Paper Street

For US Customers

Overview

It’s important for Paper Street Weaving to ensure that US-based customers understand the risks of purchasing a wrap from a Canadian business. While Paper Street Weaving is compliant with the regulations set forth in Canada, I cannot ensure the regulations are met for all other countries. This page includes information on the regulations for babywearing items in the US to help you make an informed choice before deciding to purchase a wrap from Paper Street.

US Regulations

The US has regulations to ensure baby carriers that are manufactured and imported into the United States are safe. The CSPC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) develops regulations for all products manufactured or imported into the US. Baby carriers (which includes handwoven wraps) must meet the following requirements:

  • A permanent label that includes the manufacturer’s details, including a product code and date of manufacture, a care label, and a warning label (identifies proper use, strangulation hazards, and compliance with testing standards)
  • A product registration card
  • Testing done by a third-party lab to meet the performance standard

The testing required to meet the standard is where most handweavers cannot meet compliance. The testing is very rigorous and includes:

  • Weight and stress testing the wrap
  • Flammability testing
  • Chemical testing

This testing must be completed every time there is a change in material or structure, and re-certified annually. This means every draft technique needs to be tested for every fibre combination. These tests cost $350–$400 per test, plus the cost of the materials of the wrap used for testing — since it will be destroyed during the testing process.

For small businesses, this cost adds up fast and would significantly limit what Paper Street Weaving could offer its customers in terms of fibre options and weave options. For these reasons, and because this testing is not required in Canada, Paper Street Weaving does not meet the full list of regulations in the US. Meeting this standard would require thousands of dollars every year, and only a few fibre choices and drafts would be available — significantly reducing the custom experience.

What this means for US buyers

Customers buying wraps from Canada (or any other country) are considered importers, and it is their responsibility to ensure the wraps meet compliance. The risk of not meeting compliance could mean a wrap is confiscated at the customs checkpoint. Often weavers will get around this by labelling the product a baby blanket or shawl. However, if searched, there is still risk that your wrap could be seized due to non-compliance with the US regulations. The risk of this happening is extremely small, especially when shipping to a home address and not a large business. Of all the wraps that Paper Street has shipped to the US, there has never been one seized at customs. However, the risk is still there and it is the customer’s choice if they want to accept that risk or not.

Are my wraps safe to wear?

In practicality, yes. The weaving community has worked hard to develop general guidelines or unwritten rules to ensure that wraps made for babywearing are strong, safe, and secure for your little ones. Some of these guidelines include:

  • Using certain fibres and suppliers that provide all natural and not chemically treated fibres
  • Weaving at specific densities to ensure the fabric is dense and stable
  • Avoiding certain weaving patterns that have long floats (where the weft travels over many warp threads) to prevent finger entrapment
  • Weaving at specific widths to ensure a properly sized wrap
  • Avoiding certain fibre combinations that are likely to cause thread shifting or other issues

The US baby carrier standard was designed for commercial manufacturers (mostly soft-structured carriers, as there are rules specific to buckles and straps) and doesn’t take into account the handwoven community or the impact on small businesses.

Conclusion

Paper Street Weaving wants its customers to be as informed as possible about the requirements and risks they take on when purchasing a wrap. Woven wraps are a large investment and the possibility of losing a wrap at customs would be heartbreaking. The decision to buy directly from Paper Street is ultimately yours to make.