Conference moira::parenting_v3

    I'm just trying to picture a scenario where you'd need it!  (I'm not
    anti-protection, I'm just in a wierd mood where the first image that
    came to mind was a kid in a snowbank bursting into flames... :-)  )
    
    Leslie

How about a cold, wet kid coming inside and standing too close to
the wood stove / fireplace to warm up?

    re: .2
    
    One would tend to think if the child is cold and wet, s/he would take
    the snow suit off first before standing next to a wood stove/fireplace.
    
    Lori B.

    Well, since you asked, last year at the Deerfield Fair, my girlfriend's
    daughter (4 years old) was walking through the crowd and someone with a
    cigarette in hand put a nice burn in the back of her jacket. If it had
    been a flammable material, she might have been seriously burned. I'm
    trying to protect my daughter the best way I can and since I'm not with
    her 24 hours a day, I can't prevent the same thing from happening to
    her at daycare or in a shopping mall or wherever she may be this winter
    in the close proximity of an inconsiderate smoker.
    
    Sally.
    

I've only heard of fire-retardant treatment for sleepwear.  Nylon, which is what
the outer shell of most kids' outerwear is made of, will melt but tends not to
burn.

			Steve

    
    re .4
    
    Flame on
    
    Did you find the smoker and burn them with a cigarette?
    
    Flame off
    
    Rochelle

    Unfortunately, we didn't notice the burn mark until we were on the way
    home. Thank God it didn't touch her long blonde hair. It was pretty
    scarey to see the burn and realize what could have happened. So, now
    that I've justified my question, does anyone know of any brands that
    use fire-retardant. If not, I'll use the suggestion from .5 and choose
    materials that don't burn easily, nylon was a good suggestion since it
    tends to melt rather than flare up.
    
    Thanks,
    Sally.

    No, I don't, unfortunately.  I would think that most reputable
    brands, like London Fog, Oshkosh, etc., would have *some* kind of
    finish on it.  Would the waterproofing make it more or less flammable?
    I'm no chemist (*there's* an understatement!) but maybe someone
    knows?
    
    You might want to try calling either the manufacturer(s) of the
    snowsuit(s) you are interested in, or the Consumer Product Safety
    Commission.  I think CPSC has a toll-free 800 number, maybe the
    manufacturers do as well.  To find out, call toll-free director
    assistance, 1-800-555-1212.
    
    Good luck!
    
    And while we're on the subject of outerwear for kids, does anyone
    know what sort of outerwear I should buy/beg/borrow for my 3-month-
    old? She could wear her big brother's snowsuit, a 18-month size
    London Fog that is absolutely enormous; or should I get her a
    winter jacket of some sort and save the snowsuit for the really
    vile weather?  I also have an acrylic bunting-type thing she could
    wear; again, it's pretty big.  
    
    Jeez, I thought I'd have this all nailed down, this being my second
    child and all...
    
    Thank you, .0, for a good question!

    The neatest thing I've seen for a baby for winter, was a hand-made
    'sack' type-thing.  If you can sew AT ALL, you should be able to do it
    without much trouble.
    
    The whole thing is rather roomy, 'pockets' for sleeves, a sack for the
    feet, with a special cut and something along the idea of a GIANT button
    hole for the car seat strap to pass through.  The might have been a
    hood attached.  Zippered up the front, but you could make it button,
    snap, whatever you like.  It was a CINCH to plop the kid in and out of
    it, and her mother SWORE by it!
    
    

    Here's a few thoughts from my husband, the firefighter, who also works
    for this fine company doing Environmental/health/fire prevention
    issues.....
    
    As for children's clothing, none within his knowledge are actually
    fireproofed.  However his suggestion for material less likely to flame
    is 100% pure wool.  History on this is that when he was in England and
    worked closely with their firefighters, the Brittish used 100% pure
    wool coats to fight fires, it tends to char and flake off, as opposed
    to acutally burning.  He strongly suggested staying away from man made
    materials, such as nylon since it will melt, and of course adhere to
    any exposed skin like shrink wrap, and stay hot much longer, plus they
    generally are petroleum based which equates to higher flamability.
    
    His thoughts on whether the waterproofing would help or not in
    preventing the clothing from catching fire is that most likely
    waterproofing  would accelerate catching on fire.
    
    Generally, and he's talking NFPA (nat'l fire prevention assn) standards
    for his answers.  He said about all that's required to be
    "fire-proofed" is children's sleepwear, and tags should state it as
    such.  Some home furnishing such as drapes and stuffed furniture is
    also treated for fire proofing, although not required by law.
    
    Lyn
    (the firefighter's wife)
    probably excellerate