US Federal Rule on Bassinets and Cradles

On 23 October 2013, the US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) issued a final rule 16 CFR Part 1218 for Bassinets and Cradles. The rule incorporated the voluntary standard -- ASTM F2194-13 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bassinets and Cradles with modifications. The modifications aim to cover inadequacy of the ASTM F2194-13 standard on noticeable risks associated with the use of bassinets and cradles. The modifications are summarized as below:

1. A clarification of the scope of the bassinet/cradle standard;

2. A change to the pass/fail criteria for the mattress flatness test;

3. An exemption from the mattress flatness requirement for bassinets that are less than 15 inches across;

4. The addition of a removable bassinet bed stability requirement; and

5. A change to the stability test procedure, requiring the use of a newborn CAMI dummy, instead of an infant CAMI dummy.

The majority of the rule becomes effective 23 April 2014, but the requirements for removable bassinet bed attachments will become effective 23 April 2015.

Bassinet or cradle is defined as a small bed designed primarily to accommodate sleeping for infants, supported by free standing legs, a stationary frame/stand, a wheeled base, a rocking base, or which can swing relative to a stationary base. In a stationary (non-rocking or swinging) position, a bassinet/cradle is designed to have a sleep surface less than or equal to 10 degrees from horizontal. A bassinet/cradle shall not be used by infants beyond the age of about 5 months or when a child is able to push up on his/her hands and knees.