The Hong Kong Consumer Council recently tested 30 popular infant clothing brands and found that many of them have safety risks. Among them, 11 samples had buttons falling off during the tensile test. Five samples’ strap designs failed to meet European standards, thus posing risks of neck strangling. The amount of free formaldehyde released by one sample exceeded the upper limit of the mainland standard by more than 50 percent, which might cause irritation to the infants’ skin.
The Consumer Council purchased 30 samples of clothing from baby clothing stores, chain clothing stores, and department stores, all claimed to be suitable for infants and toddlers aged two or below. The samples include jumpsuits, hip suits, and the commonly known “monk’s gown” or “butterfly suit,” each costing an average of HK$22 (US$2.8) to HK$419 (US$54). In this infant and toddler clothing test, which includes tests on mechanical and physical properties, chemical assessment, and durability, four of them received the highest overall score of 5 stars, namely “Topvalu,” “B.Duck baby,” “Happyland.” and “CHICKS.”
In the tensile test, different parts of each sample were subjected to a pulling force of 90 Newtons (20.2 lb.) and held for 10 seconds. Eleven of them had buttons snapping or buttons falling off and producing small parts, which failed to comply with European toy safety requirements as stated in standard “EN71-11.” Four of the models have had parts fall off under a pulling force of less than 70 Newtons (15.7 lb.), and the snap buttons of another three models have fallen off and produced sharp debris, posing a risk of scratching the skin of infants and young children. The Consumer Council warns that if the accessories fall off, infants and young children may accidentally put them into their ears, nose, or mouth, causing obstruction or interfering with breathing, which could lead to suffocation.
In addition, five models of blouses commonly known as “monk’s gown” or “butterfly suit” all have straps or cords on the upper chest that do not meet European safety standards for children’s clothing with cords and drawstrings. One of them has a drawstring measuring 20 centimeters (7.9 in.), located between the chest and the waist, which is 6 centimeters (2.4 in.) over the standard upper limit. The ends of the cords in two other samples are not designed with means to prevent wear and unraveling. The Consumer Council pointed out that the cord itself may wrap around the neck of infants and young children, and when the cord is accidentally snagged or tightened, it may cause a potential risk of suffocation.
Finally, in the chemical testing, the amount of free formaldehyde detected in one piece of clothing reached 32.3mg/kg, exceeding the upper limit of 20mg/kg set by mainland standards for infant textiles by more than 50 percent and may irritate the skin. Another piece of clothing returned a pH value of 8.5, which exceeded the allowable range of pH value in mainland China (4.0 to 7.5). The Consumer Council reminds parents to wash newly purchased clothes thoroughly before putting them on their infants and young children.
