i woke up this morning still angry about the nanny product. it is particularly
infuriating to see that someone claims that they are acting in accordance with
God's law. i do the work i do because i AM on a mission from God, and i am
doing the right thing, not the wrong thing. this is the sort of thing that
could ruin my reputation as a zealot.

however, it seems obvious to me that trying to get these people to change
their ways on the grounds that their product is bad or wrong, even morally
wrong, will have no effect whatsoever. playing the Devil's advocate for just a
moment, let me point out:
people prop bottles all the time, this product just recognizes that fact, and
makes it easier to do what is already being done. it even says that the baby
should not be left unattended.

following this line of thinking, i decided that complaints to this company
would no doubt only confirm their beliefs that certain zealots and fanatics
were out to get them. the one unassailable point i believe we can make about
this product is that it is UNSAFE. yes, people prop bottles all the time, and
one of the dangers of this is that an unattended baby could choke.

the first call i made this morning was to the Consumer Products Safety
Commission, 1-800-638-2772. instead of listening to the endless menu, you can
just enter 999 and talk to someone and file a complaint. before i called i
printed out all the information about this product so that i could give name,
address, etc. the person who took the information said that this is passed
along to technicians who would decide whether an investigation was necessary.
i stressed that this product was unsafe and could cause death or serious
injury, that standard health policies in this country advised against propping
bottles in any way, and that an investigation would be a good idea BEFORE a
death or injury occurred.

i gave my credentials as a volunteer lactation counselor. i asked whether an
investigation would be more likely to take place if others with more
credentials were to file complaints. she said no, but i did receive a distinct
impression that the real answer might be yes. i was mightily tempted to borrow
someone's initials for the day!

then, thinking about the "Charity" claims made by this company, that 50% of
their proceeds go to "charity,"  i called the Maryland Secretary of State's
Office, Charitable Organizations Division, and learned that this company is
NOT registered as a non-profit or charitable organization. i then spoke to a
nice Legal Advisor named Amy, who explained that they need to first determine
if this company is doing anything wrong. they may just be willing, as a
company, to donate to charities. or, they may be working as an actual agent
for a charitable organization, in which case they must be registered and
follow the rules. i was rather concerned that these extravagant claims about
donating to charity might not be entirely true, as they were so vague. Amy
promised to investigate this further, and turn it over to the office of the
Attorney General of Maryland if warranted.

i did also write to the Nanny company, in the most neutral tone i could
muster, asking specific questions about product testing, liability insurance,
the charitable donations and so forth. i do not  expect a reply.

 those of you who feel like making a five minute call to the Consumer Products
Safety Commission, and have some really impressive credentials  - back me up
here. I feel like invoking "Vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord," but what we
want here is not vengeance, just to stop something that is dangerous as well
as morally bankrupt.

but, i have always assumed we shouldn't wait upon justice, but to seek it.

carol brussel, a mere accredited volunteer lactation counselor