CPSC Sets New Safety Standard for Crib Mattresses
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is finalizing a new children's product safety standard for crib mattresses. The agency's final rule, published Feb. 15, largely adopts a proposal issued in 2020 (see 2010260028), covering both full-size and non-full-size crib mattresses, as well as aftermarket mattresses for play yards and non-full-size cribs. The rule applies the latest ASTM voluntary industry standard, with some changes to make it more stringent, CPSC said.
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The final rule says full-size crib mattresses are typically sold separately from the crib in which they are intended to be used, and are also known as “standard” crib mattresses. Full-size crib mattresses are “at least 27 1/4 in. wide and 51 5/8 in. long. The interior dimensions of full-size cribs are 28 ± 5/8 in. (710 ± 16 mm) wide and 52 3/8 ± 5/8 in. (1330 ± 16 mm) long,” CPSC said.
Non-full size crib mattresses differ in dimension or shape from standard full-size cribs, and are covered by the safety standard “regardless of whether they are sold separately (after-market), or are sold with a non-full-size crib,” the final rule said. “Because non-full-size cribs do not come in a standard size, non-full-size crib mattresses do not have defined dimensions.”
The new safety standards also cover after-market mattresses for play yards that are sold separately from the play yard, and “not sold by the OEM as a replacement mattress for their product.” The final rule requires that they “meet the same specifications and performance requirements for OEM play yard mattresses,” it said. “Additionally, the final rule requires that after-market mattresses intended for use in the bassinet of a play yard with a bassinet attachment must also meet the specifications in ASTM F2194, Consumer Safety Specifications for Bassinets and Cradles.”
The final rule incorporates the latest industry voluntary standard, ASTM F2933-21, with some modifications to address suffocation hazards due to overly soft mattresses, entrapment hazards resulting from poor mattress fit, and laceration hazards associated with coils and springs breaking. It also improves labeling and instructional literature to address the risks of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation related to infant positioning, the final rule said.
The final rule takes effect six months from publication, on Aug. 15. “[J]uvenile product manufacturers are accustomed to adjusting to new standards within 6 months, and suppliers have now had lead time to prepare for this rule since the [notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR)] was published on October 26, 2020," CPSC said. "Finally, many crib mattresses within the scope of the final rule require no change in design to achieve compliance with the final rule."