CPSC is continuing to make great progress with our child safety work to establish federal safety rules for infant and toddler products. The newest one, which takes effect Sept. 29, 2014, is for soft infant and toddler carriers.
A soft carrier is usually made of sewn fabric and holds a child upright. It is designed to be worn by a caregiver. Soft carriers are typically meant for full-term babies who weigh seven pounds or more through toddlers up to 45 pounds.
The new regulation requires that all new soft infant carriers will be tested to meet safety standards. Some key safety requirements are:
- Leg openings are designed to prevent an infant from falling through them.
- The carrier can hold the weight that it’s advertising.
- The fasteners and straps are designed so that they won’t come apart while a caregiver is holding a child.
- All soft carriers must contain a warning label about fall and suffocation risks with the product.
CPSC received nearly 125 incident reports—including four deaths—related to soft infant and toddler carriers between January 1999 and July 15, 2013.
Whether your child is placed in a crib, a stroller, or a babywearing product, we want you to have confidence that these products are covered by strong safety standards.