WEDNESDAY, May 2 (BabyCenter News) — The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today issued a press release warning that babies who use cracked and peeling vinyl bibs may be at risk of lead exposure.
The vinyl contains lead, a toxin that can cause learning disabilities, growth retardation, and other health problems when swallowed by children. When the bibs become so worn that babies can pull or bite off, and then swallow, pieces of the bib, they may pose a risk of lead exposure.
CPSC recently tested a wide range of bibs from retailers nationwide. They concluded that none of the new bibs posed a risk to children who mouthed them. But if the bibs became so worn that a child could detach and swallow pieces of the bib, the baby could be exposed to lead.
The consumer safety group is advising parents to throw out any worn vinyl bibs.
Vinyl bibs have been found on store shelves since at least 2004. They generally cost around $2 to $7. Bibs could have either a vinyl front with a cloth backing, or a cloth front with vinyl backing.
What you can do
• Examine your baby's vinyl bibs and throw away any that are cracked and worn. Cloth bibs with one laminated side often contain vinyl, which may be listed as "vinyl" or "PVC" on the label. You can also switch to bibs made from other materials, such as cotton, polyester, and nylon.
