Interpreting CPC-Certified Crib Safety Standards 16 CFR 1217 and ASTM F1821

What is a toddler bed?

A toddler bed refers to any bed that can accommodate a full-size crib mattress, with minimum dimensions of 51 5/8 inches (1310 mm) in length and 27 1/4 inches (690 mm) in width, designed to provide children who are at least 15 months old and weigh no more than 50 pounds (27.7 kg) with a bed they can get in and out of freely.

What is the purpose of the toddler bed standard?

This standard tries to reduce the situation when the little one gets stuck in the structure at the end of the bed, between the guardrail and the side rails, in the mattress support system. Getting stuck in the head or neck of a child can cause suffocation. The standard also addresses the extension of the corner post, which may grip the lanyard of the pacifier, the strap, the necklace, or clothing on the child's body that may be caught by the protrusion.

Applicable standards

16 CFR 1217 SAFETY STANDARD FOR TODDLER BEDS

ASTM F1821-19 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toddler Beds

What are the requirements for toddler beds in 16 CFR 1217?

This standard has strict requirements for the overall integrity and operation of toddler beds, such as mattress supports, guardrails and sidebar interlayers, spindle/skateboard interlayers, partially restraint openings, and warnings and instructions.

What are the additional requirements for toddler beds under the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008?

Baby beds are subject to surface coatings, restrictions on lead and phthalate content, third-party testing and certification, registration cards, and tracking label requirements.

Lead Limit: The total lead content of any contact assembly part of the toddler bed must not exceed 100 ppm (0.01%).

Phthalate content limit: The plasticized parts of the toddler bed must not contain more than 0. 1% of the following eight specific phthalates: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), din-amyl phthalate (DPENP), di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHEXP), and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP).

Crib CPC Certificate: Like all products designed for or intended primary use for children 12 years of age or younger, crib must be tested by a CPSC-accredited third-party laboratory for compliance with crib standards and all other applicable children's product safety rules, including lead coatings, lead content, and phthalate content limits. On the basis of testing, the domestic manufacturer (or importer) of the toddler bed must issue a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) specifying each applicable rule and stating that the product complies with these rules.

Product and packaging labeling requirements: Durable infant and toddler products, such as toddler beds, must permanently label specific labeling information, including tracking labels, on the product and packaging. In addition, durable infant products require an additional product identification and a product registration card attached to the product.