Skip to main content

Play Yards 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 (84 FR 56684) a final rule that codifies the regulation for play yards at 16 C.F.R. part 1221 and incorporates by reference ASTM F406, with any modifications by CPSC. 16 C.F.R. § 1221.2 identifies the latest Commission-accepted version of ASTM F406 that is mandatory as well as any modifications. See the “Previous Versions of the Standard” section below for effective dates.

A play yard is a framed enclosure that includes a floor and has mesh or fabric sides. Play yards are intended for use in or around the home, for travel, and other purposes. Play yards provide sleeping and playing accommodation for a child who cannot climb out and is less than 35 in. (890 mm) in height. Inflatable play yards are not covered by the regulation. Play yards are similar to, but should not be confused with, non-full-size baby cribs; play yards have non-rigid sides.

Play yards that contain bassinet attachments must meet the play yard requirements and the bassinet requirements.

The requirements for play yards are as follows:

  • General requirements
  • Performance requirements
    • Height of sides
    • Side deflection and strength
    • Floor strength
    • Top rail covering material
    • Mesh requirements
    • Fabric material requirements
    • Mesh/fabric assembly requirements
    • Mattress vertical displacement
    • Top rail configuration
    • Top rail to corner post attachment

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 F406 depending on its date of manufacture or import:

Manufactured or imported on or after...Must meet...
January 20, 2020ASTM F406-19 with modification, see 84 FR 56684

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 play yards, the citation to use in section 2 of the CPC is “16 CFR part 1221 – Play yards”.

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

Additional Information

Contact

Report an unsafe product