ASTM Standards for baby slings and carriers can be overwhelming the first time you read them. This article will help you understand the different parts of the standards, what tests are required, and how they apply to your product.
Overview of ASTM standards for baby slings and carriers
Section 1: Scope
The “scope” of a standard or regulation generally tells you whether your product falls into the specifications of that standard. When you’re trying to dertermine whether your product falls into the ASTM standards for baby slings and wraps, soft carriers, frame carriers, or none of them, you will look at the scope of these standards.
If you’re unsure of what category your carrier falls into after reading the standard, you can generally work with your test lab, a compliance attorney, or the standards-writing board to help you decide. You can also contact ASTM International and ask them for advice.
Section 2: Referenced documents
There are countless regulations that apply to products, procedures, signs, workplaces, etc. If a new test method or standard was created for every aspect of the regulation each time a new regulation came into play, it would not only be cumbersome, but it would mean that the tests and measures might vary widely across standards and organizations.
Therefore, one standard may reference other documents, tests, or standards. Section 2 offers a list of referenced documents. Examples might be regulations for small parts testing or the ANSI standard for warning labels.
You are unlikely to spend much time reading section 2 of the carrier standards, but it can sometimes be helpful when creating your children’s product certificate.
Section 3: Terminology
Standards and regulations require clarity and a common understanding of the language and terms being used. Section 3 will offer definitions for some of the terms used within the body of the standard.
Section 4: Calibration and standardization
This section sets parameters for the testing of the product to ensure products are prepared for testing in the same way each time and by each lab. It may include things such as washing instructions, limitations on how much time must pass after the date of product manufacturing, assembly requirements.
Section 5: General requirements
This section defines physical requirements of products and preparation. For instance, children’s products must not have sharp points or edges, they must meet requirements for lead content, and they must meet flammability requirements.
This section lays out what those requirements are.
Section 6: Performance requirements
This section of the ASTM standards for baby slings and carriers describes what is acceptable under the performance requirements of that standard.
This includes how the test mass will interact with leg openings, how the closures and knots will perform during testing, what the structural integrity requirements are, and more.
Section 7: Test methods
Section 7 describes the test methods your carrier will be subjected to at a test lab.
For baby carriers, this includes tests for occupant retention, dynamic and static load testing, and label permanence.
Static load testing
The “static load test” is a test of durability under a single, controlled force. Using the test method descibed in the ASTM standards for baby slings and carriers, a weight is applied in a single, steady force to test the structural integrity of the carrier.
Dynamic load testing
“Dynamic load testing” simulates the daily load of walking and other activities in a baby carrier. In this test, a weight is applied cyclically, so that the carrier is subject to the continued force of the weight pulling against the seams, straps, closures, and other carrier components.
Occupant retention
Falls are one of the leading causes of injuries with baby carriers. Retention tests are designed to ensure babies don’t fall easily from the carrier through a leg opening or during normal daily movement.
Occupant retention is handled in one of three ways in the F2907 and F2236 standards.
If a soft carrier has fixed leg openings (an opening that is made with a specific circumference designed to encircle a child’s thigh), then it must pass the leg opening sphere test. For this test, a sphere or a certain size is pressed against the leg opening of the carrier, and the carrier must retain the sphere. The sphere is designed to be the approximate size and shape of a child. If the sphere passes through the leg opening, the carrier will fail the test, as a child may slip through the leg opening.
If the soft carrier has unbounded leg openings, such as a carrier that buckles into a child’s waist, creating wide, amorphous leg openings that don’t closely encircle the child’s legs, the carrier must pass the truncated cone test. Instead of a sphere, a cone of a certain size will be pressed against the leg opening while the carrier is assembled on a test torso. If the cone slips through the leg opening, the carrier will fail the test, as a child may slip through the leg opening.
If a carrier is being tested to the sling standard, it will undergo an occupant retention test. In this test, the carrier will be assembled on a test torso, and then the torso will be moved up and down according to the standard to see whether the test mass remains safely inside the carrier. You can view an example of this test in action in this video.
Label testing
Your warning and other labels will be tested to ensure they remain attached to the carrier and don’t wear off, to ensure safety information remains on the carrier.
Fasteners and straps
The fasteners and straps on your baby carriers will be tested to ensure they don’t slip, release, or break under pressure.
Section 8: Marking and labeling
This section describes the requirements for marking and labeling your product. Most notably, this section includes the details of your warning label requirements. The layout, text, and other elements of labels required on your products are described in detail in this section.
Section 9: Instructional literature
Formatting and content requirements for your product instructional literature or packaging are listed in this section.
Both ASTM standards for baby slings and soft carriers require that your warning label be replicated in your instruction manual, with additional warning statements required in your instructions.
You will want to double check that all elements of the CPSIA marking and labeling requirements are met by this section of the ASTM standard.
Section 10 and appendixes
Section 10 is a place for the standard to list any keywords that may be helpful in searching and categorizing the standard.
The appendixes offer additional guidance, examples, and information about the standard, such as images of label examples.
Read the standards
ASTM standards that have been incorporated into US law, such as the ASTM standards for baby slings and soft carriers, are available to view for free on the ASTM Reading Room. Here, you can create an account and access the standards free of charge.
To download a .pdf copy of the standards, you can visit the ASTM website to purchase the standard.