Baby Sprout Naturals began in 2007 as a place for parents to find natural, non-toxic baby products for their children. I was tired on not finding quality merchandise in the local retail stores. I tediously searched for quality products that were natural and neither harmful to the environment or to children, products that I use myself and feel are essential for every parent.

In 2007, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) that requires that all products manufactured and sold for children under the age of 12 be tested for lead and certified that they meet the most strict of standards in order to pass and be approved for a General Conformity Certificate. The law was not specific enough especially for the average consumer or retailer and caused much confusion amoung my collegues. It seems that the law did not include common sense testing, therefore, ALL products, even those that inherently DO NOT contain lead, had to be tested and certified under the CPSIA.

Recently we were named as one of the victims of this legislation in an article written by the newly appointed chairperson of the CPSC Anne Northup. The article was published in the New York Times entitled There is No Joy in Toyland.

The CPSIA has caused irrepairable damage to small retailers like myself in an already difficult economic environment. I have fought along side hundreds of concerned and outraged retailers and manufacturers against this law, to reform it, so that we can continue to do what we set out to do in the first place, keep children safe and provide the best, most natural products available on the market today. Sadly, many businesses have already been forced to close. Baby Sprout Naturals is one of them. We cannot compete with the market at large, or with Congress, against a law that doesn’t make children safer. It just puts American businesses out of business.

I want to thank each and every one of my customers for supporting us through our growing first year. Possibly, in the near future we will again be able to provide families with only the very best, natural, non-toxic and earth friendly products for baby’s, children and parents.

Sincerely,

Dawn Michelle
Baby Sprout Naturals

“Saving the planet, one baby at a time.”