Thousands of small businesses that create simple, SAFE items like handmade toys, cloth diapers, baby slings, and unique baby clothing are going to be forced to test and retest products already known to be safe. As the law is written, I have to test every single type of product I make – even if the only difference is in sizing.

If I make 3 different size diapers from the same bolt of fabric and the same color snaps, I will be required to test all three sizes – even though the materials are exactly the same in each diaper! Even more bizarre, I have to test these products even though the manufacturer of the fabric and the manufacturer of the snaps have already completed these tests. And the next business has to test those exact same materials again, since my results don’t help them at all. This does not make kids safer, it only makes it impossible for very small businesses to keep their doors open.

How expensive is this testing? While I have seen estimates all over the map, one of my colleagues shared her test estimates. She uses the exact same materials I do for making my pocket diapers. Both the maker of the waterproof fabric and the maker of the snaps have already tested them for lead and found NONE. The testing lab wants 6 of each size and color of diaper from her. Her diapers come in 3 sizes and 14 colors. That is 252 diapers that will be destroyed for testing. Then, they want to test front and back snaps (made from the same plastic), and each of the fabrics and the thread and elastic. End result? $58,800 plus the loss of 252 diapers all to prove that the fabric and snaps we already know to be safe is still safe – and those tests will need to be run by every other diaper maker who uses the same safe materials. There are hundreds of us using these same materials. Stupid is the nicest word that comes to mind. This does not help make kids safer, it only limits choices in the marketplace and it is going to make everything a lot more expensive.

What can you do? In addition to writing to Congress and the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) you can vote at Change.org by January 15. Click here to vote. While the voting mentions the handmade toy manufacturers, the end result will help all of us.  Toy manufacturers will be hit the hardest on February 10, but all of us will feel this by Augut when the final parts of the rule go into place.

For information about how to contact Congress and the CPSC, along with suggestions for what to say, go to WAHM Solutions (my business blog).