Mothering Special Report - CPSIA

With the the holidays just around the corner many of us are focused on choosing the most natural gift options for our children. This Mothering Special Report on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act will keep you up to date on how this law is influencing the way toys and other childhood products are tested before they hit the marketplace, as well as how the laws are affecting small businesses. Plus, don't forget to check out the Nov/Dec 2009 issue of Mothering for lots of help on finding the perfect natural toy options.

News - Mothering news and bulletins on CPSIA

• Mattel Exempted from Independent Toy Testing by the CPSC
• Don't Give up the Fight
  
• Room to Breathe
• CPSIA Central

Articles - articles past and present on toy safety

• Toxic Toy Story
• Out of the Mouths of Babes
• Avoiding Toxic Chemicals in the Home
• Getting the Lead Out
• The Mercury is Rising: And Activists are Turning Up the Heat
• Stuffed Toys: Warm, Fuzzy and Toxic

Discussions - read and join the following discussions and many more on the Mothering Forums

MotheringDotCommunity

• Etsy Selling Mommas Tribe
• Holiday Gift Poll
• Anyone know what Hot Wheels "trick tracks" are made of?
• Fisher-Price!!!!!!
• can't resell kids items?
• The CPSIA law DID go into effect...the 12 month reprieve was reversed?!!
• If you support WAHM's and small companies this will affect YOU!
• Do you make and sell handmade toys?
• Getting started working from home? (re: sewing)
• is kids' stuff still donate-able?
• How will this new CPSC law affect our wahm diaper makers?
• CPSIA....one year delay
• CPSC issues one year stay of testing on the CPSIA
• Etsy sellers and CPSIA
• Is Sophie the Giraffe *really* all that?
• Natural chew toys
• MIL purchased plastic toy - Wrong on so many levels!

Where to Find Safe Toys

There are many resources and shops that provide information and/or sell safe toys and other children's products. Here are a couple from Mothering to get you started.

The Nov/Dec 2009 toy issue of Mothering Magazine has a ton of information to help you make those tough buying and gift giving decisions.

Any recent issue of Mothering includes the Strokes of Genius review section with lots of natural product suggestions.

Mothering eblasts present a diverse array of advertisers offering natural toys and other products for your family. Get them when they come out by signing up for the newsletters or visiting the archived versions online.

• Summer Sundries
• Back to School Store
• Holiday Shopping Eblast (tons of toys)...coming soon - get it when it comes out by signing up for the newsletters. 

Check out the Mothering shop for gift options that sometimes include natural toys.

Look through the Mothering WAHMarket for WAHMs selling many great natural products.

For a little fun check out the 2009 holiday Toys Toys Toys giveaway!