Section 104(b)(1) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires the CPSC to promulgate rulemaking for durable infant or toddler products. Implementing that Congressional instruction, CPSC published in the Federal Register (80 FR 11113) a final rule codifies the regulation for frame child carriers at 16 C.F.R. part 1230 and incorporates by reference ASTM F2549, with any modifications by CPSC. 16 C.F.R. § 1230.2 identifies the latest Commission-accepted version of ASTM F2549 that is mandatory as well as any modifications. See the “Previous Versions of the Standard” section below for effective dates.
A frame child carrier is typically a product of sewn fabric construction on a tubular metal or other frame, which is designed to carry a child in an upright position on the back of the caregiver. The intended users of frame carriers are children who are able to sit upright unassisted and weigh between 16 pounds and 50 pounds. Frame carriers are intended to be worn on the back and suspended from both shoulders of the caregiver’s body in a forward- or rear-facing position. This type of carrier is often used for hiking and closely resembles hiking/mountaineering backpacks not intended to be used for child transport.
The requirements for frame child carriers are as follows:
- General requirements
- Hazardous 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
- Lead in paint – see also our lead in paint business guidance page
- Wood parts
- Scissoring, shearing, and pinching
- Openings
- Exposed coil springs
- Locking and latching
- Unintentional folding
- Labeling
- Protective components
- Flammability of frame child carriers
- Toys – any toy accessories must meet the applicable requirements for children’s toys
- Performance requirements
- Leg openings
- Dynamic strength
- Static load
- Stability
- Retention system
- Handle integrity
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 Version 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 F2549 depending on its date of manufacture:
| Manufactured after... | Must meet... |
|---|---|
| December 3, 2022 | ASTM F2549-22 |
| September 2, 2016 | ASTM F2549-14a |
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 frame child carriers, the citation to use in section 2 of the CPC is “16 CFR part 1230– Frame child carriers”.
For more information on certification, visit our CPC business guidance page.
Additional Information
- Frame child carriers FAQs
- Durable infant or toddler product business guidance page
- Registration forms business guidance page
Contact
For more information, please contact the Small Business Ombudsman (SBO) team:
- SBO contact form
- Toll-free: (888) 531-9070
- Email: SBO@cpsc.gov