Harness Clips

These clips are great for the car seat, the high chair or the pram.
Stop your little one getting their arms out.
Adjustbale width, uses snap clips.
Very strong metal suspender clips. Hard to undo.

https://www.facebook.com/YummyMummysDummyClips

Time to say goodbye...

I am still getting emails every week asking me how to make dummy clips and where to buy products so I wanted to make it clear:
My business is closed and I no longer make them.
The law has changed in Australia meaning only simple dummy clips on ribbon can be made and even now they are looking at bringing in standards on those too.
I will no longer be answering emails about where I buy my supplies from as I never shared that hard won information when working and will not do it now.
If you want to make your own clips for home the info is on the blog if you want to sell them contact your relevant authorities.
In Australia you would speak to Product Safety or the ACCC.
http://www.productsafety.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/987958/fromItemId/971557
The permanent ban on certain baby dummy chains with decorations including crystals and beads and other similar ornaments came into effect on 9 September 2011.

Baby dummy chains include pins, ribbons, strings, cords, chains, twines, leathers, yarns or any other similar article which is designed to be attached to baby dummies.
This ban applies to dummy chains with crystals, beads or other similar ornaments (also known as 'bling') that fail to meet the requirements detailed in the permanent ban notice. These relate to the length of the chain, impact resistance, tensile strength as well as the durability of the garment fastener.

A lot of the fasteners (ie metal clips) I have seen being used are bought from Asia at a cheap price off ebay. These have been known to rust, have the plastic teeth break or pull away from clothes leaving the clip free. As the paragraph above states the concern is not just for the bling or beads on the clip but also the strength of the clip as a whole.

New Australian Standards

I get asked a lot about the new standards and what they mean. This is so important as even now 3 months after the changes I still see people selling illegal products.
Here we go:
ACCC info on dummy clips

The permanent ban on certain baby dummy chains with decorations including crystals and beads and other similar ornaments came into effect on 9 September 2011.

Baby dummy chains include pins, ribbons, strings, cords, chains, twines, leathers, yarns or any other similar article which is designed to be attached to baby dummies.

This ban applies to dummy chains with crystals, beads or other similar ornaments (also known as 'bling') that fail to meet the requirements detailed in the permanent ban notice. These relate to the length of the chain, impact resistance, tensile strength as well as the durability of the garment fastener.

Dummy clip safety even applies to wooden beads etc etc. There are still some beaded clips on the market like these:

HABA

 These have been tested to the EU dummy clip standard and the toy standard to ensure they are as safe as can be. I highly recommend them!

For ribbon clips they have to be plain with no embellishments! The safest types are:

Plain, wide ribbon with a snap attached. The clips I used were 3/4" or 1" wide. They are both lead and nickel free as the EU standards required.

The ribbon was 3/4" grosgrain as dummy clips have to pass a tensile test for strength.

Avoid satin, shiny, thin ribbon.

The studs were resin and go well in hot water, washing machines etc without rusting.

Avoid clips likes these:

The metal clip is covered in fabric or embellishments.....

Plastic beads...illegal

 Plastic clip to attach to clothes is not strong enough to pass the tests...

 

 

Anything with bling or crystals

any dummy clip claiming to be a toy clip or multi clip- still not allowed.


Don't forget my blog post below if you want to make your own clip safely... :)

How to make a dummy clip....safely!

I get asked a lot how to make dummy clips and as I'm on leave I thought a post on how to make one would be good timing. Now you can try it at home and make a dummy clip to meet standards.

When I started making clips I used the European standards as Australia hasn't written their own. Dummy clips made or sold in Australia usually conform to EU 12586.

If you plan on making clips to sell I highly recommend purchasing the standard as they have some detailed information about how to make them safely and the testing methods.

Some basic points before you start:

1. Use heavy duty grosgrain ribbon and if it has a pattern make sure it is washable.
2. Ribbon can be 7/8" or 1" wide. It should not be any thinner.
3. Metal clips should be lead and nickel free. Ask the supplier for a certificate that certifies this if you want to sell them
4. Clips must be permanently attached to the metal clip. No snaps/velcro or adjustable clips.
5. Clips cannot be any longer than 22cm including the clip. They cannot be lengthened or altered.
6. Beads must be certified non toxic and lead free, same goes for any embellishments you wish to use.
7. Clips that have a name, shape or embellishment added to them do not meet safety standards. You can make them for yourself but not to sell.

When I first started I bought dummy clips sold in stores to see how they were made and what warnings they had on their packets. The Munchkin one sold in stores is a good example:

After researching I then found ribbon that met my criteria. One of my favourite stores that sells to the public and sends here is: http://www.theribbonretreat.com/

I cut my ribbon into lengths of approx. 30cm.

The ribbon above has been heat sealed on the ends. This stops it from fraying. You can buy a heat sealer or even easier just use a candle:

A tea candle is easiest as it is low burning and stays lit for hours. Hold the end of the ribbon a cm away from the flame and watch it melt slightly until the end is sealed.

After heat sealing both ends I sew the ribbon onto the clip. Clips come in different sizes and I normally use a 1" clip as all ribbon fits onto it.

