Crib Mattresses Business Guidance

Section 104(b)(1) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires the CPSC to promulgate safety rules for durable infant or toddler products. Implementing that Congressional instruction, CPSC published in the Federal Register (87 FR 8640) a final rule that codifies the regulation for crib mattresses at 16 C.F.R. part 1241 and incorporates by reference ASTM F2933, with any modifications by CPSC. 16 C.F.R. § 1241.2 identifies the latest Commission-accepted version of ASTM F2933 that is mandatory as well as any modifications. See the “Previous Versions of the Standard” section below for effective dates.

Crib mattresses within scope include full-size crib mattresses, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) non-full-size crib mattresses (provided with the crib), and after-market mattresses for play yards and non-full-size cribs (sold separately from the crib or play yard).

A “mattress” is “ticking filled with a resilient material used alone or in combination with other products intended or promoted for sleeping on it”. Further:

• A full-size crib is a crib with dimensions of 52⅜ in. ± ⅝ in. (1330 mm ± 16 mm) by 28 in. ± ⅝ in. (711 mm ± 16 mm).
• A non-full size crib is a crib with interior length dimensions either greater than 55 in. (1397 mm) or smaller than 49¾ in. (1264 mm), or an interior width dimension either greater than 30⅝ in. (778 mm) or smaller than 25⅜ in. (645 mm), or both.
• A play yard is a framed enclosure that includes a floor and has mesh or fabric sides. Play yards are intended for use in or around the home, for travel, and other purposes. Play yards provide sleeping and playing accommodation for a child who cannot climb out and is less than 35 in. (890 mm) in height. Inflatable play yards are not covered by the regulation. Play yards are similar to, but should not be confused with, non-full-size baby cribs; play yards have non-rigid sides.

The general requirements for crib mattresses are as follows:

• Sharp points and edges – see also 16 C.F.R. §§ 1500.3(b)(4)(i)(D) and 1500.3(b)(15)(i)(A)
• Small parts – see also our small parts business guidance page
• Surface coatings – see also our lead in paint business guidance page
• Openings
• Labeling
• Mattress dimensions
• Mattress seam stitching
• After-market mattress for play yard
• Sleep surface firmness
• Coil springs

The following table summarizes the requirements for each category of crib mattress:

¹ Only sections for Stability, Cord/Strap Length, Mattresses for Rigid Sided Products, and Crib Side Height. 

² Only sections for Stability, Cord/Strap Length, Mattresses, Height of Sides, Floor Strength, and Mattress Vertical Displacement. For aftermarket mattresses intended to be used in a bassinet of a play yard with a bassinet attachment, the mattress must ALSO meet sections for Pad Thickness for Fabric or Mesh Sided Products, Pad Dimensions, Side Height, and Bassinets with Segmented mattresses of 16 C.F.R. 1218. 

³ Must be the same size as the original mattress or larger and lay flat on the floor of the product, in contact with the product mattress support structure or floor. Must include certain features present on the original equipment mattress for each crib or play yard model it is intended to be used with: floor support structure (e.g. backing-board or other structure integrated into the mattress) that is at least as thick as in the original mattress and equivalent storage accommodations (e.g. pocket, sleeve, or other accommodations) for instructions. Must include all original warnings included with the original equipment mattress, in addition to those required by ASTM F2933, and assembly/attachment instructions that were provided with the original mattress. Testing must be conducted with each intended compatible crib or play yard, CPSC will consider marketing materials when determining intended use. Generic compatibility based on a size measurement cannot meet these requirements. 

⁴ Must include test-verified compatible model information for the product in which the mattress is intended to be used, located on retail packaging, product label(s), and all instructions. CPSC will consider marketing materials when determining intended use.

Some tests require that: 

1. Mattresses that are supplied with a product shall be tested when positioned in that product; 
2. Full-size crib mattresses sold independent of a product shall be tested on a flat, rigid, horizontal support; and
3. After-market mattresses for play yards  shall be tested with each brand and model of product for which the mattress is intended to be used.

Read-only copies of ASTM standards that are incorporated by reference can be viewed at ASTM’s electronic Reading Room.

Labeling

Per 16 C.F.R. § 1130.4, the following information must be permanently affixed to durable infant or toddler products in English:

• Name of manufacturer or importer
• Contact information (must include US address and phone number, toll-free if available)
• Model name/number
  • Product identification number may be used as an identifying feature instead
• Date of manufacture
  • Date must be at least month and year, and it can be stated in code form

This labeling requirement is in addition to the tracking label requirement for children’s products. This page summarizes the labeling requirements for durable infant or toddler products.

Registration Form

Product registration forms are required for all durable infant and toddler products to enable the manufacturer or retailer of the product to contact consumers with recall or other safety information. For more information, visit our registration forms business guidance page.

Previous Versions of the Standard

15 U.S.C. § 2056a(b)(4)(B) requires the CPSC to evaluate any updates to an incorporated ASTM standard for durable infant or toddler products to determine whether the revised standard improves the safety of the product. Firms must ensure that the product is tested to the Commission-accepted version of ASTM F2933 depending on its date of manufacture:

Certification

Section 14(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) requires manufacturers and importers of children’s products subject to a regulation, standard, or ban enforced by the CPSC to certify that those products meet the requirements of the standard by issuing a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC). For crib mattresses, the citation to use in section 2 of the CPC is “16 CFR part 1241 – Crib mattresses”.

For more information on certification, visit our CPC business guidance page.

Additional Information

• Crib mattresses FAQs
• Durable infant or toddler product business guidance page
• Registration forms business guidance page

Contact

• SBO contact form
• Toll-free: (888) 531-9070
• Email: SBO@cpsc.gov