From Donavan's Campaign we wish for parents to become aware of the hazards of non-attached robe belts.

Update- One step closer to our recommendations

Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Bureau has just recently posted a bulletin for industry concerning children's
bathrobes with the following recommendation concerning belts and sashes:


Belts and Sashes


Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Program recommends that any belts, ties or sashes on these products be stitched 
 firmly to the centre back. Young children are at risk of strangulation from any type of cord that can be detached from clothing.

Please view the full bulletin at the following link:

www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/indust/robes/index_e.html

This recommendation is due to our bringing the hazard of unattached bathrobe ties on children's bathrobes to the attention
 of the Consumer Product Safety Bureau. We need to continue to email Health Canada and make this a regulation just like
the flammability guidelines.

   We are asking everyone to write Health Canada asking them to post a health bulletin/advisory about the hazards involving unattached belts on children's bahrobes. Also any other ideas or recomendations you may have pertaining to this matter. It is our wish/dream that eventually after they have finished looking into this matter the regulations will be changed. They have informed us they are looking intoit but it will take awhile. The only regualtion for sleepwear they have is against flammability of material used in sleepwear. They also put out an advisory in 2000  with regards to drawstrings on outerwear for children. If they did it for outer wear then possibly they will do it for unattached belts on children's bathrobes. The email address for Consumer Product Safety a branch of Health Canada is             

As adults, we look at these housecoats on the racks in stores and imagine how cute our children would look walking around the houses in them.  The five minutes it would take to permanently attach the belts to the garment will save another family from the grief and loss that we are going through now.

 We suggest that parents sew the sash into the robe right away and be mindful of the potential hazard of garments.  Sewing the belt permanently into the robe would reduce this hazard.  L.L. Bean for example (Product number TA46346), already produces Child Robes with the robe belt sewn into the back of the robe to prevent the belt from being removed.  This is a start.

 There are guidelines for Children Clothing in regards to flammability of fabrics, drawstrings in hoods of jackets, bike helmets, car seats, and son on.  Having a guideline for Child Housecoats or robes with their belts attached to the garment would reduce the risk of accidents with the unattached belts.  We need to push for stricter guidelines in this area.

 Children have a fascination with things around their necks.  They see pets with collars, and don't understand the dangers in this play.  We should prevent this danger.  Five minutes to sew the robe belt onto the garment so that it is permanently attached will prevent another family from loosing their child.

What you can do:

 go through your children's clothing and throw away articles with loose belts
 sew loose belts into the back of the garment
 tell your friends and family about this hazard
 make a donation to Donavan's Campaign to help bring this awareness to the forefront