I sew using a sewing machine but it can be done by hand too. I use high quality cotton thread and sew 3 times onto the ribbon making sure to go over at the beginning and end so it doesn't unravel.

( This just means you sew a bit reverse and then go forward again. )

The sewn end of the clip, approx. 2cm of ribbon.

After sewing onto the clip I add the snaps on the end. I use resin snaps so they don't rust, they add strength and can be washed in warm water without melting. Snaps can be done with a hand machine or a snap press. Have a look here: www.snapsaustralia.com.au

Unlike a lot of home made clips I double the end of the ribbon before adding the first snap. It adds strength and stops the ribbon stretching or wearing over time.

Then I add the second snap about 10cm away. This allows room for it to loop over the handle of the dummy.

Once the clip is finished and closed it should measure 22cm from end to end. :)

I hope this has answered some questions for those that have asked but if you have more come visit my Facebook page and ask me: http://www.facebook.com/YummyMummysDummyClips

 

Why not....?

A question I get asked quite often is why not....?
Why not add pretty shapes to my ribbon clips?
Why can't I have more letters or beads on my clip?
Why can't I make the clip longer?
Why are some people selling clips for as low as $4?
Why have they got diamontes on their clips?

Don't get me wrong I love people asking, I would rather you ask and buy a safe product from me or someone else than buying something pretty but dangerous.
There is a reason behind everything I do. As I have mentioned when I started making clips for my daughter people liked them and wanted one. I didn't feel prepared to sell something as important as a dummy clip without first finding out more.
I phoned the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/142
who are in charge of safety standards and got some great advice. I then wrote to many major companies who make and sell dummy clips asking how they certified their products and which materials they are allowed to use. Although they gave very limited answers I began to see the big picture.
There are very few recorded deaths from dummy clips but ther have been a few injuries so it was necessary to me to follow the standards and guidelines to ensure every baby's safety.

The standards are quite comprehensive and can be purchased by anyone. Any person who sells a dummy clip must ensure they are made to the standard or they risk accepting liability and possibly being sued.
I then went off and purchased several manufactured clips and home made dummy clips. Not 1 hand made clip met the safety standards and most were long enough to risk strangulation of a baby- some Mums even asked how long I wanted it made!
This made me even more determined to get the business off on the right foot. So yes it took me 6 months to come up with a beaded clip and a ribbon clip that meet with the approval of both the ACCC and most importantly me!

So why can't I add a press stud on both ends of the ribbon allowing it to be removed and washed- because the standards specifically state the the ribbon or clip must not be detachable. Imagine if a baby pulled the ribbon hard enough and was left with a nice metal clip loose in their hands to chew on or swallow?

Why can't I add a cute felt shape or ribbon decoration to my ribbon clips? Then the dummy clip is classified as a toy and needs to meet the mandatory safety standard for toys for babies which is the law. That means testing the product by an approved lab etc etc OMG what WAHM could afford that?

Why can't I add more beads to make a nice pattern? The standards give a maximum length for a clip so it can't be wrapped around a babies neck and pulled tight enough to choke them. So if you are looking at a photo of a dummy clip on a baby and it seems to hang loosely or attaches to the bottom of their shirt and has enough room to easily reach their mouth you would think it would easily wrap around their tiny neck.

Why can't I add diamontes or sparkles? Most of them haven't been rated as non toxic first of all so your child could ingest chemicals and also they make it a toy- see above ^^^


Even the ribbon width is mandated- there is a minimum and maximum width. Even the type of metal in the clip is required to meet standards. No nickel and no lead. If your child has sensitive skin nickel can cause a reaction and we all know lead is toxic. All of metal clips are certified safe for use with babies.

So although it is great to see such a variety of clips on the market it is worrying to see so many are more about being eye catching or pretty rather than useful. Dummy clips are after all designed to stop you losing dummies.

So the next time you see a clip for sale have a think about the above points- if not sure ask the seller! They should know all of this and much, much more!

If in doubt ask......why not?

Safety and the Australian Standards

For those that are not fans of Facebook this week has all been about safety.

It seems there are so many mixed messages out there and you the consumer can get conflicting information. So to clear it up from my point of view here are some important facts:

The Australian Safety Standards apply to all products made and bought, whether from a Mum, business or a store.

Some standards are mandatory: this means you have no choice about meeting the standard.

 You cannot sell a product on this list unless you meet their requirements.

For a list of products covered by a mandatory standard look here:

Mandatory Standards

To be very clear none of the products I sell are on this list.

If you buy something for a baby or child under the age of 3 please be aware that baby TOYS fall under the mandatory standard.

Here is the page with more details on what counts as a baby toy:

Baby Toys- Mandatory Standards

So if you have fallen in love with a handmade doll, teddy, comforter or rattle make sure it has been tested to meet the standard.

Toys that have been tested will have a label stating they are safe or meet the AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2002.

If you are a business or WAHM who makes or sells baby toys you can purchase the

Australian standard here:

http://www.saiglobal.com/

Penalties and consequences:

Supplying toys for children up to and including 36 months of age that do not comply with the mandatory standard can make you liable for heavy fines and product recalls.

