New Safety Standards For Play Yards

New safety standards for play yards, also called travel yards or playpens, go into effect today, February 28, 2013. We have received a number of questions about what these new standards mean for consumers and for those who intended to give away or sell their used play yards. In this post, we summarize the new rules and standards.

Background

Part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) required the CPSC to develop mandatory safety standards for various durable infant and toddler goods. Previously, safety standards for these items were largely voluntary. The new mandatory standards were to be at least as stringent as the voluntary standards and more stringent if it was determined that additional safety requirements could further reduce the risk of injury. For the past three years, new standards have been rolled out forcribs, children’s bed rails, baby bath seats, baby walkers,infant swings and toddler beds. The latest is for play yards.

What is Considered a Play Yard?

Although there are similarities to non-full sized cribs, to avoid confusion, play yards are defined as a “framed enclosure that includes a floor and has mesh or fabric sided panels primarily intended to provide a play or sleeping environment for children. It may fold for storage or travel.” Play yards are intended for children who are less than 35 inches tall, who cannot climb out of the product.

New Standards

Play yards that meet the new safety standard must have:

• Side rails that do not form a sharp V when the product is folded. This prevents a child from strangling in the side rail.
• Stronger corner brackets to prevent sharp-edged cracks and to prevent a side-rail collapse.
• Sturdier mattress attachments to the play yard floor to prevent children from getting trapped or hurt.

Who Must Comply with the New Standards?

There is an important distinction between the new crib standards and the new play yard standards. For cribs, on the day the new standard went into effect, July 28, 2011, it became unlawful for anyone to sell, offer for use, or otherwise place into the “stream of commerce” any crib that does not meet the new safety standards. Childcare facilities and places of public accommodation such as hotels were not required to comply until December 28, 2012.

For play yards, the new safety standards only apply to play yards that are manufactured or imported on or after February 28, 2013.