With the ongoing love affair between the public and all things vintage it was only a matter of time until the kitschy designs of mid-century America found their way into children’s rooms. Quaint, charming and often provoking sentiment, the children’s furniture from the 1970s and 80s can add a touch of character to your child’s room . . . but, is it safe?
Let’s start by taking a look at furniture for infants. The guidelines for cribs have been repeatedly updated since the 1980s with the newest addition issued in 2011. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commissions cribs manufactured before that date are not safe for your child to use. The most obvious safety hazards here are the spacing of the bars on vintage cribs and the use of lead paint. Another common safety issue is the condition of the hardware. Older cribs have most likely been disassembled and reassembled several times, making it common for the hardware to be worn or stripped, and with age there is often rust. The CPSC recommends that you never use a crib over 10 years old and that all others be destroyed or use only for decorative purposes.
Highchairs, especially those handcrafted by a relative, are often handed down to the newest arrival in the family. While there is something quite special in thinking that your little one is carrying on a family tradition while have his morning oatmeal, these are not safe to use. Many of these have no fixed crotch post or child restraint straps and are simply an accident waiting to happen! The scissoring action of older pivoting high chair trays can cause severe pinching and many chairs before 2000 had no side confinement feature. Just as with cribs, lead paint and structural distress are common. Your best bet it to purchase a new highchair made of washable molded plastic for feeding your child, and use that adorable vintage chair to display a doll or stuffed bear in the corner of the nursery.
Did you have a favorite chair or possibly a toy box that you loved as a child? Have you kept it stored away just waiting for the chance to share it with your child? Before you do there are several factors to consider. One of the largest concerns here is the structural integrity of the piece. Splinters and rusted nails and screws are very common in older furniture, so examine the piece thoroughly. The U.S. government banned the use of lead paint in 1978. If your furniture was made before then it cannot be used until the old paint has been replaced with water-based paint. If you are uncertain about the age of the paint on your piece you can purchase a testing kit at most hardware stores. Toy boxes have been known to trap small children inside and an even more common injury is the result of a hinged lid coming down on tiny fingers. Safety experts recommend that toys be stored on low, open shelves or in a plastic tub without a lid.
In addition to furniture there are a number of vintage toys that should not be given to children. A study of 100 of the most popular plastic toys from the 1970s and 1980s found that nearly 75% had hazardous content including, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and barium. According to the Consumer Affairs Web site “when old plastics are exposed to sunlight and air a dust forms that can expose children to hazards.” Leading toy manufacturer Fisher Price has also released a statement asking that parents not let their children play with vintage toys but to instead use them only as decor. For more information on this important topic visit www.neha.org/node/1310. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
