ASTM Published Latest Safety Standard for Soft Infant and Toddler
Carriers ASTM F2236-24
On July 1, 2024, the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) approved a revised version of ASTM
F2236 and published ASTM F2236-24 in August 2024.
What is a soft infant and toddler carrier?
A soft infant and toddler
carrier is a product normally of sewn fabric construction designed to carry a
child (a full-term infant to a toddler), generally in an upright position, in
close proximity to the caregiver.
What is the purpose of the soft infant and toddler carrier standard?
The standard seeks to minimize
the risk of deaths and injuries associated with the use of soft infant and
toddler carriers, including those related to caregiver falls, infant falls from
carriers, or structural and design problems of carriers.
The Scope of ASTM F2236
ASTM F2236 safety specification
establishes performance requirements, test methods, and marking requirements to
promote safe use of soft infant and toddler carriers. It is intended to
minimize the risk of incidents to an infant from the normal use and reasonably
foreseeable misuse of these products.
It also provides requirements
for labeling and instructional literature to promote safe use of the soft
infant and toddler carriers by an occupant and a caregiver.
A soft infant and toddler carrier is a product,
normally of sewn fabric construction, which is designed to contain a full term
infant to a toddler, generally in an upright position, in close proximity to
the caregiver. In general, the child will weigh between 7 lb and 45 lb (3.2 kg
and 20.4 kg).
The soft infant and toddler
carrier is normally “worn” by the caregiver with a child positioned in the
carrier and the weight of the child and carrier suspended from one or both
shoulders of the caregiver.
These products may be worn on
the front, side, or back of the caregiver’s body with the infant either facing
towards or away from the caregiver. This consumer safety specification does not
include products generally referred to as “slings.”
Changes to the standard from ASTM F2236-16a to ASTM F2236–24
Compared to the previous
version, the most significant change in ASTM F2236-24 is to update the content
requirements of the product label and instructional literature, and add the
warning to meet the format requirements of ANSI Z535.4 – 2011.
Significant changes to the
standard from ASTM F2236-16a to ASTM F2236–24 are described below.
Update the description of each
definition in Clause 3, mainly adding the part of speech of the terms;
Update the title of Clause 5.7
to Flammability of Soft Infant and Toddler Carriers;
Update the description of
Clause 5.7.2;
Add Clause 5.7.3 stating that
non-toy accessories sold with or attached to the products shall also comply
with the requirements of Clause 5.7;
Update the requirements of
Clause 8 & 9 regarding product labeling and instructional literature.
Example of Warning Statements:
The General Requirements for Soft Infant and Toddler Carriers
The standard includes performance requirements specific to soft
infant and toddler carriers, general performance requirements, and labeling
requirements.
1. Hazardous Sharp Points
or Edges—There shall be no sharp points or edges;
2. Small Parts—There shall be no small parts (defined by 16 CFR 1501 before testing or liberated as a result of testing);
3. Lead in Paint—The paint or surface coating on the product shall comply with 16 CFR 1303.;
4. Wood Parts—Prior to testing, any wooden parts shall be smooth and free of
splinters;
5. Locking and Latching—Any product designed with a locking and latching device must remain
in the manufacturer’s recommended use position before and after completion of
all tests in this standard;
6. Labeling—Warning labels (whether paper or non paper) shall be permanent when
tested;
- Warning statements applied directly onto the surface of the
product by hot stamping, heat transfer, printing, wood burning, and so forth
shall be permanent when tested;
- Non-paper labels shall not liberate small parts when tested;
7. Toys—Toy accessories attached to, removable from, or sold with a soft
infant carrier, as well as their means of attachment, must meet applicable
requirements of Consumer Safety Specification F963.
What are the additional requirements for soft infant and toddler
carriers
Soft infant and toddler carriers are subject to requirements for
surface coatings, lead, and (in certain circumstances) phthalate content,
testing and certification, registration cards, and tracking labels.
l
Surface Coating Limit: Soft infant and
toddler carriers must not be painted with paint that contains more than 90 ppm
(0.009 percent) lead.
l
Lead Content Limit: Soft infant and
toddler carriers must not contain greater than 100 ppm (0.01 percent) of total
lead content in any accessible component part.
l
Phthalate Content Limits: Soft infant
and toddler carriers that contain plasticized parts that are designed,
marketed, or intended to facilitate sleep or have plasticized components that
are designed, marketed, or intended to facilitate eating, must not contain more
than 0.1 percent of the following eight specified phthalates: di-(2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP),
diisononyl phthalate (DINP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-pentyl phthalate
(DPENP), di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHEXP), and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP).
l
Testing and Certification: Soft infant
and toddler carriers, like all products that are designed or intended primarily
for children 12 years of age or younger, must be tested by a CPSC-accepted,
third party laboratory for compliance with the soft infant and toddler carrier
standard and all other applicable children’s product safety rules. Based on
that testing, a domestic manufacturer (or importer) of soft infant and toddler
carriers must issue a Children's Product Certificate specifying each applicable
rule and indicating that the product complies with those rules.
l
Product and Outer Package Labeling Requirements: Durable infant or toddler products, such as soft infant and toddler
carriers, must be permanently marked with specific labeling information,
including tracking labels, on the product and on the packaging. In addition, durable infant or toddler
products are required to have additional product markings and a product
registration card attached to the product.
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