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Bassinets and Cradles Business Guidance

Section 104(b)(1) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires the CPSC to promulgate safety rules for durable infant or toddler products. Implementing that Congressional instruction, CPSC published in the Federal Register (78 FR 63019) a final rule that codifies the regulation for bassinets and cradles at 16 C.F.R. part 1218 and incorporates by reference ASTM F2194, with any modifications by CPSC. 16 C.F.R. § 1218.2 identifies the latest Commission-accepted version of ASTM F2194 that is mandatory as well as any modifications. See the “Previous Versions of the Standard” section below for effective dates.

A bassinet/cradle is a small bed designed primarily to provide sleeping accommodations for infants that is supported by freestanding legs, a stationary frame/stand, a wheeled base or a rocking base, or that can swing relative to a stationary base. While in a rest (non-rocking) position, a bassinet/cradle is intended to have a sleep surface less than or equal to 10 degrees from horizontal.

ASTM F2194 also includes requirements pertaining to bassinets that are accessories to play yards or non-full-size cribs. These accessories must meet both the bassinet and cradle standard in addition to the standard for the primary product, like a play yard or non-full-size crib.

The requirements for bassinets and cradles are as follows:

  • General requirements
  • Performance requirements
    • Spacing of rigid sided bassinet/cradle components
    • Openings for mesh/fabric sided bassinet/cradle
    • Static load
    • Stability 
    • Sleeping pad
    • Protective components
    • Bassinets with segmented mattresses: flatness test
    • Fabric sided enclosed openings
    • Rock/swing angle
    • Removable bassinet bed attachment – modification by CPSC, see 16 C.F.R. § 1218.2(b)(5)

Read-only copies of ASTM standards that are incorporated by reference can be viewed at ASTM’s electronic Reading Room.

Labeling

Per 16 C.F.R. § 1130.4, the following information must be permanently affixed to durable infant or toddler products in English:

  • Name of domestic manufacturer or importer
  • Contact information (must include US address and phone number, toll-free if available)
  • Model name/number
    • Product identification number may be used as an identifying feature instead
  • Date of manufacture
    • Date must be at least month and year, and it can be stated in code form

This labeling requirement is in addition to the tracking label requirement for children’s products. This page summarizes the labeling requirements for durable infant or toddler products.

Registration Form

Product registration forms are required for all durable infant and toddler products to enable the manufacturer or retailer of the product to contact consumers with recall or other safety information. For more information, visit our registration forms business guidance page.

Previous Versions of the Standard

15 U.S.C. § 2056a(b)(4)(B) requires the CPSC to evaluate any updates to an incorporated ASTM standard for durable infant or toddler products to determine whether the revised standard improves the safety of the product. Firms must ensure that the product is tested to the Commission-accepted version of ASTM F2194 depending on its date of manufacture or import:

Manufactured or imported on or after...Must meet...
April 23, 2014ASTM F2194-13 with modification, see 78 FR 63019

Certification

Section 14(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) requires manufacturers and importers of children’s products subject to a regulation, standard, or ban enforced by the CPSC to certify that those products meet the requirements of the standard by issuing a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC). For bassinets and cradles, the citation to use in section 2 of the CPC is “16 CFR part 1218 – Bassinets and cradles”.

For more information on certification, visit our CPC business guidance page.

Additional Information

Contact

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