics being the name of the business currently affected as well as the details of how they were put in this position. But, the generalities are these (and I'll post these because they've been posted elsewhere by others): In the next few days you'll hear of another sling being recalled courtesy of the CPSC (the same folks who just saved your lives by recalling 10 MILLION toys because 7 kids got stitches). I don't know what the news will say about the sling or about the reason for the recall but I hope you come back here to find out what really happened. What I do know is that most of the parents out there won't find out the truth without searching for it...and that's wrong. I can tell you that the sling and slingmaker aren't at fault or faulty. There's no basis for the CPSC to recall this product. Babywearing is safe.

Your first good sling is often referred to as your "gateway carrier"...the one that get's you hooked, the one that opens the door to the world of babywearing. What I (and many others) fear is that this recall is the "gateway carrier" for many more (unjustified) recalls in our future - for reasons that will be commented on down the road. As someone in an online forum offered when speculating on which company is being affected, 'a Hotsling is just like a Peanut Shell' which is just like a...If it affects one pouch, it can affect them all. If it affects one ring sling, it can affect them all...and mei tais...and wraps...and... I'm all for conspiracy theories but, once the facts are available, you'll find this one is less theory and more conspiracy.

OK...this is leading to the beginnings of a rant and I've been so good so far :)...only one snarky bit.

I do what I do because I want all parents to have the knowledge to look at a sling or wrap or mei tai or SSC and make an informed decision and say "Yes, that one will hold my baby in a safe position and I know how to use it". So, I learn and I teach. Everyone from parents to lawmakers to goverment agencies to commercial giants has a lot to learn on this subject. There needs to be some logic employed and some resposibility taken. Maybe if their parents had worn them, certain decision makers would be able to make better decisions...

Babywearing is in Danger!

Babywearing is in danger. Your right choose the type of baby carrier you want to use is in jeopardy.

When I saw the recall of the Infantino bag "sling" I did a silent cheer. Mamas and business women in the babywearing world had been researching and talking about the problems with these carriers for several years and it seemed that someone "up there" finally listened. Then there was the recall of the small batch of slings from a WAHM I posted about but didn't really have much info on - they looked OK from the picture and I never really found anything online that implicated the product in the death. But, the slings were still recalled.

Now we face a much bigger problem that could affect us all: The recalls threaten to keep going with all carriers that the baby can go below the "rim". That means all the carriers we know and love. All the carriers sold outside the big box stores. All the wonderful carriers and slings that give us so many sweet times with our little ones. All the great, simple pieces of cloth that hold baby close in a safe and healthy way. At least one well known, well loved and respected sling business has already been affected and more are at risk.

The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance has been formed to "advance the well-being, growth, and interests of baby carrier manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, and educators. It does so through advocacy, public relations, information sharing, industry research, and business development assistance conducted with appreciation for the needs of parents, caregivers, and children." They are currently working hard to create a voluntary standard for slings with the ASTM and stop the recalls and they need our support to make it happen.

Please visit the BCIA site and make a donation to help everyone that's working so hard to save our slings.

** If I've helped you in any way with my lending library, if you've found helpful info on The Babywearer, if you've gotten an extra snuggle or kiss because of your sling, wrap or carrier, please support the BCIA's efforts to keep babywearing safe. Any amount will help fund their very expensive efforts.

Happy Babywearing!

More carrier recalls

There have been two more carrier recalls recently. Everyone please remember to always check the structure of your carrier and keep your little on in a proper position to maintain their airway and support their bodies.

The first recall is for a ring sling made by a small Texas company called Sprout Stuff . They were a local WAHM business that stopped selling carriers in 2007. While it's unlikely that anyone locally would have one of these, it's still important to take a close look at carriers you may find 2nd hand or be gifted by a well meaning friend.

From online discussions and the picture provided, this appears to be a simple ring sling and there were no manufacturing defects noted in the recall. Well made ring slings are very safe carriers when baby is positioned correctly. In the case that prompted the recall, the limited information I've found suggests that the baby was not positioned correctly and/or was in a fragile medical state when he died.

The second recall is for the CYBEX 2.GO carrier made by Regal Lager. The carriers have a shoulder strap buckle that may break and cause a fall hazard. If you have one of these, please contact the company for instructions.

Infantino Slingrider FINALLY RECALLED!

Infantino has finally recalled more than 1 million of their Slingrider "slings"! The bag-style sling-like devices have finally been pulled from the market. Please read the AP news article for details.

The company will take back your slings and offer you another product (PLEASE no more of their carriers!) in exchange.

Ebay has already pulled the carriers from their site, Amazon hadn't as of this posting and they are still on Craigslist - although some nice person has posted the recall on that site.

If you'd like to print cards to have on hand to pass out to any Slingrider owners you may run into, updated cards (including recall info) can be found here.


Happy, safe babywearing!