First appeared in USA Today
Millions of baby products, including pint-size hammocks,
recliners and some bassinets, aren't subject to federal or even industry
standards.
The Bumbo baby seat, which consumer advocates want recalled
and redesigned, isn't covered by existing standards. Neither are travel beds
for infants or the Nap Nanny recliner.
"Parents assume that products they use with their
babies have been tested for safety, but products such as these fall outside the
scope of recognized standards and might pose unknown risks — even if the
company makes up their own testing," says Nancy Cowles of the advocacy
group Kids in Danger.
All children's products have to meet standards that prohibit
sharp points or edges and restrict hazardous substances such as lead, and
product-specific rules help guard against injuries from certain designs.
A 2008 product safety law requires the Consumer Product
Safety Commission to turn industry standards for children's products into
federal mandates. Industry standards for infant slings were finalized last
month.
But it can be difficult for regulators to keep up with all
the new baby products, including designs that defy traditional classification,
experts say.
The CPSC can recall a product even if it isn't covered by a
safety standard if it "presents a substantial product hazard," says
commission spokesman Scott Wolfson. He points to the July 2010 recall of 30,000
Nap Nanny recliners after a death and 23 other incidents. The fabric-covered
foam bases can be used for sleeping, but CPSC said there were entrapment,
suffocation and fall risks.
The Bumbo seat isn't an infant carrier or walker, which will
both have federal rules soon. The seat is linked to 33 skull fractures,
including two while used on the floor, as recommended. Four million of the
seats have been sold in the U.S. It was recalled in 2007 to add a warning.
Trade group Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association says
it works closely with the industry standard-setting body ASTM International.
JPMA's Lauren Pfeiffer notes ASTM has developed 22 voluntary standards for
kids' products.
ASTM is developing an industry standard for "inclined
sleep products" to address deaths in hammocks and recliners. The standard,
which will also cover inclining bassinets, will take effect in about a year and
be mandatory in about two.
What's regulated:
Children's products
covered by federal safety standards:
Cribs
Baby bath seats
Infant walkers
Toddler beds
Bed rails
Federal rules in the
works this year for:
Play yards
Bassinets
Cradles
Strollers
Infant carriers
