In the US there is a ban on any top designed for children which has a drawstring attached to it. This can be on the hood, at the neck or around the waste. Children have died recently because of drawstrings which has prompted the ban. Children have been strangled by the string as they play on slides or get tangled up. But not every single childrens hoodies should be banned. They can be great items of clothing for children.
Back To The Ban
Landmark decisions against retailers and clothing manufacturers have been after links to serious injury or death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission made tops with drawstrings illegal as they pose a serious risk to the safety of the child wearer.
The public was made aware of drawstring dangers when a three year old boy tragically died when a string on his clothes got caught in a side as he was going down it. Theban has not always been so public and so the retailers stocking illegal clothes were not caught quickly. Now that more people know it is easy for the CPSC to find lawbreaking retailers and prosecute them.
Nordstrom the Seattle retailer was fined ,000 for selling banned tops. The same ban led to four more retailers getting a collective fine of over 0,000. Hills Sportswear and Kohl’s were two of them. A girl died when her top from Hills got caught on playground equipment.
Buying safe clothing for your child is a responsibility of every parent. Thinking about how your child’s activities could be risky to your child should be done when buying items. If they go on a bike you do not want their trousers to get caught in the pedals for example.
Hoodies should not be banned all together. A safe hoody can look lovely on a child. Children love to wear them because they are comfortable which is a bonus. During the colder autumn and winter months no child should be without one.