Some toys under this standard will need to be tested in an approved laboratory.

As for the products I sell while still in the start up phase of my business I rang the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and spoke to the small business sector: http://www.productsafety.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/974257/fromItemId/970798

They confirmed that it was safe to sell my products and gave helpful tips and hints.

As advised if no mandatory standard applies they advise you to follow the voluntary standards which I do to the best of my ability.

As I have said on my blog and website one of the reasons I started making dummy clips was because I wasn't happy with what was on the market. I didn't like the plastic chains in stores and after purchasing 4 or 5 clips off other WAHM I realised most of the clips were too long or not made to last. I then went and purchased dummy clips sold in stores to see what made them safe and what materials they use. For the beaded clips I love:

Haba Clips: HABA pacifier clips- beaded

Also for beaded clips I love: Heimess beaded clips:
Heimess beaded dummy clips

These 2 great companies make safety a huge priority and it reassured me as a Mum that safety was a focus over looks. I then purchased ribbon clips on the market to see how they were attached, usually by sewn threads and the end had velcro. I hated that the velcro stuck to everything it shouldn't and wore out easily.

That is why my ribbon clips use snaps.

All dummy clips have a maximum length to reduce the risk if strangulation, if a child moved the clip or rolled over in the sleep it could tangle around their neck.

That is why they need to be short enough not to reach all the way around.

The metal clips are lead free in case a child sucks on it, we all know the dangers of lead!

As for my beaded clips all beads are non toxic so there is no danger if a child sucks on a bead, although they are not for teething or biting!

The string is 100% cotton so there are no hidden dangers....check the string regularly as they do wear over time.

If your child sucks on the string make sure you leave it to dry after use.

The same goes for the wooden shape attached with non toxic glue. Be aware that over time it may come loose or need reattaching.

Non toxic glue is not as long lasting as other types but I will reattach for free.

The wooden shape is also painted with non toxic glue in case it gets into mouths. You can request not to have one or to use the suspender clip like I put on the ribbon clips.

For my latest product the Harness Clip- there is no safety standard that is required on this product.

I have used it and sent it to many testers but as with any product it is a personal decision as to where and how you use it.

The dangers to a child are higher from them being in an accident with no harness on rather than being in a harness with clip on.

I hope this has answered any questions you may have but feel free to email me with any more:

dummy.clips@yahoo.com

I hope this has been an informative and helpful post.

New styles!

I have just got some more HABA clips in stock and posted the pic on my Facebook page:

I have also started using a new thread that is thicker and more weight bearing so harder to break. It is still as flexible though so there is little change in the movement.
Don't forget to order through my new store:
http://www.dummy-clips.com/
Thanks

Clip Covers!!

I use a multitude of different clip covers sourced from many locations which means they are often unique and one off. Some I have managed to get reguarly and have become favourites. They are also non toxic wooden shapes which means they are safe for little hands and mouths. They are glued on with non toxic glue and provide a cover for the clips to stop little hands undoing them.
Here are 2 pictures of my current stock of  boys and girls clip covers to give you some ideas:

Any questions just email me: dummyclips@gmail.com
Ebay: alisia1981 or yummymummysdummyclips
Madeit: Vanessas Dummy Clips

Haba Clips

HABA CLIPS

I bought a few of these from Germany and love them!

They are non toxic wooden clips that attach to ribbons or my beaded clips. I have been using one to attach to toys on its own.

I use it on my daughters taggie by sewing a bit of ribbon into a loop onto the flat taggie blanket and attaching onto the Haba clip. So it is permanetly attached and can't go anywhere.

My daughter loves chewing on the clip and I know her toy is always safe.

As they are nice and large with bright colours they are a feature in themselves.

These are avilable for sale seprately or attached to a clip but I only have a limited number!

Safety..

For anyone worried about the safety of my clips be assured it is something I have thought long and hard about...

I had an email asking how safe they are so here goes:

All beads are non toxic and chosen for their size

Usually to prevent them choking or so they are small enough to swallow and not obstruct their airways

I have never had 1 break

All are triple knotted, glued and then a smaller bead on the end is glued to the knot

Triple assurances that it can't just be pulled off

Even if a wooden clip cover comes off they are also safe as they are too large to swallow and are safe to chew on

The thread is 100% cotton and non toxic

The glue is non toxic and safe for children

If you have any questions please feel free to ask

I have seen mnay clips on ebay using plastic beads which are not allowed for children under 3 and using satin ribbon which can tear, rip or be worn open...so beware

Also some have diamontes or crystals which can cut children's tender gums and mouth

Ribbon Clips

These ribbon clips come in lots of great colours and designs. The ribbon is sewn onto a lead free smooth metal clip with plastic teeth for gripping. Again it is designed not to tear clothes. The other end of the ribbon is a snap or press stud designed to go around the handle of the dummy:

This is a ribbon clip open with bronze coloured studs.

If you have dummies with round ends (like we do!! ) I imported Mam clips which the press stud goes through and allows you to use these and the beaded clips on all dummy types:

                                Here is an example of a dummy with the "round end"