| Title: | Parenting |
| Notice: | READ 1.27 BEFORE WRITING |
| Moderator: | CSC32::DUBOIS |
| Created: | Wed May 30 1990 |
| Last Modified: | Tue May 27 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1364 |
| Total number of notes: | 23848 |
This entry was prompted by a single piece of equipment that my Mother-in-law brought over, but I think it can be broadened to all older (at least 25+ years) baby equipment. ____ My mother-in-law has saved everything from when my husband and his sister were little and she keeps offering to bring things over. Up until last week, I was able to hold her off. Last week she brought over a bed rail. My immediate concern was the distance between the rails (this one has horizontal rails). I called the pedi's office and one of the nurses stated that the bars should be no more than 2 3/4" apart, which they weren't. Another concern she brought up is, is is painted? Because there is a possibility of lead paint. My question is, has anyone had any experience with older equipment having lead paint, or other safety flaws? The bed rail that she brought over fails the safety test so it's out, but if she pulls GKW out of her attic and brings it over can I save her the bother and politely tell her, NO THANKS? What should I look for in older equipment? Or, if I'm lucky, will most of it fail the safety test? BTW, it's not that we can't afford to purchase any of the items, it's just that my mother-in-law is trying to be helpful. Thanks! Jane P.S. This week she brought over two child sized folding chairs, the kind that look like card table chairs, vintage early 60's. I noticed last night that there are some welds that are broken which expose sharp metal edges if the chair flexes the wrong way. YIKES! And I was worrying about the paint on the chairs! Boy, did we really play with these land mines???
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1337.1 | Why not ask to see it first? | ICS::NELSONK | Wed Mar 25 1992 14:18 | 21 | |
Next time she offers (God forbid there should be a next time!),
why not ask if you can come over and check things out first?
Try to put it in the context of "Thought I'd save you the trip...".
I don't have much experience with older baby/child equipment,
but I do have some experience with in-laws. :-). I think any
caring relative would want to know the latest thinking on child
safety and wouldn't (shouldn't!) be offended if you tactfully
tell them what the new requirements are.
Yes, we really did play with those land mines....don't seem to
be the worse for it. IMHO, the "problem" with all the new
safety features is that in some parents, it tends to instill
a lax attutide toward parental supervision. REgardless of
whether or not the outlets are capped, the toilet locked, the
stairs gated off, etc., THERE IS STILL NO SUBSTITUTE FOR
PARENTAL SUPERVISION. I'm not implying that you're shirking
your responsibilities, just stating my (strongly held) beliefs.
Getting back to the original point, I'd ask to see stuff first.
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| 1337.2 | SHALOT::KOPELIC | Quality is never an accident . . . | Tue Mar 31 1992 15:19 | 13 | |
I had this problem with my mother-in-law. The crib and dresser had
been bought for my husband and she'd saved it all these years. The
slats on the crib were 3 1/2 inches apart instead of the new standard
and I carefully explained to my husband and her that it just wasn't
safe and I wasn't willing to take any risks just for sentimental
reasons! Now my husband is usually Mr. Safety, but he was as upset as
his mother over this. I still feel like I did the right thing, even
after her sitting it out for Goodwill and telling me about it to try
and make me feel guilty.
I refuse to risk my child's safety for anyone.
Bev
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| 1337.3 | CSC32::DUBOIS | Love | Tue Mar 31 1992 16:01 | 10 | |
< I still feel like I did the right thing, even
< after her sitting it out for Goodwill and telling me about it to try
< and make me feel guilty.
I agree with you, Bev. Good for you.
Does anyone know if Goodwill checks for these safety requirements and fixes
them before selling them to someone else??
Carol
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| 1337.4 | I sure as h*** hope so! | ICS::NELSONK | Tue Mar 31 1992 16:36 | 1 | |