WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal standard intended to improve the safety of baby changing products, which include changing tables, changing table accessories, add-on changing units and contoured changing pads.
The new federal standard incorporates the most recent voluntary standard developed by ASTM International (ASTM F2388-18, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Baby Changing Products for Domestic Use), with no modifications. The standard addresses the hazard patterns associated with the use of baby changing products and includes requirements for structural integrity, restraint-system integrity and warnings on labels and in instructional literature.
Between 2005 through 2016, there were an estimated 39,010 baby changing product-related injuries to children younger than three years of age treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments, according to CPSC’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS).
CPSC has received 188 reports of incidents involving baby changing products that occurred between January 2005 and November 2017. These incidents involved seven fatalities and 31 injuries or adverse health problems. The fatal incidents primarily involved suffocation or asphyxia when babies were sleeping on baby changing products. Structural integrity issues with baby changing products were the primary hazard associated with nonfatal incidents.
The effective date for the new mandatory baby changing products standard is June 26, 2019. The standard will apply to products manufactured or imported on or after that date.
Changing tables used in public facilities, such as public restrooms, are covered by ASTM F2285, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Diaper Changing Tables for Commercial Use, and are not subject to ASTM F2388-18 or the new mandatory standard.
The Commission is required by the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), to issue consumer product safety standards for durable infant or toddler products. The Commission has approved new federal safety standards for durable infant or toddler products, including full-size cribs, non-full-size cribs, play yards, baby walkers, baby bath seats, children’s portable bed rails, strollers, toddler beds, infant swings, handheld infant carriers, soft infant carriers, framed infant carriers, bassinets, cradles, portable hook-on chairs, infant sling carriers, infant bouncer seats and high chairs.
The Commission voted unanimously (4-0) to approve the standard on June 19, 2018.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
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