The BCIA is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade organization. Our organization is bound by antitrust laws in the United States (for example, Section 5 of the FTC Act), which strictly prohibits anti-competitive practice or adjudicating trade disputes. Similar competition laws exist in most of the countries where our members conduct business.

It is the policy of BCIA to comply strictly with the letter and spirit of all applicable federal, state, and international trade regulations and antitrust laws. Any activities of the BCIA or BCIA-related actions of its staff, officers, board members, committee members, volunteers or business members that violate these regulations and laws can be detrimental to the interests of BCIA and are contrary to BCIA policy. Participation in the BCIA trade association by function brings competitors together. Accordingly, it is necessary to avoid discussions of sensitive competitive topics and to avoid recommendations with respect to such subjects. Agreements to fix prices or fees, to allocate markets, to engage in product boycotts and to refuse to deal with third parties are automatically illegal under the antitrust laws.

Expectations

Membership means agreeing to the following definitions and adhering to the below listed expectations regarding industry conduct, behaviour and outreach.

Definitions

Baby Carriers

A fabric device meant to hold or attach a baby to the body of a caregiver in a position that mimics in arms carrying positions. Carriers encompass slings and wraps (simple pieces of cloth) as well as soft carriers (attached with buckles, ties or other fasteners) as well as frame style carriers.

Babywearing

The practice of securing a healthy full term infant or child to a caregiver with fabric or a fabric-based carrier.

Industry

The baby carrier industry encompasses the manufacturers, retailers, educators and supporting services who work to bring the practice of babywearing to market. While industry members may have overlap with the cultural practice of babywearing and/or the babywearing community, the “industry” is concerned with more than the practice of babywearing. The industry shall not overstep, dictate or seek to replace traditional cultural carrying practices.

Members

Individuals registered as business members in good standing with the BCIA.

Manufacturers

Those who produce baby carriers with the intention of selling. Encompasses factory-made, artisan, small batch, accessories, component parts and supplies manufacturers.

Retailers

Those who sell or distribute baby carriers and related accessories. Includes distributors, sales representatives, importers, online and brick & mortar retailers.

Educators

Someone who conveys information about the practice of using baby carriers, regardless of setting or medium.

  • Setting — A physical location or virtual space in which interactions happen.
  • Medium — The format in which information is presented.

Industry Organizations

Organizations which contribute to, or benefit from the practice of baby carrier use in their outreach mandates. Includes non-profits and community focused groups.

Affiliated Professionals

This category encompasses those who are connected to the baby carrier industry in an auxiliary capacity. Not limited but including researchers, academics, non-educator clinicians and health care providers. Also includes trade support to the industry: legal services, testing labs, marketing, graphic design, writing, editing, consulting services, insurance, financial services etc. who provide services to the baby carrier industry.

Code of Conduct

The core values and function of the BCIA is to:

  • Promote the value of baby carrier use
  • Propagate standards across the industry
  • Promote educational outreach
  • Participate in research
  • Help small businesses comply with standards
  1. All industry members will conduct business in a manner consistent with the core values of the BCIA. Recognize that one’s actions reflect on the industry as a whole.
  2. Manufacturers, distributors and retailers show a good faith effort to:
  • Comply with the regulations of their country of business and their markets of sale (ex. CPSIA) and to adhere to relevant ASTM or EN standards, voluntary or mandatory
  • Prioritize safety in the workplace, particularly in manufacturing spaces
  • Pay employees and production workers a fair wage in their country of employment/production
  1. All industry members endeavor to:
  • Accept cultural and heritage-based babywearing practices (don’t exoticize, tokenize, misappropriate). Recognize babywearing as a living tradition
  • Conduct business in a way that is inclusive of/recognizing needs of caregivers of diverse identity and physical characteristics (including ethnicity or race, religion, gender identity, sexual preference, family structure, body modification, mental or physical health and disability)
  1. All industry members show a good faith effort to manage their business interactions with integrity and respectful deportment including but not limited to:
  • Respect for the creative design, intellectual property rights, copyright and cultural practices of others
  • Conducts business respectfully and fairly when interacting with vendors, employees, media and customers
  1. Professional educators and those involved in outreach and/or product education endeavor to:
  • Obtain consent before touching another person
  • Distinguish between optimal, acceptable, and unadvisable practices
  • Value safety
  • Believe babywearing is a skill that can be learned
  • Respect the child-rearing practices of all caregivers and resist imposing their personal beliefs upon another family
  • Treat caregivers as the experts on their child
  • Give babywearing information only and refer to the appropriate professionals for advice (ex. Primary health care providers, lactation professionals, kangaroo care experts, physiotherapy etc)
  • Seek opportunities for continuing education
  • Maintain active awareness of industry best practices

Questions, concerns, or issues with members operating outside these guidelines? Please contact Linnea Catalan, Executive Director at director@babycarrierindustryalliance.org to discuss.