Specialty Store for Babies With Hip Dysplasia Threatened by CPSIA

[ This is the fourth of a series of posts by Susan Maphis covering the impact of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade and sign up for her CPSIA Alerts Mailing List ]

Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman, owner of BabyHipWear, the only clothing company for children with hip dysplasia, says her store is in danger of going out of business due to the impending enactment of the Children’s Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
 
“The CPSIA law, though filled with good intentions of protecting our children, is actually going to shut down a company founded on helping children with hip dysplasia have clothing options,” says Tonetti-Spellman. 

Hip dysplasia, or as Tonetti-Spellman describes it, “dislocated hips,” causes babies to be either placed in a full body harness, or to have surgery and then be placed into a spica cast extending from the waist down and keeping their legs extended to the side.  Both forms of therapies make finding clothing that fits nearly impossible.
 
“I had bilateral hip dysplasia three decades ago and my grandmother used to sew clothing for me to fit over my brace,” Tonetti-Spellman recalls. “When my daughter was diagnosed at 3 months, I had a breakdown trying to find stretchy accomodating clothing that actually fit.  I had to buy 18 month old clothing for a 3 month old and roll up the sleeve and pants legs.  She looked like an ill-fitting potato sack had taken over her little body.”

Her personal experiences with hip dysplasia led to her launching BabyHipWear in July of 2008, and she says she has received an enormous response from mothers worldwide. “I’ve had sales from the US to Australia to Norway,” Tonetti-Spellman says.  “This birth defect is rarely talked about, yet it affects more babies than people know and it’s one of the first things doctors check for at birth.”
 
“I am devastated that a company founded on love for children with this condition is going to be severly impacted by a law that is far too extreme,” she continues.  “I cannot possibly afford all the testing they require.  At best, I may be able to offer one style of each piece of clothing, but it defeats my purpose of providing sufficient clothing options.”

Tonetti-Spellman says that she and her husband are the sole investors in their company, and she feels they are at risk of losing it all. She is currently having a sale at BabyHipWear.com to raise capital for the expensive testing she will have to pay for if the CPSIA goes into effect as currently written on Feb. 10.
 
[ For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade ]